RiversideCA.gov
1 WORKSHOP – SMOKE SHOPS
AND TOBACCO RETAIL
Land Use Committee
December 8, 2025
Community & Economic Development Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 BACKGROUND
AB 3218 is
passed banning
the sale of
flavored
tobacco
Adopt RMC
Chapter 6.24 -
Licensure of
Tobacco
Retailer
2006
Update RMC
Chapter 6.24 to
Permitting of
Tobacco Retail
Establishments
45-day
moratorium on
tobacco retail
permit issuance
and renewal
2021 20252024
RiversideCA.gov
3 BACKGROUND
Known locations with
active tobacco retail use
226
Locations operating
without a valid Tobacco
Retail Establishment
Permit
20 Of the 20 businesses are
smoke shops
13 Reference only
RiversideCA.gov
4 RMC CHAPTER 6.24
Tobacco Retail Establishment Permit
• Required for all tobacco retailers
• Nontransferable
• Renewed every 2 years
• Must obey all applicable local, state, and
federal laws
• No sales between the hours of 2:00am
and 6:00am
• Permits may be revoked if violation is
determined
• Operators without necessary permits
are subject to closure of the facility
Image source: pa-tobaccomerchanted.org
RiversideCA.gov
5 RMC TITLE 19 – ZONING CODE
Tobacco retail considered “retail sales”
• Retail sales permitted all commercial and
mixed-use zones
• No operating standards, site standards,
or land use permits specific to tobacco
retail
Image source: koronapos.com
RMC Smoke Shop Definition:
A business with sales of tobacco,
either loose or prepared as
cigarettes and products for the
smoking of tobacco constituting
more than 30 percent of gross sales
and/or 30 percent of net lease area
RMC Retail Sales Definition:
A commercial enterprise that
provides goods and/or services
directly to the consumer. Where
such goods are normally available
for immediate purchase and
removal form the premises by the
purchaser
RiversideCA.gov
6 PEER CITY COMPARISON
Approach 1:
Tobacco Sales
= Retail Sales
Approach 2:
Distance
Requirements
Approach 3:
Discretionary Review
Approach 4:
Prohibited,
phases out
tobacco licenses
citywide
RiversideCA.gov
7 APPROACH 1 – STATUS QUO
Treat Smoke Shops as Retail Sales
• 2 cities do not define or regulate smoke
shops in Zoning Code.
• Riverside defines smoke shops but
regulates as retail sales.
• Tobacco retail primarily regulated
through State, Federal law and municipal
code
• No standards regulating where smoke
shops may be located in permitted zones
Image source: New York Times
RiversideCA.gov
8 APPROACH 2 – DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
• Pasadena: 1000-foot distance from
arcades, internet cafes, libraries,
daycare, parks, schools and theaters.
• Moreno Valley:
• 600 feet from another smoke shop,
adult business, emergency shelter,
rehab center, civic institution, or
sober living facility
• 400 feet from higher education
institutions
• 200 feet from churches,
indoor/outdoor recreation facilities
Image source: New York Times
Image source: Countertools.org
Pros: Can be tailored to protect specific
uses, aligns with Blue Zones Strategy 2.1.
Cons: Must establish procedures for
existing compliant smoke shops that may
not meet distance requirement
RiversideCA.gov
9 APPROACH 3 – DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
• Pasadena: CUP is required in addition to
distance requirements
• Moreno Valley: In addition to distance
requirements, CUP is required when:
• Within 600 feet of a school, daycare, park,
nonprofit youth facility; or
• Within 300 feet of residential
Image source: New York Times
Image source: Countertools.org
Image source: NJ.com
Pros
• Allows for more regulatory oversight
on a case-by-case basis
• Is an inherent time/cost investment
for applicants
Cons
• Entitlements mean a vested
development right
• Difficult to revoke
• May not limit smoke shops, and
instead allow the use under any
operator on a given property
RiversideCA.gov
10 APPROACH 4 - PROHIBIT
Prohibit Tobacco Sales Citywide
• Phase out tobacco retail permits
completely over the course of 1.5 years
• Considerations for impacts to
stakeholders
• Would require outreach and
engagement with business/property
owners.
• Would need to establish legal
amortization/termination procedures
Image source: New York Times
Image source: City of Beverly Hills
Image source: NJ.com
Image source: PNGkey.com
RiversideCA.gov
11 RIVERSIDE BLUEPRINT & PUBLIC HEALTH
Strategy 1.1 Adopt comprehensive tobacco-
free outdoor space policies, including
signage.
Strategy 1.2 Adopt restrictions on smoking
and vaping at outdoor bars and restaurants.
Strategy 2.1 Limit the location of tobacco and
vape retail outlets in proximity to youth-
oriented places, such as schools and parks.
Strategy 2.2 Prohibit the sale of the flavored
tobacco and nicotine projects, including
menthol products.
Strategy 3.1 Integrate tobacco treatment
systems change within all types of healthcare
settings, including behavioral health.
Strategy 3.2 Require retail outlets that sell
tobacco and vape products to post graphic
warning and cessation messages near
tobacco-product displays and/or at the point
of sale.
RiversideCA.gov
12 That the Land Use, Sustainability, and Resilience Committee:
1.Receive and file Workshop on the existing Tobacco Retail regulations within Chapter 6.24 and Title 19 of the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC); and
2.Provide staff direction to maintain current code or explore any potential changes to policies or regulations.
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