Baltimore City Council Advances Bill to Limit Smoke Shops

New regulations would require smoke shops to be at least 750 feet apart and away from schools, parks, and recreation centers.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A photorealistic painting of a single smoke shop storefront in an urban setting, with warm lighting and deep shadows creating a contemplative, cinematic mood.The proposed regulations aim to limit the concentration of smoke shops in certain Baltimore neighborhoods, addressing community concerns about public safety and youth access to tobacco.Baltimore Today

The Baltimore City Council has advanced a new bill that would regulate the proximity of smoke shops to each other and to areas frequented by children in the city. Council members said they are addressing concerns about the growing number of smoke shops in certain neighborhoods, with some areas having multiple shops within a two-block radius. The bill would require smoke shops to be at least 750 feet apart and at least 750 feet away from schools, parks, and recreation centers.

Why it matters

The proposed regulations aim to address community concerns about the proliferation of smoke shops in Baltimore, which some residents feel are contributing to increased illicit activity and making it easier for children to access tobacco products. The bill is an attempt by city leaders to strike a balance between supporting local businesses and protecting public health and safety.

The details

The bill, which was advanced by a City Council committee, would require all existing smoke shops that violate the new proximity rules to relocate within two years to comply. One local shop owner, Abdul Alakhfash of Tobacco House and Gifts, supports the bill, saying the competition from too many nearby shops is hurting his business's profitability. Alakhfash also expressed concern about the easy access to tobacco products for children, noting that there are three smoke shops located across the street from an elementary school.

  • The Baltimore City Council committee advanced the bill on April 16, 2026.

The players

Paris Gray

A Baltimore City Council member who represents District 8 and is sponsoring the bill to limit smoke shops.

Abdul Alakhfash

The owner of Tobacco House and Gifts, a smoke shop in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, who supports the new regulations.

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What they’re saying

“These smoke shops are proliferating all across our community. Sometimes, in certain corridors, you may have three, four, five in a two-block radius.”

— Paris Gray, Baltimore City Council member

“Folks are tired of seeing not only the shops, but sometimes — not all of them — but some of them will bring illicit activity.”

— Paris Gray, Baltimore City Council member

“It's a good thing. What are you going to do if it's 10 smoke shops on the same block? What does that mean? It's going to be competition. It's good for the customer, but the competition is going to kill our business. We're not going to make a profit to pay bills, pay rent.”

— Abdul Alakhfash, Owner, Tobacco House and Gifts

“The elementary school on Light Street, they have three smoke shops close across the street.”

— Abdul Alakhfash, Owner, Tobacco House and Gifts

What’s next

If passed by the full City Council, existing smoke shops that violate the new proximity rules would have two years to relocate to comply with the regulations.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation reflects Baltimore City Council's efforts to balance supporting local businesses while also addressing community concerns about the proliferation of smoke shops and their potential impact on public health, especially for children. The new rules aim to limit the clustering of smoke shops and their proximity to schools and other youth-oriented spaces.