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El Cajon City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

240 TOBACCO SHOPS, SMOKE SHOPS AND ELECTRONIC/VAPOR SUBSTANCE INHALATION SHOPS

§ 17.240.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the location and operation of retail purveyors of tobacco and tobacco products, electronic vapor devices, electronic vapor inhalation substances, hookahs, and electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops in the city of El Cajon in order to maintain the city's character, the diversity and vitality of the community's commercial areas, and the quality of life of El Cajon residents. It is presumed that establishing or preserving an appropriate and balanced mix of commercial businesses will more effectively serve to achieve this purpose as a strategy to maintain the economic health of the community's business districts and its suburban ambiance, and will promote the redevelopment of the city's downtown area.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.020 Findings.

The city council of the city of El Cajon finds and determines that:
A. 
The proliferation of tobacco shops and smoke shops (including lounges where customers can consume tobacco or other substances by inhalation through hookahs and electronic vapor devices) in the commercial areas of the city of El Cajon has a deleterious effect on the vitality of a strong central business area, and a downtown area, removing from the stock of commercial properties those properties that could be better utilized for local retail operations that would complement the existing and future commercial activities;
B. 
The over-concentration of tobacco shops and smoke shops, and smoking and vapor substance inhalation lounges, would suppress economic activity in the city's commercial areas by limiting vital investment and the potential redevelopment of existing commercial areas;
C. 
On-site advertising of tobacco products tends to create unsightly commercial operations, which businesses are aesthetically displeasing and tend to contribute to visual blight;
D. 
The location of tobacco shops and smoke shops, and smoking and vapor substance inhalation lounges, adversely impacts certain sensitive uses in the city of El Cajon; and
E. 
The over-concentration of tobacco shops and smoke shops, and smoking or inhalation lounges, would tend to attract groups of visitors who would tend to loiter outside such shops, creating health hazards from secondhand smoke in the congregation of their patrons, and further creating safety hazards when loitering in an area of such shops.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.030 Title.

This chapter may be known and cited as the "Tobacco Shops, Smoke Shops and Vapor Inhalation Shops Regulations Code."
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.040 Definitions.

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings as provided in this section. Where words or terms are not defined in this section they shall have the meanings ordinarily ascribed to them or as may be further defined in Chapter 17.105 of this title. Should any word, term or phrase defined in this section conflict with any other word, term or phrase defined in this title, the definitions provided in this section shall apply.
"Advertising"
means printed matter that calls the public's attention to things for sale.
"Business"
means any sole proprietorship, joint venture, corporation or other business entity formed for profit-making purposes, including retail establishments where goods or services are sold, as well as professional corporations and other entities where legal, medical, dental, engineering, architectural or other professional services are delivered.
"City"
means the city of El Cajon.
"City manager"
means the city manager of the city or the city manager's designee.
"Creation of a tobacco or smoke shop establishment"
means:
1. 
The opening or commencement of any such establishment as a new establishment; or
2. 
The conversion of an existing establishment, to a tobacco or smoke shop establishment as defined in this chapter; or
3. 
The relocation of any such establishment.
"Electronic vapor device"
means any device with a heating element, a battery, or an electronic circuit that provides nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the user in a manner that simulates smoking tobacco products, shisha, herbs, or any other product that produces smoke.
"Electronic vapor inhalation substance products"
means cartridges, cartomizers, e-liquid, smoke juice, tanks, tips, atomizers, vaporizers, electronic smoking device batteries, electronic smoking device chargers, and any other item specifically designed for the preparation, charging, or use of electronic vapor devices.
"Electronic/vapor substance inhalation lounges"
are defined as those businesses where customers can smoke or inhale vapor from electronic/vapor substance inhalation products, commonly known as "electronic cigarettes," "e-cigarettes," "e-cigars," "e-cigarillos," "e-pipes," "e-hookahs," "electronic nicotine delivery systems," and other similar devices.
"Electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops"
are defined as those businesses that either devote a substantial portion of its display area (i.e., fifteen percent or more of floor space) or devote more than sixteen cubic feet of shelf space, for the display of electronic/vapor substance inhalation products, commonly known as "electronic cigarettes," "e-cigarettes," "e-cigars," "e-cigarillos," "e-pipes," "ehookahs," "electronic nicotine delivery systems," and other similar devices, as well as such cartridges, substances and additives used to experience the sensation of smoking vapors, tobacco and non-tobacco substances.
"Employee"
means any person who is employed by any employer for consideration for direct or indirect wages or profit, and any person who volunteers his or her services for a nonprofit entity.
"Hookah"
means a pipe commonly, but not always, made of glass, used for vaporizing and smoking tobacco, flavored tobacco, non-flavored tobacco, shisha, dried fruits, or other substances in which vapor or smoke is passed through a water basin before inhalation.
"Minor"
means any individual who is less than eighteen years old.
"Nonprofit entity"
means any corporation, unincorporated association or other entity created for charitable, philanthropic, educational, character-building, political, social, or other similar purpose, the net proceeds from the operation of which are committed to the promotion of the objectives or purposes of the entity and not to private gain. A public agency is not a nonprofit entity within the meaning of this section.
"Person"
means any individual, partnership, cooperative association, private corporation, personal representative, receiver, trustee, assignee, or any other legal entity.
"Public playground/park/recreation area"
means an area to which the public, and particularly minors, come to participate in athletic or recreational activities, whether or not such activities are supervised or organized. Such areas include, but are not limited to, publicly owned and maintained parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, any outdoor premises or grounds owned or operated by the city, a public or private school, child care center, and any youth or recreational facilities such as the Boys' and Girls' Club, YMCA and YWCA, that contains any play or athletic equipment used or intended to be used by minors.
"School"
means an institution of learning for minors, whether public or private, which offers instruction in those courses of study required by the California Education Code or which is maintained pursuant to standards set by the State Board of Education, or which is maintained for preschool or day care services. This definition includes a day care center, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, senior high school, or any special institution of learning under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education, but it does not include a vocational or professional institution or an institution of higher education, including a community or junior college, college, or university.
"Self-service merchandising"
means open display of tobacco products and point-of-sale tobacco-related promotional products that the public has access to without the intervention of an employee.
"Tobacco product"
means (1) any product containing tobacco leaf including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, or any other preparation of tobacco; and (2) any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine that is manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that the product or matter will be introduced into the human lungs or mouth; (3) any electronic vapor device, electronic vapor inhalation substance, and hookah; (4) any plant, weed, or plant product that is manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that the product or matter will be introduced into the human lungs or mouth in smoke or vapor form, using any tobacco paraphernalia as defined in Chapter 8.33 of this Code, but does not include any product specifically approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
"Tobacco retailer"
means any person or governmental entity that operates a store, stand, booth, concession, or other place at which sales, rentals, or other give-aways of tobacco products, electronic vapor devices, electronic vapor inhalation substances, and hookahs are made to purchasers for consumption or use.
"Tobacco or smoke shop"
means any store, stand, booth, concession, or other place that either devotes a substantial portion of its display area (i.e., fifteen percent or more of floor space) to tobacco products, or devotes more than sixteen cubic feet of shelf space, for the display or sale of tobacco or drug paraphernalia to purchasers for consumption or use. This definition includes electronic vapor devices, electronic vapor inhalation substances and hookahs.
"Transfer of ownership or control of a tobacco or smoke shop"
means:
1. 
The sale, lease or sublease of such establishment; or
2. 
The transfer of securities which constitute a controlling interest in such establishment, whether by sale, exchange or similar means; or
3. 
The establishment of a trust, gift or other similar legal devise which transfers ownership or control of such establishment, except for transfer by bequest or other operation of law upon the death of the person possessing such ownership or control.
"Tobacco vending machine"
means any electronic or mechanical device or appliance the operation of which depends upon the insertion of money, whether in coin or paper currency, or other things representative of value, that dispenses or releases a tobacco product.
"Zoning Code"
means Title 17 of the municipal code of the city of El Cajon, as it may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.050 Tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop conditional use permit required.

No person shall cause or permit the creation, substantial enlargement or transfer of ownership or control of any tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor inhalation shop without first obtaining and maintaining a conditional use permit as provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.060 Tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop conditional use permit.

Upon receipt of a completed application, the planning commission shall review the application to determine if the applicant has complied with the development standards set forth in this chapter. If the applicant has complied with such standards, the planning commission shall grant the conditional use permit. The required findings listed in Section 17.80.060 of this title relating to variances shall be of no force and effect when considering an application for a conditional use permit for a tobacco or smoke shop.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.070 Development standards-General and specific.

An application for a conditional use permit shall be approved by the planning commission upon a determination that all of the following standards have been met and the findings listed in Section 17.50.060 of this title can be made:
A. 
The tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop will be located within a permitted zone. Tobacco or smoke shops, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops may be located only within the O-P zone, the C-N zone, the C-G zone, and/or the C-R zone. No such establishment shall be permitted to locate in any area outside such zoning classifications.
B. 
The tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop will meet the following minimum spacing and proximity requirements:
1. 
No tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop shall be located within 1,000 feet of any other such shop.
2. 
No tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop shall be located within 500 feet of any parcel of land zoned for residential use.
3. 
No tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop shall be located within 600 feet of any parcel of land that contains any one or more of the following specific land uses:
a. 
Religious facility;
b. 
Courthouse;
c. 
Day nursery;
d. 
Public playground/park/recreation area;
e. 
School;
f. 
Vocational or professional institution; or
g. 
Institution of higher education, including community or junior college, college, or university.
4. 
Nothing in this chapter prohibits the location of tobacco or smoke shops, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop within retail shopping centers in the above-specified commercial zones if such activities have their only frontage upon enclosed malls or malls isolated from direct view from public streets, parks, schools, churches or residentially zoned property. However, the spacing requirements in this subsection above shall apply to tobacco or smoke shops, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops located within such a mall.
5. 
No tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop located in a building sharing one or more common walls with another retail or commercial establishment, or sharing common attic space with any other use, shall permit smoking anywhere on the premises.
C. 
The tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop is in substantial compliance with the requirements of all health and safety codes, including, but not limited to, the building code, fire code, electrical code, mechanical code and plumbing code. Unless delay is caused by refusal of applicant to schedule or permit timely inspection, substantial compliance shall be verified no later than 30 days following the application or the applicant shall be deemed to be in substantial compliance with such requirements for the purposes of permit issuance.
D. 
The tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop is in substantial compliance with the development standards for the commercial zone in which the establishment is to be located, and with the general provisions of Chapter 17.130 relating to development standards and of Chapter 17.190 relating to sign regulations, except that, to the extent that provisions of this chapter may conflict or be more restrictive, this chapter shall control.
E. 
The tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop meets the following minimum specific standards:
1. 
No person or business shall engage in the sale of tobacco and electronic vapor device products without first posting a plainly visible sign at the point of purchase of tobacco products that has wording similar to:
"THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, HOOKAHS, AND ELECTRONIC VAPOR DEVICES AND PRODUCTS TO PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE IS PROHIBITED BY LAW AND SUBJECT TO PENALTIES. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED OF PURCHASERS APPEARING TO BE 26 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER."
The letters of the sign shall be at least one-quarter inch high.
2. 
No person, business, tobacco retailer, or owner, manager or operator of any establishment subject to this article shall sell, offer to sell or permit to be sold any tobacco product to an individual without requesting and examining identification of customers appearing to be 26 years and younger for the purpose of establishing the purchaser's age as 18 years or greater, unless the seller has some other clear or convincing basis for determining the buyer's age.
3. 
No person, business, tobacco retailer or other establishment shall sell or offer for sale cigarettes or other tobacco or smoking products not in the original packaging provided by the manufacturer and with all required health warnings.
4. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, business or tobacco retailer to sell, permit to be sold, offer for sale or display for sale any tobacco product by means of self-service merchandising or by means other than vendor-assisted sales.
5. 
No person, business or tobacco retailer shall locate, install, keep, maintain, or use, or permit the location, installation, keeping, maintenance, or use on his, her or its premises, any tobacco vending machine for the purpose of selling or distributing any tobacco product.
6. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, business or tobacco retailer to distribute free tobacco products or promotional items, except in enclosed areas where minors are not permitted.
7. 
In addition to the standards in this chapter, each tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop shall comply with each and every provision of Chapter 8.33 of this code. No person shall obtain a tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop permit for a tobacco or smoke shop unless that person first or concurrently obtains a tobacco retailer's license under Chapter 8.33.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.080 Measure of distance.

Distance, without regard to intervening structures, shall be:
A. 
A straight line measured from the closest exterior structural wall of any two tobacco or smoke shops or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops; and
B. 
A straight line measured from the closest exterior structural wall of a tobacco or smoke shop or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop to the closest property line of a religious facility, courthouse, day nursery, public playground/park/recreation area, school, residential zone, vocational or professional institution, institution of higher education, including community or junior college, college, or university.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.090 Statement of nonconforming tobacco or smoke shops, electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops, lounges.

A. 
All tobacco or smoke shops, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shops or lounges, which were established prior to the adoption of this chapter and that do not conform to all of the provisions of this chapter shall be brought into conformance or abated as provided in Chapter 17.120 of this title.
B. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop or lounge, legally operating at the time this chapter becomes effective, shall be abated solely on the basis of its proximity to a parcel of land containing the following specific land uses:
1. 
Residential;
2. 
Religious facility;
3. 
Day nursery;
4. 
Courthouse;
5. 
Public playground/park/recreation area;
6. 
School;
7. 
Vocational or professional institution;
8. 
Institution of higher education, including community or junior college, college, or university; or
9. 
Another tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.100 Public hearing.

Applications for conditional use permits for a tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop by a property owner or his or her agent, shall be processed in accordance with Chapters 17.25 and 17.50 of this title, as applicable. Procedures for modification, suspension or revocation of a tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop conditional use permit shall be conducted pursuant to Chapters 17.35 and 17.50 of this title, as applicable.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.110 Findings and decision.

Within the period of time required by this title, upon the close of the public hearing, the planning commission shall announce its findings and decision by resolution. Such resolution shall grant an application for a tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop permit if the standards in Section 17.240.070, and findings are made pursuant to Section 17.50.060 and shall deny an application for a tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop permit if one or more of the standards in Section 17.240.070 are not met and the findings pursuant to Section 17.50.060 are not all made. Such resolution shall state the facts and findings supporting any modification, suspension or revocation of an existing tobacco or smoke shop, or electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop permit.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.120 Notice of decision.

Within five days of the passage of a resolution as described in Section 17.240.110, the planning commission shall cause all of the following to be done on the same day:
A. 
Notify the applicant of its action by mailing a copy of such resolution to the applicant at the address shown upon the application;
B. 
File a copy of such resolution with the city clerk;
C. 
Forward a copy of such resolution to the city council.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.130 Tobacco or smoke shop, electronic/vapor substance inhalation shop permit-Grant or denial, modification, suspension, or revocation.

The resolution of the planning commission shall be final and conclusive, unless appealed to the city council pursuant to Chapter 17.30 of this title. The only grounds for such an appeal shall be either that all of the requirements set out in Section 17.240.070 have been met or that the criteria in Section 17.240.070 have not been met.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.140 Hearing-Subpoena of witnesses.

The city clerk, at the request of the city manager, or upon his or her own initiative, or upon the written request of the applicant or permittee, shall issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses at such hearing.
Any person served with such subpoena shall attend such hearing. Failure to do so shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.150 Hearing-Swearing of witnesses-Presentation of evidence.

At such hearing, the city council may, at its discretion, require witnesses to be sworn. The applicant or permittee, or his or her agent, may present evidence in support of the issuance or continuance of his or her permit. Any other person may, at the discretion of the city council, be allowed to participate in the hearing and present evidence.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.160 Violation-Penalty.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter may be charged with either an infraction or a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to the provisions of the general penalty clause as set forth in Section 1.24.010 of this code.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.170 Violation-Each day deemed separate offense-Public nuisance.

Each person found guilty of a violation shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for every day during any portion of which a violation of any section of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by such person, and shall be punishable as provided for in Section 17.240.160. Any use or occupation of any building or structure maintained contrary to the provisions of this title shall constitute a public nuisance.

§ 17.240.180 Non-retaliation.

A. 
No person or employee shall discharge, refuse to hire or in any manner retaliate against any employee or applicant for employment because such employee or applicant agrees to abide by the provision of this chapter.
B. 
No person shall intimidate or threaten any reprisal or effect any reprisal for the purpose of retaliating against another person because such other person seeks to attain compliance with provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.190 Conflicts with other applicable laws.

This chapter shall not be interpreted or construed to permit tobacco vending machines and distribution of tobacco product samples where they are otherwise restricted by other applicable laws. Nor shall this chapter be construed to be cause for breach of any pre-existing private contract, or cause for interference with regulations imposed by state or federal law or related to interstate commerce.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

§ 17.240.200 Severability.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason declared to be void, unconstitutional or invalid for any reason by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The council hereby declares that it would have enacted this chapter regardless of the invalid or proscribed section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase.
(Ord. 5012 § 3, 2014)

Ord- 5171_0