ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.77 THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING CANNABIS BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.
The City Council of the City of Riverside does ordain as follows:
Section 1: Section 5.77.100.C of the Riverside Municipal Code is amended as follows:
“Section 5.77.100 Maximum number and type of authorized cannabis businesses permitted.
C. The maximum number of cannabis storefront retail uses that shall be permitted to operate in the City shall be no more than fourteen (14) permittees. A maximum of one (1) permit per ward.” Section 2: Section 5.77.140A of the Riverside Municipal Code is amended as follows:
“Section 5.77.140 Exercise of a Cannabis Business Permit.
A. A Cannabis Business Permit shall be exercised within 12 months of the final selection process, as defined by the procedure guideline and review criteria. A Cannabis Business Permit shall be considered exercised shall be when all of the following occur:” Section 3: Section 5.77.270 of the Riverside Municipal Code is amended as follows:
“Section 5.77.270 Transfer of Cannabis Business Permit.
The owner of a Cannabis Business Permit (“transferor”) shall not transfer ownership or control of the permit to another person or entity (“transferee”) unless and until the transferee obtains an amendment to the permit from the City Council stating that the transferee is now the permittee.
1. Such an amendment may be obtained only if the transferee files an application with the City Manager in accordance with the provisions of this chapter (as though the transferee were applying for an original Cannabis Business Permit).
2. The transferee’s application must demonstrate that the transferor has exercised its Cannabis Business Permit as provided in Section 5.77.140 and been in continuous operation with the full ownership team/structure as identified in the transferor’s Cannabis Business Permit application for a minimum of one year before the transfer application was submitted.
3. The proposed transferee's application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee in an amount set by resolution of the City Council (or if not set, shall be the same amount as the application fee).
4. The transferee's application will be treated as a new application and will be evaluated according to procedures adopted by the City Manager, pursuant to Section 5.77.450, and must result in a score equal to or greater than the score received by the transferor.
Cannabis Business Permits issued through the grant of a transfer by the City Council shall be valid for a period of one year beginning on the day the City Council approves the transfer of the permit. . . .”
Section 4: Section 5.77.320 of the Riverside Municipal Code is amended as follows:
“Section 5.77.320 Location and design of cannabis businesses. . . .
B. A cannabis business must meet the following rules relating to proximity to sensitive uses:
1. The use shall be no closer than 600 or 1,000 feet from any parcel in the City designated as a sensitive use under this section that is in existence at the time the permit is issued. . . .
4. Exceptions.
a. Pursuant to its authority under California Business and Professions Code Section 26054, the City hereby establishes a zero-foot radius buffer for youth centers for cannabis businesses permitted under this chapter. . . .
c. During the annual Cannabis Business Permit renewal process, a permitted Cannabis Business shall not be deemed non-compliant as a result of sensitive uses that came into existence after the issuance of the Cannabis Business Permit that is being renewed.” Section 5: Section 5.77.340.D of the Riverside Municipal Code is amended as follows:
“Section 5.77.340 Records and recordkeeping.
D. Each owner and operator of a cannabis business shall maintain a current register of the names and the contact information (including the name, address, and telephone number) of anyone owning or holding an interest in the cannabis business, and separately of all the officers, managers, employees, agents, and volunteers currently employed or otherwise engaged by the cannabis business. The register required by this paragraph shall be provided to the City Manager for review on April 15 and December 15 of each year.” Section 6: The City Council has reviewed the matter and, based upon the facts and information contained in the staff reports, administrative record, and written and oral testimony, hereby finds that this ordinance is not subject to CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), as it can be seen with certainty that approval of the project will not have an effect on the environment.
Section 7: The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and cause publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in accordance with Section 414 of the Charter of the City of Riverside. This ordinance shall become effective on the 30th day after the date of its adoption.
ADOPTED by the City Council this _________ day of _____________, 2025. ___________________________
PATRICIA LOCK DAWSON
Mayor of the City of Riverside
Attest:
_____________________________
DONESIA GAUSE
City Clerk of the City of Riverside
I, Donesia Gause, City Clerk of the City of Riverside, California, hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a meeting of the City Council on the _______ day of _______________, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Riverside, California, this ________ day of ______________, 2025. _________________________________
DONESIA GAUSE
City Clerk of the City of Riverside
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10 City Attorney’s Office3750 University Ave., STE. 250Riverside, CA 92501(951) 826-5567City Attorney’s Office3750 University Ave., STE. 250Riverside, CA 92501(951) 826-5567 City Attorney’s Office
3750 University Ave., STE. 250
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5567
City Attorney’s Office
3750 University Ave., STE. 250
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5567
City Attorney’s Office3750 University Ave., STE. 250Riverside, CA 92501(951) 826-5567City Attorney’s Office3750 University Ave., STE. 250Riverside, CA 92501(951) 826-5567 City Attorney’s Office
3750 University Ave., STE. 250
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5567
City Attorney’s Office
3750 University Ave., STE. 250
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5567
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