Baltimore Moves to Zone Smoke Shops, Set Minimum Distance From Schools

Key Takeaways

• Baltimore City Council in Maryland plans to designate “smoke shops” as a standalone land-use category via zoning, defined as stores where at least 10% of floor space is devoted to the sale or consumption of tobacco, vaping, and cannabis products.
• The proposal would set minimum distances from schools, parks, and recreation centers, and restrict the proximity of new stores to existing ones.
• A separate bill would cap the brightness of smoke shops’ window signage and exterior neon lighting.
• A councilmember said 13 new smoke shops have opened within a three-block area near East Monument Street and alleged some retailers sold cannabis products laced with fentanyl; the Council plans an informational hearing.

2Firsts, October 29, 2025 — According to Baltimore Brew,Baltimore’s City Council has introduced a package of measures targeting tobacco and vape retailers, aiming to curb their rapid spread across city neighborhoods. Council President Zeke Cohen said at the October 28 evening meeting that some products are marketed to minors and, lacking sufficient oversight, may contain substances particularly harmful to children.

Under a zoning bill (25-0114) introduced by Councilmember Zac Blanchard, the Council would classify “smoke shops” as a distinct land-use category, covering any store where at least 10% of floor area is used for selling or consuming tobacco, vaping, and cannabis products. The bill would also impose minimum buffers from schools, parks, and community recreation centers, and limit spacing between new outlets and existing ones. It draws on Baltimore’s recently passed legislation to control the proliferation of “small-box” discount chains as well as regulations in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Blanchard said the bill would list smoke shops as a “conditional use” in commercial and mixed-use zones, requiring approval from the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals (BMZA) before opening. The earlier “small-box store” bill was revised on advice from the city’s Law Department and has been sent to the mayor for signature.

Separately, Councilmember Jermaine Jones introduced Bill 25-0115 to limit the brightness of smoke shops’ window signage and exterior neon lighting to reduce nighttime impacts on residents.

East Baltimore Councilmember Antonio Glover proposed an informational hearing, saying 13 smoke shops have opened within a three-block stretch around East Monument Street in recent months and alleging that some retailers sold cannabis products containing fentanyl (a potent synthetic opioid analgesic) and other illegal substances. He said the hearing would brief the Council and the public and explore responses. These allegations remain subject to further verification by enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Council President Cohen stressed that any store operating in Baltimore must comply with the rules and must not “exploit the vulnerabilities of children and communities.” The bills will proceed through the standard legislative process.

Cover image: Baltimore Brew.