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1 RiversideCA.gov
1 COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
City Council
October 28, 2025
Cannabis Testing Laboratory Business Permit
Procedure Guidelines and Application Fee
RiversideCA.gov
2 BACKGROUND
• Commercial
Cannabis
Business
Program
adopted by
City Council
March 2023
•R e t a i l
Guidelines
Approved
Oct. 2023
• Testing Lab
Applicant
expresses
desire to
move
forward
Jan. 2025
• Testing Lab
Guidelines
and
Application
Fee
Present
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CC Date: 10-28-25
Item No.: 37b
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2 RiversideCA.gov
3 PERMITTED BUSINESS TYPES
Prohibited Business Types:
• Commercial Cultivation
• Microbusinesses
*Limited to 1 permit per ward.
Maximum NumberBusiness Type
14*Storefront Retail
No LimitManufacturing/Distribution
No LimitTesting Laboratories
RiversideCA.gov
4 RMC TITLE 5 REQUIREMENTS
Cannabis Business Permit
Background Checks
Operational Requirements
Security Plan
Zoning Compliance
State Location Requirements:
•K ‐12 Public/Private Schools
• Commercial Daycare Centers
•Y o u t h Centers
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5 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Retail
Guidelines
as a Baseline
•RMC Chapter 5.77
•Remove Retail Specific Rules
•Add Testing Lab Rules
Other cities'
processes
•10 cities
researched
New Testing
Labs Permit
Process
RiversideCA.gov
6 PROPOSED APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
Step 1 - Application Clearance and Preliminary Approval – 45 Days • Step 1.1: Application Completeness
• Step 1.2: Submittal Compliance and Backgrounds
Step 2 – Provisional Approval
• Step 2.1: Proof of Property Control
• Step 2.2: Operational Agreement
Step 3 – Final Permit Approval
• Agreement approval by City Council
• State Licenses
• City Business Tax Certificate
• Entitlements (if necessary)
• Building, Fire, Occupancy Permits
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7 APPLICATION SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Application Form
• Applicant/Owner Information
• Location Information
• Business Plan
•O p e r a t i o n s P l a n
• Safety / Security Plan
• Site Details
• Owner Live Scan / Background
• Defense and Indemnification
• Labor, Employment, and Local Sourcing
Plan
• Laboratory Certification
• Application Fees
RiversideCA.gov
8 STEP 1 – PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
Step 1.1: Application Clearance
• Initial Application Completeness Review
• Review of Clearance Requirements
Step 1.2: Compliance Review
• Application Documents reviewed for
Compliance
• Ownership Background Checks
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9 STEP 2 – PROVISIONAL APPROVAL
Step 2.1: Proof of Property Control
•Signed Lease or Deed
Step 2.2: Operational Agreement
•Insurance
•Indemnification
•Audits
•Community Benefit
•Labor, Employment Agreement
•Local Sourcing Practices
RiversideCA.gov
10 STEP 3 – FINAL PERMIT APPROVAL
• Final Permit Approval shall be granted if the
following conditions are met:
– City Council Approval of Operational Agreement
– State License
– City Business Tax Certificate
– Entitlements are approved (if needed)
– Building, Fire, Occupancy Permits are completed
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11 RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• 1. Adopt a Resolution establishing the Testing Laboratory Commercial Cannabis Business Permit Procedure Guidelines
• 2. Direct staff to schedule a Public Hearing amending the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fees and Charges Schedule providing for a Testing Laboratory Commercial Cannabis Business Permit Application Fee.
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