The Abington Township Board of Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance which effectively limits hours of operation and prohibits any business that sells tobacco, tobacco products, and/or vaping products from opening within 1,000 feet of an existing tobacco- or vape-related business.

The ordinance amends township code “to add a definition of Use C-39 – Tobacco Store, Smoke Shop and Vape Shop, Section 2304 [Parking Use Requirements] and to amend the Comprehensive Use Matrix Appendix to account for the newly added use, for the maintenance of peace, good government, health and welfare of the Township and its residents,” the ordinance says.

The standards are as follow:

a. Each tobacco store, smoke shop or vape shop shall be located no closer than 1,000 feet from any other tobacco store, smoke shop or vape shop.
b. There shall be one (1) off-street parking space required for each 150 feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof.
c. Hours of operation shall be limited to 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

A Board of Commissioners meeting to consider the ordinance’s adoption took place in January, though the adoption was postponed until a meeting in February.

“This ordinance, first proposed by Commissioner Schreiber and supported by our entire Board of Commissioners, is a great example of the responsiveness of local government,” commissioner John Spiegelman told Glenside Local. “Residents were concerned by the number of these businesses popping up, they reached out to their Commissioners, and their Commissioners did something about it.”

In October 2024, Upper Moreland Township passed a similar ordinance.

Abington Township’s ordinance is below:

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