Commissioner says Miramar has too many vape stores and RVs. What do you think?
The influx of vape shops in Miramar — and the rising number of RVs parked in residential neighborhoods, many apparently being used as second residences — could be an emerging problem, according to the city’s vice mayor.
At this week’s commission meeting, Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne said she has received complaints about both issues from residents and requested a report from the city manager’s office for the next meeting on Jan. 21.
“I would definitely like to see us take a stronger look at what is going on,” she said.
Colbourne wants a clear account of how vape shops are being regulated. A dense concentration of vape shops may raise questions about health, youth access and business balance.
Currently, vape shops face the same requirements as any other new business in Miramar, with few restrictions beyond basic commercial zoning — meaning their numbers could rise if the city does not try to limit them.
Colbourne also expressed concern about the recreational vehicles she sees parked next to homes — some clearly being lived in, with water and electricity being piped in — a symptom of the city’s housing affordability crisis. But neighbors living alongside these RV homes are increasingly frustrated.
“I’m getting many complaints,” she said. “We need to see how we are regulating RVs and whether some are illegal.”
Miramar’s city code allows residents to store an RV on their property as long as no one is living or sleeping in it. But even if you physically park an RV next to your home, zoning enforcement or code compliance officers could cite you if they interpret that the RV is being used as a dwelling when it’s not allowed for that zoning.
If neighbors complain — especially if the RV is hooked up to utilities — that could trigger code enforcement action. Without a temporary use permit or proper zoning designation, you may be violating city code even if the RV “looks” like it’s just parked.
To get a better handle on both issues, Colbourne asked the city manager’s staff to prepare the report.
The vice mayor’s concerns highlight a tension familiar to many residents: how to balance neighborhood stability with the affordability pressures shaping how people live and where businesses cluster.
Colbourne wants the data in order to decide whether new regulations, enforcement measures or community outreach are needed.
Miramar isn’t the only city reckoning with RVs being used as alternative housing. Last year, the Hialeah City Council cracked down on property owners leasing parked RVs to renters who used the campers as housing, the Miami Herald reported in January 2024. Hialeah stiffened its laws regarding recreational vehicles in residential areas.
Do you agree with Vice Mayor Colbourne that there are too many vape shops and too many RVs parked next to homes in Miramar? Send your thoughts to lyanez@miamiherald.com.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM.
