Mount Pleasant Blocks Vape Shop Near Middle School
Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance restricting vape shop locations near schools, churches and other protected sites.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Should your town restrict where vape shops can open near schools?
The Mount Pleasant Town Council unanimously approved a vape shop ordinance during a special meeting, blocking a shop from opening near Moultrie Middle School. The town is the 16th South Carolina municipality to approve such a restriction, according to CASAA.
Why it matters
Council members cited concerns about youth vaping and the sale of kratom as reasons for the measure. The ordinance sets distance rules that apply to future shops and gives existing vape shops five years to comply.
The ordinance requires vape stores to sit at least 1,000 feet from K-12 schools, child day care facilities, parks, churches and other vape shops, measured property line to property line. Existing shops have five years to comply, while the ordinance's final language and whether it will cover kratom remain open until the second vote.
The players
Mount Pleasant Town Council
The elected governing body of the Charleston County town that approved the ordinance and will consider future amendments at its second and final vote.
Moultrie Middle School
A public middle school in Mount Pleasant whose proximity to a proposed vape shop prompted the ordinance's passage.
CASAA
The Consumers for Auto Safety and Awareness-affiliated advocacy group that tracks municipal vape ordinances and counted Mount Pleasant as the 16th South Carolina town to adopt one.
The details
The council voted during a special meeting on the ordinance, which blocks a shop near Moultrie Middle School and a church across the street. Beyond schools, the rules also cover child day care facilities, youth centers, recreational facilities, parks, community centers and other vape shops.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Town Council unanimously voted on the vape shop ordinance at a special meeting.
Five years from adoption: Existing vape shops must comply with the new location rules.
Season Trajectory
Mount Pleasant's 16th-place ranking reflects a growing wave of South Carolina towns using zoning distance rules to limit vape shops near schools. The ordinance follows that pattern and adds kratom to the debate that could shape future local regulation.
Residents near Moultrie Middle School and other protected sites will see vape shop location limits applied to future businesses. Existing vape shops in Mount Pleasant will need to meet the 1,000-foot rule within five years of adoption.
The takeaway
Parents and residents can track the planning commission and second council vote to see how the distance rules and any kratom provisions are finalized. Checking proximity rules before choosing a neighborhood can also help households understand where vape shops are permitted.
What happens next
The ordinance will go to the planning commission and then return to Town Council for a second and final vote, where amendments may add kratom to the requirements.
Further reading
For more on school-related policy, see Secondary Education coverage in Mount Pleasant.
Live Poll
Should your town restrict where vape shops can open near schools?
