San Jose extends ban on new tobacco retailers until November 2027

"The council first enacted a 45-day moratorium on Nov. 4, but with the clock running out, the council on Tuesday unanimously approved the extension, which will run from Dec. 19, 2025 to Nov. 3, 2027. The temporary ban won't impact existing shops, which will be able to seek permit renewals during the moratorium. Instead, the city will be deferring any new applications as it reexamines its current tobacco retail regulations."

"Chris Burton, the city's director of planning, building, and code enforcement, wrote in a memo that the extra time will allow the city to "strengthen" current laws, crackdown on illegal business operations and "close legal loopholes." "The outcome for San Jose would be a more comprehensive and effective regulatory framework for tobacco and vape retailers that better protects public health, prevents youth exposure and ensures consistent enforcement across all retail establishments," Burton wrote."

"The temporary ban on new smoke shops stems from a Latino Health Assessment released by Santa Clara County earlier this year. The report found that in East San Jose, the density of tobacco retailers was more than double that of the rest of the county. Latinos make up nearly half of all residents on the East Side, and countywide, the leading cause of death for Latino residents between 2019 and 2023 was cancer."

San Jose City Council extended a moratorium on new tobacco retailers from Dec. 19, 2025 to Nov. 3, 2027. Existing smoke shops can seek permit renewals, but new applications will be deferred while city regulations are reexamined. City planning director Chris Burton said extra time will allow strengthening laws, cracking down on illegal operations and closing legal loopholes, leading to a more comprehensive regulatory framework to protect public health and prevent youth exposure. The city banned flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes in 2021. The moratorium responds to a Latino Health Assessment showing tobacco retailer density in East San Jose more than double countywide, with Latinos heavily affected and cancer a leading cause of death.

Read at The Mercury News