Islip, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 68-302.1X and Y
- Approval
- Special permit, public hearing
- Buffer
- 500 ft from sensitive uses
- Zone
- Business 3 District only
- Authority
- Islip Planning Board
Summary
A vape or smoke shop in Islip's Business 3 District is allowed only by special permit from the Planning Board after a public hearing, and it must sit at least 500 feet from any home, school, park, playground, or house of worship.
§ 68-302.1 Uses permitted by special permit from Planning Board after public hearing. ... X. Smoke/vape shop, provided the use is located at least 500 feet from any residential use or zone, school, park, playground, or house of worship. Y. Smoke/vape lounge, provided the use is located at least 500 feet from any residential use or zone, school, park, playground, or house of worship.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4826765; v112 updated 2026-02-24; through 02-24-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Islip Town Code § 68-302.1, both a "Smoke/vape shop" and a "Smoke/vape lounge" fall under uses permitted only by special permit from the Planning Board after a public hearing in the Business 3 District. Each must be located at least 500 feet from any residential use or zone, school, park, playground, or house of worship. There is no by-right approval path: the Planning Board holds a public hearing and can deny the application outright. This is a Town zoning control, separate from Suffolk County's health rules and New York State's vapor-products registration that retailers also carry.
Violations & Fines
Opening a smoke/vape shop or lounge without the special permit, or inside the 500-foot buffer around homes, schools, parks, playgrounds, or houses of worship, is a prohibited use the Planning Board can deny and the Town can enforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a vape shop anywhere in Islip?
How far must an Islip vape shop be from a school?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Islip
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How other cities in Suffolk County handle tobacco retail license.