Hunter
11/20/24
Iowa City tobacco retailers face more stringent rules after the City Council passed new regulations this week.
The Daily Iowan reports the ordinance passed unanimously and stipulates that tobacco dealers must be at least 500 feet from other tobacco shops, schools and university property.
Existing tobacco retailers are grandfathered in unless their permit is revoked, not renewed for 60 days after expiring, if the retailer stops selling tobacco for 90 days or more, or if they change their business to one that doesn’t sell tobacco products.
The 90-day rule was a sticking point when formulating the ordinance; some thought the timeline was too short for those who were making renovations to their businesses, but it ultimately became part of the regulations.