Vape and Tobacco Shop Crime on the Rise: Richmond’s 2025 Regulation Put to the Test
- Voice !t Staff
- Oct 31
- 3 min read
After a quiet week on Council, we’re highlighting a concern that residents should be aware of. A few months after Richmond passed regulation of Retail Sales of Tobacco and Hemp (Ordinance 2025-157), new data shows why city officials are keeping a close eye on tobacco and hemp retailers. The ordinance, adopted in July, set strict limits on where vape and tobacco shops can operate.
Now, updated crime and compliance numbers show how the policy is intersecting with public safety. The conversation isn’t over, these stats show how the city’s earlier decision is playing out in real time.
Police Data Shows Ongoing Problems at Richmond Vape Shops
According to the Richmond Police Department, vape shops remain a hotspot for criminal activity in 2025:
34% of all commercial robberies this year have happened at vape shops
88% of those robberies involved a firearm
Police have seized 75 pounds of THC-related products and 10 firearms from search warrants conducted at vape shops
The crimes are spread evenly between Northside and Southside, and police say many of these incidents tie back to illegal distribution of marijuana and THC products.
Why this matters: These numbers highlight the public safety risks that sparked the city’s regulation of hemp and tobacco sales in the first place. If so much criminal activity centers on these stores, what role can residents play in supporting safer business practices or in holding problem shops accountable?
Ordinance 2025-157: What the Rule Requires
The rule adopted this summer still defines “retail sales of tobacco and hemp” as any business where 10% or more of space, signage, inventory, or revenue comes from vape, tobacco, or hemp products intended for smoking.
New stores must be at least 1,000 feet away from residential areas, schools, parks, libraries, churches, or other vape shops. Drive-thrus are banned, and all sales must take place inside.
Why this matters: These zoning limits aim to stop shop clusters and reduce youth exposure while giving police clearer enforcement boundaries. How do we balance the right for businesses to operate with the community’s right to safety and peace of mind?
Existing Shops: The Compliance Challenge
Businesses that opened before July 28, 2025, can keep operating if they have the correct certificate of occupancy or zoning compliance for tobacco sales. However, those without the proper paperwork can’t continue under the new zoning law.
The city can’t close shops for unrelated issues like taxes or health/building code problems, but zoning compliance is mandatory.
Why this matters: It’s about fairness, legitimate shops can stay open while unlicensed or misclassified ones must come into compliance. Should residents push for stricter enforcement, or help ensure that honest business owners get the guidance they need to stay compliant?
Crime Trends Beyond Vape Shops
Across Richmond, commercial robberies are up 15% this year, and overall violent crime has risen 3% compared to 2024. While vape shops make up a significant share of those robberies, police say they also continue to deal with issues like loitering and sales to minors near these businesses. Beyond that, many of the products they sell are regulated by other agencies and fall outside the authority of RPD.
Why this matters: Addressing problem hotspots helps improve safety for residents and nearby businesses. What steps can neighborhoods take, beyond zoning laws to build safer, more connected communities?
Final Take
Richmond’s earlier move to regulate vape and tobacco retailers looks increasingly justified as new data shows the risks that remain. It’s a reminder that zoning and enforcement go hand in hand, and that community safety depends on both.
By staying informed about City Council actions, we can make sure Richmond’s policies reflect what residents want: healthy neighborhoods, safer streets, and businesses that serve the public good.
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