Community Development Department
415 Diamond Street
Redondo Beach CA90277
May 29, 2025
Report on Actions Taken to Alleviate Conditions Leading to the Imposition of a Moratorium on Smoke Shops
On May 6, 2025, the City Council unanimously adopted Urgency Interim Ordinance No. 3294-25 imposing a 45-day moratorium on the approval of any Business License, Planning Commission Design Review or approval of a development for a smoke shop on any property located within the City of Redondo Beach. The Moratorium has been enacted for an initial period of 45 days and the City Council will consider action to extend the Moratorium for up to 10 months and 15 days at a duly noticed Public Hearing on June 10, 2025.
This report provides all interested parties information on actions taken by the City of Redondo Beach to alleviate the conditions leading to the imposition of the Moratorium. Pursuant to law this report is being made available at least 10 days prior to the City taking action on extending the Moratorium.
The following is a list of actions taken by the City of Redondo Beach to address the issues leading to the Moratorium:
1. On April 15, 2025, staff presented a Draft Ordinance to the City Council that would create a definition for smoke shops and tobacco retailers, adding Section 10-2.1642, Article 4 (Special Use Regulations) to the RBMC to regulate these types of businesses. The draft Ordinance would require all new smoke shops to obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which would provide the City with more discretion and authority over business permitting and operations for smoke shops.
2. The Draft Ordinance includes provisions intended to bring existing smoke shops into compliance and potentially reduce the number by setting a cap on the allowed number of businesses. The City Council provided direction at the April 15, 2025 meeting, which has been incorporated into an updated version of draft Ordinance.
3. The updated draft Ordinance has been scheduled for review by the Planning Commission at the July 17, 2025 meeting. The Planning Commission is statutorily required to review and comment on zoning ordinance amendments. Following the Planning Commission’s review, the permanent Smoke Shop Ordinance will be scheduled for City Council consideration of adoption.
4. Staff continues to research and gather information on retail tobacco regulations, which will help ensure that best municipal practices are being applied to the regulations included in the Smoke Shop Ordinance.
Marc Wiener, AICP
Community Development Director
Redondo.org