TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: Marc Wiener, Community Development Director
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Public hearing to consider Ordinances amending Title 10 Chapter 2 Zoning and Land Use, and Title 10 Chapter 5 Coastal Land Use Plan Implementing Ordinance of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code pertaining to regulations for smoke shops.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development, which continues until 25 years of age and poses a unique risk to youth. The state has passed recent legislation strengthening tobacco oversight programs and expanding the seizure of illegal tobacco products which it has deemed essential to achieving the state's public health goal of lowering youth tobacco use.
In addition to the health risks associated with the sale of tobacco, there has also been a track record of compliance issues associated with smoke shops. On March 19, 2025, the Redondo Beach Police Department inspected smoke shops located in the 2400 block of 190th Street and the 2200 block of Artesia Boulevard, and identified that they were selling cannabis and illegal flavored tobacco products. Other cities throughout the state are also encountering compliance issues. For example, the City of Modesto inspected its 47 smoke shops and found that all were selling flavored tobacco products, which were outlawed in 2022. The City of Fresno conducted inspections of its 67 smokes shops and found that 79% were selling illegal cannabis products, which resulted in the issuance of $5 million in citations to the non-compliant businesses.
On April 15, 2025, the City Council reviewed and provided input on a draft Ordinance intended more effectively regulate smoke shops. The Council directed the City Attorney to return with a draft Urgency Ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new smoke shops, to be in effect while the perman...
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