Missouri City City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to allow a 90-day moratorium on new smoke-related shops within city limits at an Aug. 4 meeting.

The moratorium—which was discussed at two July public hearings—comes after District C council member Anthony Maroulis asked staff to review limiting smoke and vape shops in commercially-zoned districts within city limits. City staff is currently working to update its comprehensive plan, which serves as a guide for property uses, location and zoning.

The big picture

The moratorium prohibits new businesses that receive over 25% of their revenue from smoke-related items—a decrease from the proposed 30%—from opening within city limits. It would not affect the operations of shops already open or those in the permitting process.

“We do not want to be a location known for [smoke shops],” council member Lynn Clouser said. “We want to be a destination.”

By the numbers

The city currently has 20 smoke shops within city limits and another already in the permitting process, City Attorney E. Joyce Iyamu said at a July 20 special City Council meeting.



Iyamu said Missouri City has more smoke-related shops within its city limits than neighboring cities, such as:

• Rosenberg with 16
• Pearland with 11
• Sugar Land with nine

“I think it’s extremely important and now to really look at the numbers to see how we compare to other cities near and surrounding us; we really need to get that ordinance in place,” Mayor Pro Tem Sonya Brown-Marshall said at the July 20 meeting.

Looking ahead

City Council will hear the second reading of the moratorium ordinance Aug. 11, according to agenda documents.

The moratorium will expire Nov. 9, although Iyamu said city officials aim to have a permanent ordinance in place by the end of the 90-day period. Council can also extend the moratorium if city officials deem more time is necessary.