Hookah facilities possess a trader license for a tobacco shop, and therefore operating as a tobacco shop the business may be called a Hookah facility. Hookah facilities are permitted to sell tobacco and other incidentals (lighters, hookah pipes and other tobacco products), but not food and drink.

The basis under which this operates is under the regulation by Maryland COMAR 10.19.04, which is the "Clean Indoor Air Act", and the Montgomery County Code, Chapter 24. These codes state: it is illegal to smoke in an indoor area that is open to the public. The regulation and code define smoking as the burning of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or another matter or substance that contains tobacco. Montgomery County defines smoking as the act of lighting, smoking, or carrying a lighted or smoldering cigar, cigarette, or pipe, of any kind. As a result, a Hookah facility serving food and drink would be illegal.

Online users who have additional questions and would like to be contacted by a departmental staff member may submit a request by clicking on the Create Service Request button below. Please complete all of the fields in the Contact Information section then scroll down to the bottom of the page and provide a brief description of the request in the Brief Description field.