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1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
Amendments to Chapter 5.77 of the Municipal Code, and Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit GuidelinesCity Council MeetingMay 6, 2025Community & Economic Development RiversideCA.gov2
BACKGROUND
March 2023: Ordinance 7628 was adopted by the City Council regulating cannabis business activities October 2023: City Council approves permit guidelines and application review criteria November –December 2023: Phase 1 Application Period
March 2024: Phase 2 Application Period
September 2024: Deadline for 14 preferred site locations; site locations posted January 6, 2025: City Council votes to postpone review process for 90 days March 25, 2025: City Council approved the proposed amendments and directed staff to return with the Ordinance and Resolution.
May 6, 2025: Ordinance and Resolution for City Council Consideration 1 2
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2 RiversideCA.gov3
NUMBER OF PERMITS
Citywide•Up to 14 PermitsPer Ward•1 Permit Modification•City Council •At any time after the initial Permit RiversideCA.gov4
OWNERSHIP – SALE OR TRANSFER
Minimum of 1 yearSame evaluation process and scoringCity Council has final authority3 4 4/24/2025
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LOCATION AND DESIGN
Compatibility •With business under ABC regulations•Exception for annual review of sensitive usesDistances•1000 feetbetween businesses•600 feet from a ParkAreas•Downtown•Midtown RiversideCA.gov6
RECORDS AND RECORDKEEPING
Submittal•April 15•December 155
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GUIDELINES
Step 2.3•Failure to meet any deadlines•Foreit application and PermitStep 2.2•Fail zoning verification•Resubmit RiversideCA.gov8
FISCAL IMPACTFY 2028/29FY 2027/28FY 2026/27FY 2025/26FY 2024/25$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$500,000Budgeted$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$0Proposed$0$0$0$0$500,000ProjectedRevenue Reduction7 8 4/24/2025
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Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being•Goal 2.4– Support programs and innovations that enhance communitysafety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
RiversideCA.gov10
1. Introduce and subsequently adopt the Ordinance amending Chapter 5.77 Cannabis Business Activities of Riverside Municipal Code. 2. Adopt the Resolution amending the Storefront Retail Commercial Cannabis Business Permit Procedure Guidelines.RECOMMENDATIONS9 10