Housing,Urban Development and Zoning Committee September 29, 2026

The City of St. Louis Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee met on September 29, 2026. It approved the minutes of its July 7 hearing, then considered Board Bill 81, a zoning-code amendment defining smoke shops and requiring conditional-use approval for them in F, I, J, K and L districts where they were previously permitted by right. The proposal does not ban the use; it creates a public-review process and allows operating conditions and stronger enforcement, including potential occupancy-permit revocation. Planning staff said the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended the amendment on September 9, and cited similar provisions in the 2020 Bivo and 2022 Dutchtown special use districts.

Committee members and Building Division staff supported the bill, citing neighborhood concerns about nuisance activity, sales of illegal products, and public safety. Members raised questions about the definition of smoke shop and how to address businesses that misrepresent their intended use; staff described conditional-use review and enforcement as tools, with further discussion suggested on back-end safeguards. A motion to send Board Bill 81 out with a due-pass recommendation passed unanimously, with six affirmative votes. No contract awards, purchasing decisions, or other procurement activity were identified; the discussion also touched on efforts to hire inspectors for existing positions.