Chamblee — The City Council unanimously adopted a text amendment to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance on Oct. 21 that creates a defined category for tobacco/vape product shops and places new limits on where and how they may operate.

The amendment, adopted on second reading, revises Appendix A of the UDO (Title 1 and Title 2) to add or clarify definitions for tobacco paraphernalia, tobacco products and “tobacco/vape product shop,” and to change the name and permitting table to reflect the new term. It also adds a supplemental use provision that prohibits such shops within 1,000 feet of certain facilities and removes drive‑up or drive‑thru services. Hours of operation are limited to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the ordinance references state law for sales of THC oil.

City staff described the action as the public‑hearing step required before the city attorney reads the ordinance for second reading; no members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the hearing. A staff member summarized the measure as “an amendment to the UDO and title 1, which is administration, and title 2, which is land use and zoning,” noting the proposed 1,000‑foot distance requirement and the ban on drive‑thru services.

Why it matters: the change standardizes the city’s regulatory approach to storefronts that primarily sell tobacco and vape products, establishes separation from schools, parks and other sensitive uses, and limits operational features such as drive‑thru service that the council removed from allowable activities.

The amendment states the distance shall be measured as provided in section 2‑40‑12 of the city code. The council approved the ordinance by unanimous vote on second reading; the roll call at the start of the meeting recorded six members present.

The ordinance text presented to the council names the amended sections as: additions to Appendix A (UDO), Title 1 (administration) and Title 2 (land use and zoning), renaming the prior “tobacco product shop” to “tobacco/vape product shop,” and specifying supplemental use provisions and measurement rules. The adopted language retains a cross‑reference to state limits for THC oil sales.