With vape and tobacco retail stores multiplying across Coral Springs—sometimes near schools, parks, and houses of worship—city commissioners will decide Wednesday whether to place a moratorium on smoke shops while they consider long-term zoning changes.
The vote, scheduled for the Aug. 6 Coral Springs City Commission meeting, follows the body’s June 18 directive to city staff to develop amendments to the city’s Land Development Code (LDC) to address what officials say is a regulatory gap concerning smoke shops.
The LDC, which governs development in the city, currently includes no specific provisions for smoke, vape, or CBD-focused retail outlets.
Soon after the directive, city officials started a process to potentially regulate businesses that dedicate more than 20 percent of their floor space to smokable products – excluding medical marijuana – for the first time. Their work led to the crafting of a commission resolution that, if passed on Wednesday, would prohibit new retail establishments that meet the 20 percent criterion for a period of six months.
If passed, the six-month moratorium would go into effect immediately, allowing time for public input and the development of permanent zoning rules, officials said.
According to city data, Coral Springs had its first vape store open in 2013. From then until 2021, 12 such establishments opened. But since 2022, that number has nearly doubled—eleven more stores have opened in the past three years, bringing the citywide total to 23, city records show.
The smoke shop moratorium would apply to both commercial and residential zoning districts.
Health concerns are at the core of the city’s efforts, officials said.
According to the CDC, more than 16 million Americans suffer from smoking-related illnesses, and over 480,000 die each year due to smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. E-cigarettes, which are often sold in smoke shops, typically contain nicotine—the highly addictive substance in traditional tobacco products—and can also be used to deliver cannabis and other drugs.
Compounding the issue is the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) products, officials said. While derived from the cannabis plant, CBD is not regulated by the FDA and may include harmful substances like THC, pesticides, or heavy metals, according to a city memo. In Florida, residents must be 21 to purchase inhalable CBD or tobacco products, and 18 to buy consumable CBD items like oils or gummies.
Over the past year, the Coral Springs Police Department conducted three operational sweeps to monitor underage sales at local tobacco and vape stores, according to the city. Of 30 attempted purchases by underage people, eight resulted in illegal sales, with store clerks cited for selling to customers under 18, official said.
The Broward County School Board also reported 185 vaping incidents in Coral Springs public schools during the 2024–2025 academic year, according to the city.
City officials said reforms focused on smoke shop proliferation are necessary to limit potential health risks and maintain community standards.
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