Under the current zoning ordinance, smoke shops are subject to the same requirements as other retail establishments. The new amendment would designate smoke shops as a distinct land use and create additional restrictions on where they can be located.
The specifics
The amendment defines a smoke shop as “an establishment primarily utilized for the sale and/or sampling of tobacco products, smokeless tobacco products, liquid nicotine, e-cigarettes [...], and other smoking-related supplies or accessories,” according to the agenda item.
According to the new zoning ordinance, smoke shops would be prohibited within 1,000 feet of:
- Residences
- Schools
- Places of worship
- Hospitals
- Licensed child care centers
- Other smoke shops
The proposed changes were discussed before at an Oct. 21 work session where the Frisco City Council considered ways to limit the concentration of smoke shops.
During a presentation by John Lettelleir, director of development services for the city of Frisco, council members expressed concerns about the number of these businesses in Frisco.
“There’s a lot of [smoke shops] that are even across the street from each other,” council member Laura Rummel said.
What it means
The city has given notice to 41 existing smoke shops that would be in violation of the proposed zoning ordinance.
Jonathan Hubbard, Frisco’s assistant director of planning, said current businesses would fall under the city’s nonconforming use policy, which would allow them to remain operational but place certain limitations on expansion and rebuilding.
If the City Council approves the amendment, any future smoke shops would have to comply with the conditional development standards laid out in the new zoning ordinance.
What’s next?
Following the commission’s recommendation, the proposed amendment will move to the city council for consideration in early 2026.
