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Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine - Zoning, Article V, Use Regulations, Chapter 911: Primary Uses, to add Retail: Tobacco, Inhalant, and Cannabinoids, to add specific requirements and conditional use application requirements.
(Sent to the Planning Commission for a report & recommendation on 10/15/25)
(Report & recommendation received on 04/9/26)
(Public Hearing scheduled for 05/26/26)
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WHEREAS, per the Centers for Disease Control, electronic cigarette ("vape") products often contain harmful substances, including nicotine (which is highly addictive and impairs adolescent brain development), heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, cancer-causing chemicals, and ultra-fine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs; and,
WHEREAS, per Johns Hopkins Medicine, exposure to e-cigarette or vapor aerosols, both first-hand and second-hand, has been associated in recent studies with elevated risks of lung disease, high blood pressure, and other adverse health outcomes in both youth and adults; and,
WHEREAS, per a recent review published in Health & Place, vape shops act as nodes in the built environment that increase visibility, accessibility, marketing exposure, and normalization of vaping behavior, especially among minors and socially-vulnerable populations; and,
WHEREAS, per a recent study published in the official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, vape shops are disproportionately clustered in urban areas and in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates, minority populations, and lower education levels, potentially exacerbating existing health disparities; and,
WHEREAS, the proximity of vape shops to child-centric uses such as schools increases the likelihood of youth exposure, initiation, and experimentation with vaping; and,
WHEREAS, the public interest in preventing youth nicotine addiction, shielding minors from persuasive advertising or indoor aerosol exposure, and ensuring that retail environments d...
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