Baltimore smoke-shop zoning: new 750-foot buffers start July 16 (Mayor Scott signed)

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed Council Bill 25-0114 on June 16, 2026, and the ordinance takes effect on July 16, 2026—30 days after enactment. Starting then, new “smoke shops” face tighter zoning limits aimed at reducing how close they can be to youth-focused community spaces.

The new 750-foot rule for new smoke shops

Under the enacted zoning changes, a new “smoke shop” may not be located within 750 feet of any school, recreation center, or park. The law also adds a second buffer: a new smoke shop may not be within 750 feet of another smoke shop.

How Baltimore measures matters. The distance is calculated using the shortest separation between the property boundary lines—not from a building entrance or mailing address.

Smoke shop definition: not every tobacco or vape store is automatically covered

The ordinance doesn’t apply to every store that sells nicotine products. It defines “smoke shop” using a combination of what the business sells, what licenses it operates under, and how much floor/display space is devoted to those products.

In general, a business must be primarily engaged in retail sale or on-site consumption of tobacco products (and tobacco-related smoking accessories and nicotine-delivery devices, including devices used to deliver nicotine or other substances). The business also must operate under one or more of the specified Maryland state tobacco/vaping license types.

The zoning law also sets a display-area test: it looks at whether the business devotes more than 10 linear feet of display area (measured by shelf space, counter space, and wall-mounted displays) to tobacco products and/or electronic smoking devices.

Key exclusions

Some retailers are explicitly excluded from the ordinance’s “smoke shop” definition, including establishments that primarily derive revenue from premium cigars, pipe tobacco, membership fees, or locker rentals.

The law also excludes an establishment where tobacco sales are secondary to the business’s primary retail function and less than 25% of the establishment’s revenue is derived from tobacco product sales.

What happens to existing smoke shops that are too close

Smoke shops already operating within 750 feet of a school, recreation center, or park are treated as nonconforming under the new rules—and must be terminated no later than 2 years after the date the use became nonconforming.

Owners or lessees may seek relief, but it’s not automatic. The Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals (BMZA) can extend the deadline by an additional 1 year if the property owner or lessee files a timely written application within 1 year after the property becomes nonconforming and satisfies the ordinance’s hardship requirements.

What residents and business owners should watch next

In the weeks after the July 16 effective date, expect the city’s zoning and permitting process to apply the new distance standard and the ordinance’s definition/exclusion rules when reviewing proposed smoke shop locations.

If you’re a resident, that means fewer new smoke shops should be able to open near schools, parks, and recreation centers. If you’re planning a storefront or relocation, the practical next step is to confirm whether your operation truly meets the ordinance’s “smoke shop” definition (or fits an exclusion) and to measure distances using the shortest separation between property boundary lines.

Sources

• City of Baltimore Legislation Details (Council Bill 25-0114: final action/Mayer signed June 16, 2026)
• WYPR: Baltimore City snuffs new smoke shops through zoning law (June 16, 2026)
• CBS Baltimore: Mayor signs bill restricting smoke shops near schools/parks (updated June 16, 2026)