Right now, there are no hookah lounges in Hall County, but one businessman recently expressed interest in the possibility, so county staff and commissioners will study possible regulations over the next three months.
Srikanth Yamala, the Director of Planning and Development for Hall County, asked the Board of Commissioners at a Monday afternoon work session to place a moratorium on such businesses so county staff can find out more about the lounges.
"Because there is no specific language in our current business license code, the county attorney has recommended that the board consider issuing a moratorium for 90 days so that staff can do further research and bring back options or a recommendation," Yamala said.
District 3 Commissioner Shelly Echols asked Yamala what guidelines the state of Georgia has for hookah and vaping lounges. Yamala said there are no guidelines on the statewide level.
Echols pointed out such lounges have been banned in the state of New York.
"I think it primarily has to do with unknown health risks," Yamala said. "It's definitely a non-traditional tobacco use, but there are a lot of unknowns."
Yamala told commissioners as county staff studies an ordinance for hookah lounges, they'll also revisit the current ordinance on tobacco shops to make sure those regulations align with anything new that may be introduced.
After the work session, Yamala said county staff will be talking with neighboring counties, such as Gwinnett and Forsyth, where a number of hookah lounges already operate.
Because the moratorium does not require public hearings, the item will be placed on the consent agenda for the commission's Thursday voting session.
