NORWICH – Setting sights on a more family-friendly business district, the Norwich Common Council has opted to extend a smoke shop moratorium that had been set to expire next month.

Council members voted unanimously on the measure, citing prolonged efforts to improve the safety and health of city residents.

The extension upholds a local law initially passed in 2025 that “temporarily prohibits the opening, siting, approval, or establishment of any new smoke shops, tobacco retailers, vape shops, or similar establishments within the BID while the Common Council undertakes a comprehensive review of zoning, land use, and regulatory provisions applicable to such businesses.”

The moratorium applies to retailers that sell or market tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, vaping products, nicotine delivery devices, pipes, rolling papers, or related smoking accessories. Existing smoke shops and tobacco retailers will be “grandfathered in,” meaning they will not face penalty or be prohibited from selling such products.

The rule pertains only to the Norwich business district, not the entirety of the city.

Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey said while an extension of the year-long pause is warranted, a full ban on smoke shops may not come to fruition. Fifth Ward Alderman David Zieno asked about the stance of the city’s Planning Commission which has held the moratorium in review since it was implemented last year.

“There’s additional research that needs to be done because that may not necessarily be the best method to proceed,” Jeffrey said at the August meeting of the Common Council. “Instead of limiting the licenses, I think it would have to be more of a presentation type of thing and could be a case-by-case approval by the council.”

At present, Jeffrey said the Common Council’s focus is on tidying up the business district while still encouraging a range of retailers.

“This is something the council decided to extend until we find the best way to move forward,” said Jeffrey. “We want to have a choice of retail downtown. We’re also very cognizant of young lungs at play in and around. We want to make sure the district is family-friendly. At any time, the council has the right to repeal the moratorium. In the meantime, this is a strategy of how to better improve the business district and make it more family friendly all around.”