Smoke Shop UDC Amendment approved by Mayor and Council

Published on November 15, 2023

Tucson.jpeg

On November 14, 2023, the City of Tucson Mayor and Council approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to establish regulations for smoke shops. These regulations, which apply to all new smoke shops, created a new land use class, and established separation distances between schools, parks, and other smoke shops. Limits on the hours of operation for new smoke shops were also established.

The regulations were adopted by Mayor and Council to address the negative impacts of tobacco products on public health, youth, and the community at large. They came after almost a year of stakeholder and public engagement, community input, and technical analysis to develop the proposal. The new regulations go into effect on December 14, 2023.

The process to adopt the amendment included the following: 

  • October 17, 2023: Mayor and Council considered the proposed Smoke Shop UDC Amendment, and continued the item to receive additional community input.
  • September 13, 2023: The City of Tucson Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on the proposed Smoke Shop Unified Development Code (UDC) amendment. At that meeting, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 to forward a recommendation to the City of Tucson Mayor and Council. Materials from that public hearing may be found on the Planning Commission page. 
  • August 16, 2023: The City of Tucson Planning Commission held a Study Session on the proposed Smoke Shop UDC amendment. At that meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and voted 11-0 to forward the item to a Planning Commission Public Hearing. Materials from that study session may be found on the Planning Commission page. 
  • February 7, 2023: Mayor and Council requested that Planning and Development Services Department staff initiate the development of language to establish regulations for smoke shops to address their impacts on youth, public health, and the community. Planning and Development Services conducted research, consultation, stakeholder engagement, geospatial analysis, and outreach to interested parties and the general public during the development of the regulations.

 

Tagged as:
Back to top