BOUNTIFUL -- Four Bountiful businesses specializing in e-cigarettes have been given a reprieve from an earlier notice to close shop by the end of the year.
However, a letter delivered to each of the store's owners Monday grants them an additional year.
"Because of the timing of the situation it seemed like it would be better if we could provide the shop owners a little more time for them to comply with state law, and for the city to comply with state law," Bountiful City Manager Gary Hill told Fox 13 News.
Last year, Utah tightened zoning regulations on the selling of e-cigarettes statewide, regarding them as tobacco products. Bountiful City says they were unaware of the changes when issuing licenses in 2013 and later learned the four stores were too close to residential areas per the new guidelines.
The four shops have retained two lawyers who will work separately in efforts to keep the businesses in their current locations.
Store owners expressed frustrations over state zoning codes, and speculate state lawmakers know little about their businesses, adding their stores are sometimes mistakenly associated with marijuana or other illegal drugs.
