DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING
MODIFICATIONS TO THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL
CODE PERTAINING TO THE PERMITTING AND
OPERATION OF COMMERCIAL SMOKE SHOPS
City Council – April 15, 2025
Background
• 15 smoke shops in Redondo Beach
• Document compliance issues locally and
statewide
• City Council discussion in January 2025
• Directed staff to return with a draft
ordinance that would more effectively
regulate
• Recommending that City Council review
and provide policy direction
Draft Ordinance
• Creates a definition of Smoke Shop/Tobacco
Retailer and other related definitions
• Requires a CUP for any existing or new smoke
shops
• Limit to 2 per CC District, maximum 10
citywide
• 1,000 feet between businesses, 600 feet from
schools
• Express prohibition on sale of illegal products
Smoke Shop Amortization
• Allows existing legal nonconforming smoke shops to continue operating
• No CUPs may be issued for smoke shop at a new location until the City is below the cap (no new smoke shops may open) • Existing legal nonconforming smoke shops must obtain a CUP within 5 years from the effective date of ordinance
• Upon change of business ownership a new tobacco retail permit shall not be issued unless below the cap
Smoke Shop Enforcement
• Subject to unannounced
inspections
• Subject to criminal penalties in
Title 1, Chapter 2
• May be guilty of offense each day
for continued violation
• Revocation of CUP and/or business
license
Blue Folder Modifications
• c(3)(b). A maximum of 10 smokes shops are permitted
city-wide and no Conditional Use Permits shall be
processed unless the City below this numerical cap, for a smoke shop with the exception of legal nonconforming
smoke shops operating at locations prior to the effective date of this ordinance and seeking to come into
compliance. unless the City below this numerical cap.
Blue Folder Modifications
• (f) Smoke shops and tobacco stores that are legally
existing on the effective date of the ordinance may
continue to operate as legal nonconforming uses in
accordance with Section 10-2.2002 and shall be required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit within a period of five (5) years from the effective date of this ordinance. A
maximum of 10 Conditional Use Permits shall be granted
in accordance with the location and concentration
provisions.
Blue Folder Modifications
• C(3)(d) No retailer shall be established or located within 150 feet of Dale Page Park, measured from the nearest
property lines of each of the affected parcels.
Urgency Ordinance
• Urgency Ordinance placing a moratorium on new smoke
shops
• Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, the City
may adopt an Urgency Ordinance when deemed
necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare. • Requires a four-fifths vote of the City Council and would go into effect immediately
Recommended Action
1. PROVIDE POLICY DIRECTION ON DRAFT ORDINANCE;
AND
2. DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN URGENCY
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON THE
APPROVAL OF NEW COMMERCIAL SMOKE SHOPS IN
THE CITY AND TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
MAY 6, 2025 TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE
URGENCY ORDINANCE