HomeMy WebLinkAbout75E-2 - PH AMND ORD CREATE CH 40 MUNI CODEREQUEST FOR ,
COUNCIL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
NOVEMBER 7, 2017
TITLE:
ORDINANCE SECOND READING: ADOPT
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2017-03 TO
CREATE CHAPTER 40 IN THE SANTA ANA
MUNICIPAL CODE (COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS) {STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5, 1}
Myllyiri Mire? ME
Place ordinance on second reading and adopt.
DISCUSSION
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
APPROVED
❑ As Recommended
❑ As Amended
❑ Ordinance on 1°l Reading
❑ Ordinance on 2"d Reeding
❑ Implementing Resolution
❑ Set Public Hearing For
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
On October 17, 2017, the following ordinance was introduced for first reading and City Council
authorized publication of title by a vote of 4-0 (Pulido, Sarmiento abstained; Martinez absent):
ORDINANCE NO. NS -2929 — AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA CREATING CHAPTER 40 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE,
"REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS", TO REGULATE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS
ACTIVITIES, EXCEPTING MEDICINAL RETAIL
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #5 - Community Health, Livability,
Engagement & Sustainability, Objective #1 (Establish a comprehensive community engagement
initiative to expand access to information and create opportunities for stakeholders to play an
active role in discussing public policy and setting priorities).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Maria D. Huizar,
Clerk of the Council
EXHIBIT: 1. Ordinance — Redline Version
2. Ordinance — Clean Version
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REDLINED
VERSION
Exhibit I
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*Redlined Version*
ORDINANCE NO. NS -XXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SANTA ANA CREATING CHAPTER 40 OF THE SANTA
ANA MUNICIPAL CODE, "REGULATION OF
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS", TO REGULATE
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITIES, EXCEPTING
MEDICINAL RETAIL
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA HEREBY ORDAINS AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana herby finds, determines and
declares as follows:
A. In 1996, the California electorate approved Proposition 215, the
Compassionate Use Act which allows a patient, with a doctor's recommendation, to
use cannabis for medical purposes without the fear of prosecution or arrest.
B. In 2003, the California . legislature passed Senate Bill 420 (Medical
Marijuana Program Act) which amended the Health and Safety Code to permit the
establishment of medical cannabis dispensaries for the distribution of cannabis for
medical purposes.
C. In 2005, the California Board of Equalization began issuing seller's permits
for sales consisting of medical cannabis.
D. In 2008, the California Attorney General issued guidelines for the security
and non -diversion of cannabis grown for medical use.
E. On November 4, 2014, Santa Ana voters approved Santa Ana's Medical
Marijuana Regulatory Program ordinance ("Measure BB") which was codified in
Chapters 18 and 21 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code. Such regulations govern
medicinal marijuana and the retail sale thereof.
F. In 2015, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 643, Assembly Bill 266,
and Assembly Bill 243, collectively referred to as the Medical Marijuana Regulation
and Safety Act ("MMRSA") further amended in 2016 as the Medical Cannabis
Regulation and Safety Act ("MCRSA"), which established regulations and a state
licensing system for medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, delivery, and
dispensing.
G. In 2016, the voters of the State of California approved and passed
Proposition 64 also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act ("AUMA").
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H. In 2017, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 94 also known as
Medicinal and Adult -Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).
I. Health & Safety Code Section 11362.83 provides that cities are free to
adopt and enforce local ordinances that regulate the location, operation, or
establishment of medical cannabis.
J. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana intends that nothing in this
article shall be deemed to conflict with federal law as contained in the Controlled
Substances Act, nor to otherwise permit any activity that is prohibited under that Act
or other applicable law.
K. The City of Santa Ana has a compelling interest in ensuring that cannabis
is not distributed in an illicit manner, in protecting the public health, safety and
welfare of its residents and businesses, in preserving the peace and quiet of the
neighborhoods in which these uses may operate, and in providing access of
cannabis to residents.
Section 2. This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by the
California Constitution and State law, including by not limited to, Article IX, Section 7 of
the California Constitution, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (California Health and
Safety Code Section 11362.5), the Medical Marijuana Program (California Health and
Safety Code Section 11362.7 et seq.), the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act
(AB 266, AB 243, and SB 643; hereafter "MMRSA"), the Adult Use of Marijuana Act
(Proposition 64), and the Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act
(SB 94; hereafter "MAUCRSA").
Section 3. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and
the State CEQA Guidelines, the adoption of this ordinance is exempt from CEQA review
pursuant to California Code of Regulations section 15061(b)(3), which is applicable if it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a
significant effect on the environment. As a result, a Notice of Exemption will be filed
upon the adoption of this ordinance.
Section 4. The City hereby amends the Santa Ana Municipal Code ("SAMC) by
adding Article 1 to Chapter 40, entitled 'Regulation of Commercial Cannabis
Activities" as follows:
Chapter 40
ARTICLE 1. REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITIES
Section 40-1. Purpose and Intent.
The purpose and intent of this article is to regulate commercial cannabis business
activities, as defined in this article, in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of
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the residents of the City of Santa Ana by establishing regulations necessary for a
commercial cannabis business to obtain and maintain a Regulatory Safety Permit. Any
commercial cannabis businesses operating in the City of Santa Ana shall at all times be
in compliance with current State Law and this article. All commercial cannabis facilities
shall operate in accordance with the regulations in this article and with the conditions of
approval associated with the applicable zone for the parcel of real property upon which
the commercial cannabis activities are conducted. Any commercial cannabis business
shall qualify for and receive a Regulatory Safety Permit from the City of Santa Ana as
provided by this article and operate only in a zone in compliance with Santa Ana
Municipal Code before commencing with any commercial cannabis activity. Any
commercial cannabis business without a Regulatory Safety Permit is in violation of this
article. The regulations in this article, in compliance with the Compassionate Use Act,
the Medicinal Marijuana Program Act, SB 94, AB 133, Proposition 64, and the California
Health and Safety Code (collectively referred to as "State Law") do not interfere with the
right to use cannabis or medical cannabis as authorized under State Law, nor do they
criminalize the possession or commercial activities of cannabis or medical cannabis as
authorized under State Law.
Section 40-2. Definitions
The definitions are incorporated herein as fully set forth and are applicable to this article.
All definitions are intended to comply with those set forth by the State of California for all
commercial cannabis activities.
1. "Applicant' means a person who is required to file an application for a permit
under this article, including an individual owner, managing partner, officer of a
corporation, or any other operator, manager, employee, or agent of a commercial
cannabis business.
2. "Adult -use" means cannabis or cannabis products that are intended to be used
for non -medicinal purposes by a person 21 years of age or older.
3. "Authorized City of Santa Ana representative" any police officer, city
employee or agent of the city designated by the director of any city department
which has the authority and responsibility to enforce provisions as set forth in this
article.
4. "Business owner" means any of the following:
a. A person with an aggregate ownership interest of 20 percent or more in the
person applying for a license or a licensee, unless the interest is solely a
security, lien, or encumbrance.
b. The chief executive officer of a nonprofit or other entity.
c. A member of the board of directors of a nonprofit.
d. An individual who will be participating in the direction, control, or management
of the person applying for a license.
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5. "Cannabis" means all parts of the Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis Indica,
or Cannabis Ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin,
whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every
compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its
seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" also means the separated resin, whether crude or
purified, obtained from marijuana. "Cannabis" also means marijuana as defined
by Section 11018 of the California Health and Safety Code as enacted by
Chapter 14017 of the Statutes of 1972. "Cannabis" does not include the mature
stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the
seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or
preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil,
or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For
the purpose of this chapter, "cannabis" does not mean industrial hemp as that
term is defined by Section 81000 of the California Food and Agricultural Code or
Section 11018.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.
6. "Cannabis waste" means waste that is not hazardous waste, as defined in
Public Resources Code section 40191, that contains cannabis and that has been
made unusable and unrecognizable in the manner prescribed by the State.
7. "Canopy" means all of the following:
a. The designated area(s) at a licensed premise that will contain mature plants
at any point in time:
b. Canopy shall be calculated in square feet and measured using clearly
identifiable boundaries of all area(s) that will contain mature plants at any
point in time, including all of the space(s) within the boundaries:
c. Canopy may be noncontiguous but each unique area included in the total
canopy calculation shall be separated by an identifiable boundary such as an
interior wall or by at least 10 feet of open space: and
d. If mature plants are being cultivated using a shelving system the surface area
of each level shall be included in the total canopy calculation
8. "City" means the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation.
9. "Commercial cannabis activity" includes the cultivation, possession,
manufacture, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, distribution,
delivery, or sale of medicinal and adult -use cannabis or a cannabis product,
except as set forth in Section 19319 of the Business and Professions Code,
related to qualifying patients and primary caregivers, excepting medicinal
cannabis retail.
10. "Commercial cannabis business" means a business that obtains a Regulatory
Safety Permit and engages in the cultivation, possession, manufacture,
processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, distribution, delivery, or sale of
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adult -use cannabis, medicinal cannabis or an adult -use cannabis or medicinal
cannabis product, except as related Business and Professions Code Section
19319, or Health and Safety Code Sections 11362.1 through 11362.45, as
amended from time to time, excepting medicinal cannabis retail.
11. "Commercial vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in Vehicle Code section 260.
12. "Concentrated cannabis product" means a consolidation of cannabinoids
made by dissolving cannabis in its plant form into a solvent.
13. "Cultivation" means any activity involving the propagation, planting, growing,
harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis. Indoor cultivation
means using exclusively artificial lighting -greater than 22,000 square feet
14. "Customer" means a natural person 21 years of age or over.
15. "Delivery" means the commercial transfer of cannabis or cannabis products from
a retail cannabis business to a customer up to an amount determined to be
authorized by the State of California, or any of its departments or divisions.
"Delivery" also includes the use by a retail cannabis business of any technology
platform owned, controlled, and/ or licensed by the retail cannabis business, or
independently licensed by the State of California under the State law (as
amended from time to time), that enables anyone to arrange for or facilitate the
commercial transfer by a licensed retail cannabis business of cannabis or
cannabis products. For the purposes of this article, "delivery" does not include
distribution or purchase of cannabis from a licensed cultivator, and cannabis
products from a licensed manufacturer, for sale to a licensed cannabis business
or a wholesale establishment.
16. "Delivery employee" means an individual employed by a licensed retail
cannabis business who delivers cannabis goods from the permitted retail
premises to a medicinal cannabis patient or primary caregiver or customer at a
physical address.
17. "Display" means cannabis goods that are stored in the licensed retail business
during the hours of operation.
18. "Display case" means container in the licensed retail business where cannabis
goods are stored and visible to customers.
19. "Distribution" means the procurement, sale, and transport of cannabis or
cannabis products between entities licensed pursuant to the Medicinal and Adult -
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Use of Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act and any subsequent State of
California legislation regarding the same.
20. "Edible cannabis product" means manufactured cannabis that is intended to
be used, in whole or in part, for consumption. An edible cannabis product is not
considered food as defined by Section 109935 of the California Health and
Safety Code or a drug as defined by Section 109925 of the California Health and
Safety Code.
21. "Free sample" means any amount of commercial cannabis goods provided to a
purchaser of cannabis without cost or payment or exchange of any other thing of
value.
22. "In -Lieu Fee Agreement' means a mitigation option used by the City to
compensate for authorized impacts to City services and/or residents.
23. "License/Licensee" means a license issued by the State and includes both an
A -license and an M -license, as well as a testing laboratory license, and the
holder of such license.
24. "Limited -access area" means an area in which cannabis goods are stored or
held and which is only accessible to a Licensee and the Licensee's employees
and contractors.
25. "Manufacturer" means a Licensee that conducts the production, preparation,
propagation, or compounding of cannabis or cannabis products either directly or
indirectly or by extraction methods, or independently by means of chemical
synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis at a fixed
location that packages or repackages cannabis or cannabis products or labels or
relabels its container.
26. "Manufacturing" or "manufacturing operation" means all aspects of the
extraction and/or infusion processes, including processing, preparing, holding,
storing, packaging, or labeling of cannabis products. Manufacturing also includes
any processing, preparing, holding, or storing of components and ingredients.
27. "Medicinal cannabis" or "Medicinal cannabis product', means cannabis or a
product containing cannabis, including, but not limited to, concentrates, and
extractions, intended to be sold for use by medicinal cannabis patients in
California pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, found at Section
11362.5 of the California Health and Safety Code. Medicinal cannabis retail is
regulated by Chapter 18 and Chapter 21 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.
28. "Medicinal cannabis patient" is a person whose physician has recommended
the use of cannabis to treat a serious illness, including cancer, anorexia, AIDS,
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chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for
which cannabis provides relief.
29. "Microbusiness" means a commercial cannabis business that cultivates
cannabis on an area less than 10,000 square feet and acts as a licensed
distributor, Level 1 manufacturer, and retailer.
30. "Non-volatile solvent' means any solvent used in the extraction process that is
not a volatile solvent. For purposes of this chapter, a non-volatile solvent includes
carbon dioxide used for extraction, or as it may be defined and amended by the
State.
31. "Nursery" means a commercial cannabis Licensee that produces only clones,
immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used specifically for the
planting, propagation, and cultivation of cannabis.
32. "Operating hours" means the hours within a day during which a permitted
commercial cannabis business may allow cannabis customers to enter the retail
premises and purchase cannabis goods.
33. "Outdoor Cultivation" means the cultivation of cannabis without the use of
artificial lighting of any kind. Outdoor cultivation is prohibited within the City of
Santa Ana.
34. "Ownership interest' means an interest held by a person who is an owner as
defined by State of California commercial cannabis regulations or who has a
financial interest in the commercial cannabis business of 5% or more.
35. "Package" and "Packaging" means any container or wrapper that may be used
for enclosing or containing any cannabis goods for final retail sale. 'Package' and
"packaging" does not include a shipping container or outer wrapping used solely
for the transport of cannabis goods in bulk quantity to a Licensee.
36. "Person" includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association,
corporation, limited liability company, estate, trust, business trust, receiver,
syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit, and the plural as
well as the singular.
37. "Premises" means the designated structure(s) and land specified in the
application that are in possession of and used by the applicant or Licensee to
conduct the commercial cannabis activity.
38. "Primary Caregiver" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section
11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code.
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39. "Private Residence" shall have the same definition as that contained in Health
and Safety Code section 11362.2(5) and also means a lawfully established
structure, suitable for human occupancy as required by section 17922 and 17958
of the California Health and Safety Code. A recreational vehicle does not
constitute a lawfully established structure for the purposes of this article.
40. "Private security officer" has the same meaning as that term as defined in the
State of California Business and Professions Code section 7574.01.
41. "Publicly owned land" means any building or real property that is owned by a
city, county, state, federal, or other government entity.
42. "Purchase" means obtaining cannabis goods in exchange for consideration.
43. "Purchaser" means a person who is engaged in a transaction with a Licensee
for purposes of obtaining cannabis goods.
44. "Responsible person" means any of the following:
a) A person who causes a Code violation to occur.
b) A person who maintains or allows a Code violation to continue, his or her
action or failure to act.
c) A person whose agent, employee, or independent contractor causes a
Code violation by its failure to act.
d) A person who is the owner of, and/or a person who is a lessee or sub
lessee with the current right of possession of, real property where
property -related Code violation occurs.
e) A person who is the on-site manager of a business who normally works
daily at the site when the business is open and is responsible for the
activities of such premises. For the purposes of this article "person"
includes a natural person or legal entity, and the owners, majority
stakeholders, corporate officers, trustees, and general partners of a legal
entity.
45. "Retail area" means a building, room, or other area upon the licensed cannabis
retail business premises in which cannabis goods are sold or displayed.
46. "Retail business" means a premises where adult -use cannabis, commercial
cannabis products, or devices for the use of cannabis or cannabis products are
offered, either individually or in any combination for retail sale, including an
establishment that delivers cannabis or cannabis products as part of a retail sale.
47. "Regulatory Safety Permit (RSP)" means a permit issued by the City pursuant
to this article to a commercial cannabis business.
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48. "Security monitoring" means the continuous and uninterrupted attention to
potential alarm signals that can be transmitted from a security alarm system for
the purpose of summoning law enforcement.
49. "Sell," "sale," and "to sell' include any transaction whereby, for any
consideration, title to cannabis is transferred from one person to another, and
includes the delivery of cannabis goods pursuant to an order placed for the
purchase of the same and soliciting or receiving an order for the same, but does
not include the return of cannabis goods by a licensee to the licensee from whom
such cannabis goods were purchased.
50. "Sublet' means to lease or rent all or part of a leased or rented property.
51. "State" means the State of California.
52. "Testing Laboratory" means a laboratory, facility, or entity in the State that
offers or performs tests of cannabis or cannabis products and that is both of the
following:
a) Accredited by an accrediting body that is independent from all other
persons involved in commercial cannabis activity in the State; and,
b) Licensed by the Bureau of Cannabis Control.
53. "Volatile solvent' means any solvent that is or produces a flammable gas or
vapor that, when present in the air in sufficient quantities, will create explosive or
ignitable mixtures. Examples of volatile solvents include but are not limited to,
butane, hexane, propane, and ethanol, or as it may be defined and amended by
the State.
54. "Wholesale" means the sale of cannabis goods to a distributor for resale to one
or more retail cannabis businesses.
Section 40-3. Compliance with State and Local Licensing Requirements
Any commercial cannabis business as defined by the State of California and the City of
Santa Ana shall operate in conformance with all regulations and standards set forth in
this article to assure that the operations of any commercial cannabis business as
defined by the State of California and allowed by the City of Santa Ana are in
compliance with local and State law and are established to mitigate any adverse
secondary effects from its operations.
Commercial cannabis businesses shall be required to obtain a Regulatory Safety Permit
(RSP) from the City of Santa Ana and a State license once they become available, and
shall comply with any applicable State licensing requirements, such as operational
standards and locational criteria.
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Multiple cannabis uses and licenses proposed on any one site shall occur only if
authorized by the State and the City of Santa Ana and only if all uses proposed are
allowed pursuant to the City's Zoning Code. Any cannabis activity not specifically
permitted by this article is prohibited.
Section 40-4. Maximum Number of Regulatory Safety Permits
The total number of commercial cannabis businesses in operation shall be determined
based on the number of locations which have been issued a Regulatory Safety Permit
by the City of Santa Ana. In no case shall the City of Santa Ana allow more the than the
following commercial cannabis businesses to operate within City limits, regardless of
the location's compliance with any other Section specified in this article:
A. 20 total cannabis indoor cultivation businesses.
B. 20 total cannabis manufacturing businesses.
C. 20 total cannabis medicinal retail businesses (as regulated by Article XIII of
Chapter 18).
D. 23 total cannabis adult -use retail businesses.
E. 20 total cannabis distribution businesses.
F. No cap on cannabis testing laboratory businesses.
Section 40-5. Zoning Compliance and Regulatory Safety Permit Requirements
Commercial cannabis activities are expressly prohibited in all zones in the City of Santa
Ana; however, specific commercial cannabis businesses are allowed as a special use in
the Industrial zone (M-1, M-2). Commercial cannabis businesses shall apply for and
conduct business only in the appropriate zones as described in Table 40-5 and the City
of Santa Ana's zoning ordinance as a requisite for obtaining a Regulatory Safety Permit.
No commercial cannabis business may operate in the City of Santa Ana without a
Regulatory Safety Permit.
This Land Use Table 40-5 shall be used to determine whether a commercial cannabis
business is permitted — "P", or not permitted — "X". Any commercial cannabis business
in the City of Santa Ana shall also operate in compliance with the City's zoning
ordinance. If a Zoning District is not listed in the Land Use Table in this section then the
use is expressly not permitted.
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commercial ..
.,
Cannabis
Business,M'2
1
`RegulatoryAttivities .
land Use Classification
-
Zone"
Zone Permit
Use Type
F" '
Required
P . Yes
Cultivator
Indoor - Type A
Cultivator
Indoor -TypeB
P,•.
P _'
Yes
Cultivator
Indoor - Type C
P
P
Yes
Nursery
Indoor/Outdoor - Type D "
;X, ."
X:..
NA
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
P ,
R
Yes
Retail
Medicinal Retail
P''
,.P'
Yes
(SAMC Chapter 18)
Retail
Adult -Use Retail
P. ',
. `P
Yes
Testing
No Retail
sp "
p' "
Yes
Laboratory
Distribution
FreightlTransport
; ^ "R " '
• P
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Micro-BusinessDistribution
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NA
Land Use Classifications:
Commercial A - permitted cultivation area: 0 to 5,000 square feet
Commercial B — permitted cultivation area: 5,001 to 10,000 square feet
Commercial C — permitted cultivation area: 10,000 to 22,000 square feet
Commercial D — permitted cultivation area: 22,000 square feet
Section 40-6. Separation Requirements
(a) No commercial cannabis business shall be located within 1,000 feet of any:
(1) School (K-12) as defined by Section 11362.768 of the Health and Safety
Code; or
(2) Park; or
(3) Existing Residential zone.
(b) No cannabis retail business shall be located within 500 feet of another retail
business, except for permitted co -location.
(c) No separation requirements for all non -retail commercial cannabis businesses.
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Section 40-7. Exceptions
Commercial cannabis cultivation is expressly prohibited in all zones and all specific plan
areas in the City except for Industrial zone (M-1, M-2); provided, however, that six (6)
plants per private residence may be cultivated indoors within a legally permitted
structure for personal use in compliance with all applicable local and State regulations.
Section 40-8. General Provisions for Commercial Cannabis Activities in the City
of Santa Ana
1. Commercial Cannabis Regulatory Safety Permit Required
a. Each business shall obtain a Regulatory Safety Permit (RSP) specific to the
business activity defined by the State pertaining to that activity. Following is a list
of current permit types:
I. Cultivation
ii. Distribution
iii. Manufacturing
iv. Retail sales (Adult Use)
v. Testing
b. It shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership or corporation to
engage in, conduct or carry on, in or upon any premises within the City of Santa
Ana any commercial cannabis business without a RSP. A cannabis business
shall register and obtain a RSP from the City of Santa Ana prior to operation.
The RSP applicant shall pay an annual non-refundable application fee in an
amount established by the City Council.
c. A copy of the RSP shall be displayed at all times in a place visible to the public.
d. A RSP shall be valid for a period of one (1) year, unless sooner revoked. No
permit granted herein shall confer any vested right to any person or business for
more than the above -referenced period.
2. Maintenance of Records and Reporting
All records shall be maintained by the commercial cannabis business for a period of
five (5) years and shall be made available by the commercial cannabis business to
an authorized City of Santa Ana representative upon request. If they are not
produced as requested the City may seek a search warrant, subpoena, or court
order. In addition to all other formats that the commercial cannabis business may
maintain, these records shall be stored by the commercial cannabis business at the
location in a printed format in a fire -proof safe. Any loss, damage or destruction of
the records shall be reported to the Police Department within 24 hours of the loss,
destruction or damage.
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a. The business shall obtain and maintain a valid Seller's Permit from the State
Board of Equalization.
b. Financial records include, but are not limited to: bank statements, sales invoices,
receipts, tax records, and all records required by the California State Board of
Equalization under Title 18 California Code of Regulations section 1968.
c. Personnel records, including each employee's full name, address, phone
number, social security, or individual tax payer identification number, date of
beginning employment, and date of termination of employment if applicable.
d. Training records, including but not limited to the content of the training provided
and the names of the employees that received the training.
e. Contracts with other businesses regarding commercial cannabis activity.
f. Permits, licenses, and other local authorizations to conduct the commercial
cannabis activity.
g. Security records.
h. Proof of building ownership or landlord letter acknowledging business type.
i. Proof of insurance.
3. Operational Standards for Commercial Cannabis Business Activities
a. The location, interior and exterior, shall be monitored at all times by web -based
closed circuit television for security purposes. The camera and recording system
must be of adequate quality, color rendition and resolution to allow the ready
identification of any individual committing a crime anywhere on or adjacent to the
location. The recordings shall be maintained unaltered in a secure location for a
period of not less than ninety (90) days. The police department may request the
recordings in connection with an investigation.
b. All controlled access areas, security rooms and all points of ingresslegress to
limited access areas and all point of sale (POS) areas shall have fixed camera
coverage capable of identifying activity occurring within a minimum of twenty (20)
feet.
c. The surveillance system storage device or cameras shall be transmission control
protocol/TCP capable of being accessed through the internet by the police
department or their designee on request.
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d. The applicant shall conduct and pay for any required CEQA reviews and
analyses, and pay for all costs, including those of the City, associated with
project review under CEQA.
e. Commercial cannabis businesses shall create and maintain an active account
within the State's track and trace system prior to commencing any commercial
cannabis activity. In the event of system failure, the business shall keep a hard
copy record and transfer the information to the track and trace system within 24
hours of the system being available.
f. No physical modification of the licensed premises is allowed without written prior
permission by the City of Santa Ana and payment of any additional fees required
by the City.
g. Commercial cannabis business activities shall provide adequate off-street
parking and comply with the City of Santa Ana Municipal Code parking
requirements in order to service customers without causing negative impact.
h. The commercial cannabis business shall provide adequate disabled access
parking per the requirements in the California Building Code.
i. The commercial cannabis business shall minimize nuisances such as trash, litter,
and graffiti.
j. Any and all signage, packaging, and facilities shall not be 'attractive', as it is
defined by the State, to minors.
k. Commercial cannabis business facilities shall be required to provide an air
treatment system that ensures off-site odors shall not result from its operations.
This requirement at a minimum means that the facility shall be designed to
provide sufficient odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust systems so that any
odor generated inside the location is not detected outside the building, on
adjacent properties or public rights-of-way, or within any other unit located within
the same building as the facility if the use occupies only a portion of a building.
I. A permitted commercial cannabis business entity shall have 180 days after
permit issuance by the City of Santa Ana to begin initial operations, unless
otherwise approved by the Director of Planning and or designee. A permitted
commercial cannabis business entity that ceases to operate for more than 180
calendar days shall be deemed "abandoned" and the permit shall be forfeited. A
business may temporarily suspend operations for a period of time as may be
reasonably required to affect upgrades, modifications, repairs, or other property
issue mitigations as approved by the Director of Planning or designee.
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m. The commercial cannabis business shall comply with all State regulations
regarding:
i. Testing, labeling and storage of all cannabis products.
ii. Use of appropriate weighing devices.
iii. Electrical and plumbing regulations subject to periodic and unannounced
inspections to ensure compliance.
iv. State deadlines for applying for a State license and receiving a State
license within six (6) months after the date the State begins issuing
licenses. This may be waived if the State has longer delays in issuing
licenses of the type the commercial cannabis business seeks.
n. The commercial cannabis business shall meet all State and local regulations for
the disposal of all cannabis materials and materials used in conjunction with
processing, distributing and cultivating of cannabis.
o. The commercial cannabis business shall conform to all State and local
regulations regarding water usage. No liquids of any kind shall be discharged into
a public or private sewage or drainage system, watercourse, body of water or
into the ground, except in compliance with applicable regulations of the California
Regional Water Quality Control Board (California Administrative Code, Title 23,
Chapter 3).
p. The commercial cannabis business shall maintain a comprehensive general
liability combined single occurrence insurance policy issued by an "A" rated
insurance carrier in an amount no less than Two Million Dollars, with primary
coverage, naming the City of Santa Ana as additional insured.
q. No free samples of any cannabis or cannabis product may be distributed at any
time.
r. All agents, private security officers or other persons acting for or employed by a
commercial cannabis business shall display a laminated identification badge at
least 2" X 2" in size, issued by the business. The badge, at a minimum, shall
include the business's "doing business as" name and license number, the
employees first and last name, and a color photo of the employee that shows the
full front of the employee's face.
s. All private security officers acting for or employed by a commercial cannabis
business shall be licensed by the State and issued a business license from the
City of Santa Ana.
t. The commercial cannabis business shall have a centrally -monitored fire and
burglar alarm system which shall include all perimeter entry points and perimeter
windows and the building or portion of the building where the commercial
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-19
cannabis business is located shall contain a fire -proof safe or fire proof filing
cabinet and include a safety and security plan.
u. The commercial cannabis business shall ensure a licensed alarm company
operator or one or more of its registered alarm agents installs, maintains,
monitors and responds to the alarm system. The alarm company shall obtain a
City of Santa Ana business license.
v. The commercial cannabis business shall provide the name and phone number of
an on-site staff person to the police department and the Code Enforcement
Division of the Planning and Building Agency for notification if there are
operational problems with the establishment.
w. The commercial cannabis business must obtain and maintain a valid City
business license at all times as a condition for receiving, renewing, and
maintaining their regulatory safety permit.
x. Occupancy shall not exceed that required under the Uniform Building Code and
Uniform Fire Code, and the maximum occupancy load shall be posted at the
main entrance.
y. For any commercial cannabis business with two (2) or more employees, the
business owner shall attest that he/she has entered into a labor peace
agreement and provide a copy of the agreement to the City.
z. Each commercial cannabis business owner, operator(s) and employee(s) shall
complete a criminal background check and wear a visible photo ID at all times
during working hours. Owners operators employees managers or volunteers
may not have been convicted of or pledguilty/no-contest to a felony or
misdemeanor drug charge within the past four (4) years: nor shall they be a
person required to register as a controlled substance offender pursuant to Health
& Safety Code section 11590.
4. Additional Operational Standards for Adult -use Retail Business
a. At all times the adult -use retail business is open, it shall provide at least one
private security guard who is licensed, possesses a valid Department of
Consumer Affairs "security guard card", and has a valid business license from
the City of Santa Ana.
b. The private security guard and adult -use retail business personnel shall monitor
the site and the immediate vicinity of the site to ensure that patrons immediately
leave the site and do not consume cannabis in the vicinity of the retail business
or on the property or in the parking lot.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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c. Exterior signage shall comply with Article XI of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana
Municipal Code. Interior signage or advertising may not be visible from the
exterior. Retail businesses must comply with the advertising and marketing
provisions of Business and Professions Code §§ 26150-26155.
d. There shall be no on-site sales of alcohol or tobacco products, (excluding rolling
papers and lighters) and no on-site consumption of food, alcohol or tobacco by
patrons.
e. Hours of operation shall be limited to: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. No licensed retail
business shall be open to the public between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 6:59
a.m. of any day.
f. An adult -use retail business shall notify patrons of the following both verbally and
through posting of a sign in a conspicuous location:
Secondary sale, barter or distribution of adult -use cannabis is a crime
and can lead to arrest.
ii. That loitering on and around the retail site is prohibited by California
Penal Code § 647(e) and that patrons must immediately leave the site
and not consume cannabis in the vicinity of the retail site or on the
property or in the parking lot.
iii. A warning that patrons may be subject to prosecution under federal
cannabis laws.
iv. That the use of cannabis may impair a person's ability to drive a motor
vehicle or operate machinery.
g. No one under the age of 21 shall be allowed to enter an Adult -use facility unless
the licensed adult -use facility holds a medicinal use cannabis retail license issued
by the State and the licensed premises for the adult -use cannabis license and
medicinal cannabis license are the same in accordance with Business and
Professions Code section 26140.
h. If food is distributed, the retail business shall comply with all relevant State laws,
County and City ordinances pertaining to the preparation, distribution and sale of
food.
i. All retail businesses shall establish and implement a program to incentivize the
recycling of used containers.
j. Retail businesses shall also record on the video surveillance system point-of-sale
areas and areas where cannabis goods are displayed for sale.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-21
k. Adequate signage shall clearly state who has inspected any cannabis product for
pesticides, or other regulated contaminants, distributed at this location.
I. Shipments of cannabis goods may only be accepted during regular business
hours.
m. Inventory shall be secured using a lockable storage system during non -business
hours.
n. No cannabis product shall be visible form the exterior of the business.
o. All required labelling shall be maintained on all product, as required by State law,
at all times.
p. Educational tours of adult -use retail cannabis businesses shall be allowed.
5. Additional Operational Standards for Commercial Cannabis Delivery Services
a. Commercial cannabis deliveries may be made only from a commercial cannabis
retail business permitted by the City in compliance with this article, and in
compliance with all State regulations.
b. All employees who deliver cannabis shall have valid identification and a copy of
the commercial cannabis retail business' Regulatory Safety Permit and State
license at all times while making deliveries.
c. All commercial cannabis delivery businesses shall maintain proof of vehicle
insurance for any and all vehicles being used to transport cannabis goods as
required by State law.
d. Deliveries may only take place during normal business hours of the commercial
cannabis retail business.
e; During delivery, the delivery employee shall maintain a physical or electronic
copy of the delivery request and shall make it available upon request by the
licensing authority and law enforcement officers. The delivery request
documentation shall comply with State law.
f. A licensed delivery employee shall not leave the State of California while
possessing cannabis products.
g. A commercial cannabis retail business shall maintain a list of all deliveries,
including the address delivered to, the amount and type of product delivered, and
any other information required by the State.
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75E-2-22
h. A manifest with all information required in this section shall accompany any
delivery person at all times during the delivery process and delivery hours.
I. Any delivery method shall be made in compliance with State law, as amended,
including use of a vehicle that has a dedicated GPS device for identifying the
location of the vehicle (cell phones and tablets are not sufficient).
j. Each delivery request shall have a receipt prepared by the retail business with
the following information:
i. Name and address of the retail business
ii. The name of the employee who delivered the order
iii. The date and time the delivery request was made
iv. The complete delivery addresses
v. A detailed description of the cannabis goods requested for delivery
including the weight or volume, or any accurate measure of the amount of
cannabis goods requested.
vi. The total amount paid for the delivery including any fees or taxes.
k. At the time of the delivery, the date and time delivery was made, and the
signature of the person who received the delivery.
I. No cannabis delivery vehicle shall display signs, decals or any other form of
advertisement with the exception of a maximum four -inch by four -inch decal.
m. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be a conducted
anytime during regular business hours.
6. Additional Operational Standards for Manufacturing Cannabis Businesses
a. Commercial cannabis manufacturing facilities are prohibited from using volatile
solvents in the manufacturing process as defined in the California Health and
Safety Code 11362.3(d) and as further defined in the California Health and
Safety Code 11362.775(b)(1)(A) and as amended from time to time, unless a
conditional use permit (CUP) for volatile solvents is applied for and granted
pursuant to Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.
b. A licensed commercial cannabis non-volatile manufacturing facility may conduct
all activities permitted by the State. This includes but is not limited to, non-volatile
extractions, repackaging and relabeling, infusions and extractions.
c. Any manufacturing activity that will be conducted by the commercial cannabis
business shall be included on the application. No additional manufacturing
activity can be conducted without applying for and receiving written permission
from the City of Santa Ana for that additional activity.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-23
d. At all times, the commercial cannabis manufacturing facility will be compliant with
all State regulations for cannabis manufacturing including Health and Safety
Code 11362.775, as amended from time to time. Signage shall be posted
regarding chemicals being used at the manufacturing facility.
e. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during the business's regular business hours.
f. Cannabis manufacturing facilities shall not contain an exhibition or product sales
area or allow for retail distribution of products at that location.
g. Educational tours of cannabis manufacturing businesses shall be allowed.
7. Additional Operational Standards for Indoor Cannabis Cultivation Businesses
a. From a public right-of-way, there shall be no exterior evidence of cannabis
cultivation.
b. The Building Official may require additional specific standards to meet the
California Building Code and Fire Code, including but not limited to installation of
fire suppression sprinklers.
c. Compliance with Section 13149 of Water Code as enforced by the State Water
Resources Control Board.
d. Educational tours of indoor cannabis cultivation businesses shall be allowed.
8. Additional Operational Standards for Cannabis Testing Laboratory Businesses
a. A licensed cannabis testing facility business, its owners and employees may not
hold an interest in any other cannabis business except another testing business.
b. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during the business's regular business hours.
c. Educational tours of cannabis testing laboratory businesses shall be allowed.
9. Additional Operational Standards for Cannabis Distribution Businesses
a. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during the business's regular business hours.
b. A distributor shall ensure that all cannabis goods batches are stored separately
and distinctly from other cannabis goods batches on the distributor's premises.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-24
c. Employee breakrooms, eating areas, changing facilities, and bathrooms shall be
completely separated from the storage areas.
d. Educational tours of cannabis distribution businesses shall be allowed.
Section 40-8. Commercial Cannabis Selection Process
1. Commercial Cannabis — Registration Application and Regulatory Safety Permit
Required
The Commercial Cannabis Regulatory Safety Permit ('RSP") selection process will be
conducted in two phases, Phase 1 (Registration Application) and Phase 2 (Regulatory
Safety Permit Application). Registration Applications will be reviewed by the Director of
Planning and Building or designees(s) for completeness and compliance, and if eligible,
will be placed on the 'Regulatory Safety Permit ('RSP") Eligibility List' and entered into
the Phase 2 Regulatory Safety Permit Application process. In Phase 2, the City of
Santa Ana has established a merit based point system to objectively award permits as
described in the Regulatory Safety Permit Application.
2. Phase 1 — Registration Application
a. Following the adoption of this article, the Director of Planning and Building shall
prepare commercial cannabis business registration application forms and a
related administrative policy. Each commercial cannabis business interested in
operating pursuant to this article may submit an application together with a non-
refundable processing fee in an amount established by the City Council.
b. The Registration Application period shall be thirty (30) calendar days from the
date the applications are released. Following the application period, the Director
of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall stop accepting applications and
review all applications received in Phase 1. Each application that is complete and
in compliance with the application requirements in Phase 1 shall be placed on
the 'RSP Eligibility List' and shall be notified in writing whether they are a 'RSP
Eligible Applicant' or not. Each applicant on the RSP Eligibility List may then
choose to file an application for a RSP in Phase 2.
c. The requirements for Phase 1 include but are not limited to:
I. All application documents required in the City's Phase 1 Registration
Application package.
ii. Application was submitted during the application period.
iii. Application forms are filled out completely.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-25
iv. Business Owner(s)/Applicant(s) referenced on the application provides
a Live Scan that was conducted within 14 days prior to submitting the
application.
V. Phase 1 application fee is paid.
vi. A signed statement that the proposed location of the commercial
cannabis business on the application meets the zoning criteria
established in this article including, but not limited to, any and all
sensitive use separation criteria required by this article.
d. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall determine whether
each application demonstrates compliance with the minimum requirements
(above) and be placed on the RSP Eligibility List and entered into the Phase 2
application and review process.
e. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall review each
application upon submission and ensure that the application is complete.
Incomplete applications will be promptly rejected and the applicant shall be
notified in writing of the deficiencies. The applicant shall be given an opportunity
to cure any incomplete or deficient application prior to the conclusion of the
application processing term, if such time period is applicable.
3. Phase 2 - Regulatory Safety Permit Application
a. Each applicant identified on the RSP Eligibility List may choose to complete and
file a RSP application to the Director of Planning and Building. The application
shall be filed together with a nonrefundable fee as established by resolution of
the City Council, to defray the cost of investigation required by this article.
b. The RSP application period shall be open for thirty (30) calendar days and may
run concurrently with the Phase 1 review period. Following the RSP application
period, the Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall stop accepting
applications and review all applications received in Phase 2.
c. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) will review all application
documents required in the City's Phase 2 application package plus the additional
requirements in subsection (d) below. The Director of Planning and Building or
designee(s) will use a merit based point system to review and rank each of
applications from the most to the least points and objectively award the top
applicants a RSP. A complete description of the merit based point system and all
merit based point considerations shall be included with the application forms.
d. Phase 2 requirements include but are not limited to:
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-26
L All application documents required in the City's Phase 2 RSP
application package.
ii. Phase 2 application fee is paid and a comprehensive owner
background check is completed.
iii. The Building Official or designee has inspected all structures in which
the use is located to determine that all applicable standards and
requirements are met. If a building permit is required for site
improvements, Permit issuance will be deferred until a certificate of
occupancy or other building permit approval is issued. Additionally, the
Building Official has determined that there are no notices of nuisance
or other code compliance issues recorded or on the property.
iv. The Planning Manager or designee has issued a Zoning Clearance
documenting compliance with the following:
1. The use is permitted;
2. All land use permits, if any, have been approved and all
conditions of approval have been met or are in good standing;
3. No zoning violations exist on the property; and
e. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall review each
application upon submission and ensure that the application is complete.
Incomplete applications will be promptly rejected and the applicant shall be
notified that business day of the deficiencies. The applicant shall be -given an
opportunity to cure any incomplete or deficient application prior to the conclusion
of the application processing term, if such time period is applicable.
4. Regulatory Safety Permit Annual Renewal
a. Applications for the renewal of a permit shall be filed with the Director of Planning
and Building or designee(s) at least sixty (60) calendar days before the expiration
of the current permit. Temporary permits will not be issued. Any permittee
allowing their permit to lapse or which permit expired during a suspension shall
be required to submit a new application, pay the corresponding original
application fees and be subject to all aspects of the selection process.
b. Any person desiring to obtain a renewal of their respective permit shall file a
written application under penalty of perjury on the required form with the Director
of Planning and Building or designee(s) who will conduct a review. The
application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee established by the
City Council to defray the cost of the review required by this article. An applicant
shall be required to update the information contained in their original permit
application and provide any new and/or additional information as may be
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-27
reasonably required by the Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) in
order to determine whether said permit should be renewed.
5. Appeal of Denial of Regulatory Safety Permit / Denial of RSP Renewal
The City Manager or designee(s) will review all Regulatory Safety Permit applications
and renewal requests, along with all other relevant information, and determine if a RSP
should be granted and/or renewed. If the City Manager determines that the permit shall
not be granted and/or renewed, the reasons for denial shall be provided in writing to the
applicant. No such denial shall become effective until the applicant for the regulatory
safety permit and/or renewal has been notified in writing by certified mail of the right to
appeal the denial decision pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Code. If a
timely appeal is filed, the denial shall be effective only upon decision of the City Council.
Otherwise, the denial shall become effective after the timely appeal period has passed.
The matter may be subject to judicial review under the provisions of California Code of
Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6.
Section 40-9. Audits.
Annual audits. No later than June 30Th of every year, each licensed commercial
cannabis business shall file with the City an audit or financial review of its operations of
the previous calendar year. The form and contents of the document shall be specified
by the Executive Director of Finance and Management Services, or designee(s).
Section 40-10. Inspection and enforcement responsibilities.
The Code Enforcement Division of the Planning and Building Agency may enter and
inspect the location of any commercial cannabis business between the hours of 7: 00
a.m. and 11:00 p.m., or at any reasonable time, to ensure compliance with this article.
In addition, a designated unit within the police department may enter and inspect the
location of any commercial cannabis business and the recordings and records
maintained as required by this article, except that the inspection and copying of private
medical records shall be made available to the police department only pursuant to a
properly executed search warrant, subpoena, or court order. It is unlawful for any
owner, responsible person, landlord, lessee, member including but not limited to a
member engaged in the management), or any other person having any responsibility
over the operation of the commercial cannabis business to refuse to allow, impede,
obstruct or interfere with an inspection, review or copying of records and closed- circuit
monitoring authorized and required under this article, including but not limited to, the
concealment, destruction, and falsification of any recordings, records, or monitoring.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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Section 40-11. Violation and enforcement.
1. Violation/enforcement.
Each and every violation of this article shall constitute a separate violation and shall be
subject to all remedies and enforcement measures authorized by this Code.
Additionally, as a nuisance per se, any violation of this article shall be subject to
injunctive relief, revocation of the commercial cannabis business registration, revocation
of the certificate of occupancy for the location, disgorgement and payment to the City of
any and all monies unlawfully obtained, costs of abatement, costs of investigation,
attorney fees, and any other relief or remedy available at law or equity. The City may
also pursue any and all remedies and actions available and applicable under local and
State laws for any violations committed by the commercial cannabis business and
persons related or associated with the business.
2. Suspension or revocation.
When an authorized City of Santa Ana representative finds that any person holding a
regulatory safety permit under the provisions of Chapter 40 has violated the provisions
of this chapter or is found guilty of conduct which would form the basis of denial of the
regulatory safety permit as set forth in Article XIII of Chapter 18, s/he may revoke or
suspend the permit. No such revocation shall become effective until the regulatory
safety permit holder has been notified in writing by certified mail of the right to appeal
the revocation decision pursuant to the provisions or Chapter 3 of this Code. If a timely
appeal is filed, the revocation shall be effective only upon decision of the City Council.
Otherwise, the revocation shall become effective after the timely appeal period has
passed.
Section 40-12. Transfer of Ownership.
1. Upon the transfer of any interest in a commercial cannabis business, the regulatory
safety permit shall be null and void. Any person, firm or entity desiring to own
operate the commercial cannabis business shall make a new application. Prior to or
concurrent with the submission of said application the transferee shall obtain all
required business licenses, post all required security deposits, acquire all necessary,
certificates, permits or other licenses allowing the doing of any act which the person
paying or holding the same would not otherwise be entitled to do; and any permit,
license, variance or other instrument of approval or evidence that any conditions
exist as required by any other section of this Code or by any statute or code
provisions of the state must first be obtained or complied with before the doing of
any act or thing for which it is required. A fee as established by resolution of the City
Council shall be payable for each such application involving transfer of any interest
in an existing commercial cannabis business. The provisions of this section shall
apply to any person, firm, or entity applying for a regulatory safety permit for
premises previously used as such establishment.
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-29
2. Any such transfer of any interest in an existing commercial cannabis business or any
application for an extension or expansion of the building or other place of business
of the commercial cannabis business shall require inspection and compliance with
section 40-10 of this article.
3. The owner or operator of a commercial cannabis business shall be responsible for
notifying the City of any intention to rename, change management, or convey the
business to another person/entity. Notification to the City must be made a minimum
of sixty (60) days prior to such transfer.
Section 40-13. Limitations on the City's Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the City shall not assume any liability whatsoever,
with respect to approving any Regulatory Safety Permits pursuant to this article or the
operation of any commercial cannabis business approved pursuant to this chapter. As a
condition of approval of a Regulatory Safety Permit as provided in this chapter, the
applicant or its legal representative shall:
1. Execute an agreement indemnifying the City from any claims, damages, injuries or
liabilities of any kind associated with the registration or operation of the commercial
cannabis facility or the prosecution of the applicant or business or its members for
violation of federal or State laws;
2. Maintain insurance in the amounts and types that are acceptable to the City Attorney
or designee;
3. Name the City as an additionally insured on all City required insurance policies;
4. Agree to defend, at its sole expense, any action against the City, its agents, officers,
and employees related to the approval of a Regulatory Safety Permit; and
5. Agree to indemnify and reimburse the City for any court costs and attorney fees that
the City may be required to pay as a result of any legal challenge related to this
ordinance and/or the City's approval of a Regulatory Safety Permit. The City may, at
its sole discretion, participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action,
but such participation shall not relieve the operator of its obligation hereunder.
Section 40-14. Fees and Taxes
All commercial cannabis businesses shall pay applicable fees and taxes, which may
shall include one or more of the following:
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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75E-2-30
1. Application Fees. The business owner shall submit a non-refundable fee to cover the
cost of processing an application for the commercial cannabis business. These fees
may be divided into two fees according to Registration Application (Phase 1) and
RSP Application (Phase 2).
2. Regulatory Safety Permit Renewal Fees. The business owner shall submit a non-
refundable fee to cover the cost of processing an application renewal annually.
3. Business License Fee. The business owner shall at all times maintain a current and
valid business license and pay all business taxes required by the Santa Ana
Municipal Code.
4. In -Lieu Agreement Fees.
5. Additional cannabis -specific gross receipts, excise, cultivation or any other tax
approved by the voters of the City of Santa Ana.
6. All required taxes including sales and use taxes, business, payroll etc.
Section 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby
declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection,
sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more
sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 6. The Clerk of the Council shall certify the adoption of this ordinance
and shall cause the same to be published as required by law.
ADOPTED this day of 2017.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
0
Lisa Storck
Assistant City Attorney
Miguel A. Pulido
Mayor
75E-2-31
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
Page 27 of 28
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers:
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers:
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify that the
attached Ordinance No. NS- to be the original ordinance adopted by the
City Council of the City of Santa Ana on , and that said
ordinance was published in accordance with the Charter of the City of Santa Ana.
Date:
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
75E-2-32
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
Page 28 of 28
CLEAN
VERSION
Exhibit 2
75E-2-33
75E-2-34
ORDINANCE NO. NS -XXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY
OF SANTA ANA CREATING CHAPTER 40 OF THE SANTA
ANA MUNICIPAL CODE, "REGULATION OF
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS", TO REGULATE
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITIES, EXCEPTING
MEDICINAL RETAIL
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA HEREBY ORDAINS AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana herby finds, determines and
declares as follows:
A. In 1996, the California electorate approved Proposition 215, the
Compassionate Use Act which allows a patient, with a doctors recommendation, to
use cannabis for medical purposes without the fear of prosecution or arrest.
B. In 2003, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 420 (Medical
Marijuana Program Act) which amended the Health and Safety Code to permit the
establishment of medical cannabis dispensaries for the distribution of cannabis for
medical purposes.
C. In 2005, the California Board of Equalization began issuing seller's permits
for sales consisting of medical cannabis.
D. In 2008, the California Attorney General issued guidelines for the security
and non -diversion of cannabis grown for medical use.
E. On November 4, 2014, Santa Ana voters approved Santa Ana's Medical
Marijuana Regulatory Program ordinance ("Measure BB") which was codified in
Chapters 18 and 21 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code. Such regulations govern
medicinal marijuana and the retail sale thereof.
F. In 2015, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 643, Assembly Bill 266,
and Assembly Bill 243, collectively referred to as the Medical Marijuana Regulation
and Safety Act ("MMRSA") further amended in 2016 as the Medical Cannabis
Regulation and Safety Act ("MCRSA"), which established regulations and a state
licensing system for medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, delivery, and
dispensing.
G. In 2016, the voters of the State of California approved and passed
Proposition 64 also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act ("AUMA").
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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H. In 2017, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 94 also known as
Medicinal and Adult -Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).
I. Health & Safety Code Section 11362.83 provides that cities are free to
adopt and enforce local ordinances that regulate the location, operation, or
establishment of medical cannabis.
J. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana intends that nothing in this
article shall be deemed to conflict with federal law as contained in the Controlled
Substances Act, nor to otherwise permit any activity that is prohibited under that Act
or other applicable law.
K. The City of Santa Ana has a compelling interest in ensuring that cannabis
is not distributed in an illicit manner, in protecting the public health, safety and
welfare of its residents and businesses, in preserving the peace and quiet of the
neighborhoods in which these uses may operate, and in providing access of
cannabis to residents.
Section 2. This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by the
California Constitution and State law, including by not limited to, Article IX, Section 7 of
the California Constitution, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (California Health and
Safety Code Section 11362.5), the Medical Marijuana Program (California Health and
Safety Code Section 11362.7 et seq.), the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act
(AB 266, AB 243, and SB 643; hereafter "MMRSA"), the Adult Use of Marijuana Act
(Proposition 64), and the Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act
(SB 94; hereafter "MAUCRSA").
Section 3. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and
the State CEQA Guidelines, the adoption of this ordinance is exempt from CEQA review
pursuant to California Code of Regulations section 15061(b)(3), which is applicable if it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a
significant effect on the environment. As a result, a Notice of Exemption will be filed
upon the adoption of this ordinance.
Section 4. The City hereby amends the Santa Ana Municipal Code ("SAMC") by
adding Article 1 to Chapter 40, entitled 'Regulation of Commercial Cannabis
Activities" as follows:
Chapter 40
ARTICLE 1. REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITIES
Section 40-1. Purpose and Intent.
The purpose and intent of this article is to regulate commercial cannabis business
activities, as defined in this article, in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of
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the residents of the City of Santa Ana by establishing regulations necessary for a
commercial cannabis business to obtain and maintain a Regulatory Safety Permit. Any
commercial cannabis businesses operating in the City of Santa Ana shall at all times be
in compliance with current State Law and this article. All commercial cannabis facilities
shall operate in accordance with the regulations in this article and with the conditions of
approval associated with the applicable zone for the parcel of real property upon which
the commercial cannabis activities are conducted. Any commercial cannabis business
shall qualify for and receive a Regulatory Safety Permit from the City of Santa Ana as
provided by this article and operate only in a zone in compliance with Santa Ana
Municipal Code before commencing with any commercial cannabis activity. Any
commercial cannabis business without a Regulatory Safety Permit is in violation of this
article. The regulations in this article, in compliance with the Compassionate Use Act,
the Medicinal Marijuana Program Act, SB 94, AB 133, Proposition 64, and the California
Health and Safety Code (collectively referred to as "State Law") do not interfere with the
right to use cannabis or medical cannabis as authorized under State Law, nor do they
criminalize the possession or commercial activities of cannabis or medical cannabis as
authorized under State Law.
Section 40-2. Definitions
The definitions are incorporated herein as fully set forth and are applicable to this article.
All definitions are intended to comply with those set forth by the State of California for all
commercial cannabis activities.
1. "Applicant' means a person who is required to file an application for a permit
under this article, including an individual owner, managing partner, officer of a
corporation, or any other operator, manager, employee, or agent of a commercial
cannabis business.
2. "Adult -use" means cannabis or cannabis products that are intended to be used
for non -medicinal purposes by a person 21 years of age or older.
3. "Authorized City of Santa Ana representative" any police officer, city
employee or agent of the city designated by the director of any city department
which has the authority and responsibility to enforce provisions as set forth in this
article.
4. "Business owner" means any of the following:
a. A person with an aggregate ownership interest of 20 percent or more in the
person applying for a license or a licensee, unless the interest is solely a
security, lien, or encumbrance.
b. The chief executive officer of a nonprofit or other entity.
c. A member of the board of directors of a nonprofit.
d. An individual who will be participating in the direction, control, or management
of the person applying for a license.
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5. "Cannabis" means all parts of the Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis Indica,
or Cannabis Ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin,
whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every
compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its
seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" also means the separated resin, whether crude or
purified, obtained from marijuana. "Cannabis" also means marijuana as defined
by Section 11018 of the California Health and Safety Code as enacted by
Chapter 14017 of the Statutes of 1972. "Cannabis" does not include the mature
stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the
seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or
preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil,
or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. For
the purpose of this chapter, "cannabis" does not mean industrial hemp as that
term is defined by Section 81000 of the California Food and Agricultural Code or
Section 11018.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.
6. "Cannabis waste" means waste that is not hazardous waste, as defined in
Public Resources Code section 40191, that contains cannabis and that has been
made unusable and unrecognizable in the manner prescribed by the State.
7. "Canopy" means all of the following:
a. The designated area(s) at a licensed premise that will contain mature plants
at any point in time;
b. Canopy shall be calculated in square feet and measured using clearly
identifiable boundaries of all area(s) that will contain mature plants at any
point in time, including all of the space(s) within the boundaries;
c. Canopy may be noncontiguous but each unique area included in the total
canopy calculation shall be separated by an identifiable boundary such as an
interior wall or by at least 10 feet of open space; and
d. If mature plants are being cultivated using a shelving system, the surface area
of each level shall be included in the total canopy calculation.
8. "City" means the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation.
9. "Commercial cannabis activity" includes the cultivation, possession,
manufacture, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, distribution,
delivery, or sale of medicinal and adult -use cannabis or a cannabis product,
except as set forth in Section 19319 of the Business and Professions Code,
related to qualifying patients and primary caregivers, excepting medicinal
cannabis retail.
10."Commercial cannabis business" means a business that obtains a Regulatory
Safety Permit and engages in the cultivation, possession, manufacture,
processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, distribution, delivery, or sale of
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adult -use cannabis, medicinal cannabis or an adult -use cannabis or medicinal
cannabis product, except as related Business and Professions Code Section
19319, or Health and Safety Code Sections 11362.1 through 11362.45, as
amended from time to time, excepting medicinal cannabis retail.
11. "Commercial vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in Vehicle Code section 260
12. "Concentrated cannabis product' means a consolidation of cannabinoids
made by dissolving cannabis in its plant form into a solvent.
13. "Cultivation" means any activity involving the propagation, planting, growing,
harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis. Indoor cultivation
means using exclusively artificial lighting greater than 22,000 square feet,
inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises, in accordance with Business &
Professions Code section 26061(c)(2).
14. "Customer" means a natural person 21 years of age or over.
15. "Delivery" means the commercial transfer of cannabis or cannabis products from
a retail cannabis business to a customer up to an amount determined to be
authorized by the State of California, or any of its departments or divisions.
"Delivery" also includes the use by a retail cannabis business of any technology
platform owned, controlled, and/ or licensed by the retail cannabis business, or
independently licensed by the 'State of California under the State law (as
amended from time to time), that enables anyone to arrange for or facilitate the
commercial transfer by a licensed retail cannabis business of cannabis or
cannabis products. For the purposes of this article, "delivery" does not include
distribution or purchase of cannabis from a licensed cultivator, and cannabis
products from a licensed manufacturer, for sale to a licensed cannabis business
or a wholesale establishment.
16. "Delivery employee" means an individual employed by a licensed retail
cannabis business who delivers cannabis goods from the permitted retail
premises to a medicinal cannabis patient or primary caregiver or customer at a
physical address.
17. "Display" means cannabis goods that are stored in the licensed retail business
during the hours of operation.
18. "Display case" means container in the licensed retail business where cannabis
goods are stored and visible to customers.
19. "Distribution" means the procurement, sale, and transport of cannabis or
cannabis products between entities licensed pursuant to the Medicinal and Adult -
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Use of Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act and any subsequent State of
California legislation regarding the same.
20. "Edible cannabis product' means manufactured cannabis that is intended to
be used, in whole or in part, for consumption. An edible cannabis product is not
considered food as defined by Section 109935 of the California Health and
Safety Code or a drug as defined by Section 109925 of the California Health and
Safety Code.
21. "Free sample" means any amount of commercial cannabis goods provided to a
purchaser of cannabis without cost or payment or exchange of any other thing of
value.
22. "In -Lieu Fee Agreement" means a mitigation option used by the City to
compensate for authorized impacts to City services and/or residents.
23. "License/Licensee" means a license issued by the State and includes both an
A -license and an M -license, as well as a testing laboratory license, and the
holder of such license.
24. "Limited -access area" means an area in which cannabis goods are stored or
held and which is only accessible to a Licensee and the Licensee's employees
and contractors.
25. "Manufacturer" means a Licensee that conducts the production, preparation,
propagation, or compounding of cannabis or cannabis products either directly or
indirectly or by extraction methods, or independently by means of chemical
synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis at a fixed
location that packages or repackages cannabis or cannabis products or labels or
relabels its container.
26. "Manufacturing" or "manufacturing operation" means all aspects of the
extraction and/or infusion processes, including processing, preparing, holding,
storing, packaging, or labeling of cannabis products. Manufacturing also includes
any processing, preparing, holding, or storing of components and ingredients.
27. "Medicinal cannabis" or "Medicinal cannabis product", means cannabis or a
product containing cannabis, including, but not limited to, concentrates, and
extractions, intended to be sold for use by medicinal cannabis patients in
California pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, found at Section
11362.5 of the California Health and Safety Code. Medicinal cannabis retail is
regulated by Chapter 18 and Chapter 21 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.
28. "Medicinal cannabis patient" is a person whose physician has recommended
the use of cannabis to treat a serious illness, including cancer, anorexia, AIDS,
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chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for
which cannabis provides relief.
29. "Microbusiness" means a commercial cannabis business that cultivates
cannabis on an area less than 10,000 square feet and acts as a licensed
distributor, Level 1 manufacturer, and retailer.
30. "Non-volatile solvent" means any solvent used in the extraction process that is
not a volatile solvent. For purposes of this chapter, a non-volatile solvent includes
carbon dioxide used for extraction, or as it may be defined and amended by the
State.
31. "Nursery" means a commercial cannabis Licensee that produces only clones,
immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used specifically for the
planting, propagation, and cultivation of cannabis.
32. "Operating hours' means the hours within a day during which a permitted
commercial cannabis business may allow cannabis customers to enter the retail
premises and purchase cannabis goods.
33. "Outdoor Cultivation" means the cultivation of cannabis without the use of
artificial lighting of any kind. Outdoor cultivation is prohibited within the City of
Santa Ana.
34. "Ownership interest' means an interest held by a person who is an owner as
defined by State of California commercial cannabis regulations or who has a
financial interest in the commercial cannabis business of 5% or more.
35. "Package" and "Packaging" means any container or wrapper that may be used
for enclosing or containing any cannabis goods for final retail sale. 'Package' and
"packaging" does not include a shipping container or outer wrapping used solely
for the transport of cannabis goods in bulk quantity to a Licensee.
36. "Person" includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association,
corporation, limited liability company, estate, trust, business trust, receiver,
syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit, and the plural as
well as the singular.
37. "Premises" means the designated structure(s) and land specified in the
application that are in possession of and used by the applicant or Licensee to
conduct the commercial cannabis activity.
38. "Primary Caregiver" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section
11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code.
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39. "Private Residence" shall have the same definition as that contained in Health
and Safety Code section 11362.2(5) and also means a lawfully established
structure, suitable for human occupancy as required by section 17922 and 17958
of the California Health and Safety Code. A recreational vehicle does not
constitute a lawfully established structure for the purposes of this article.
40. "Private security officer" has the same meaning as that term as defined in the
State of California Business and Professions Code section 7574.01.
41. "Publicly owned land" means any building or real property that is owned by a
city, county, state, federal, or other government entity.
42. "Purchase" means obtaining cannabis goods in exchange for consideration.
43. "Purchaser" means a person who is engaged in a transaction with a Licensee
for purposes of obtaining cannabis goods.
44. "Responsible person" means any of the following:
a) A person who causes a Code violation to occur.
b) A person who maintains or allows a Code violation to continue, his or her
action or failure to act.
c) A person whose agent, employee, or independent contractor causes a
Code violation by its failure to act.
d) A person who is the owner of, and/or a person who is a lessee or sub
lessee with the current right of possession of, real property where
property -related Code violation occurs.
e) A person who is the on-site manager of a business who normally works
daily at the site when the business is open and is responsible for the
activities of such premises. For the purposes of this article "person'
includes a natural person or legal entity, and the owners, majority
stakeholders, corporate officers, trustees, and general partners of a legal
entity.
45. "Retail area" means a building, room, or other area upon the licensed cannabis
retail business premises in which cannabis goods are sold or displayed.
46. "Retail business" means a premises where adult -use cannabis, commercial
cannabis products, or devices for the use of cannabis or cannabis products are
offered, either individually or in any combination for retail sale, including an
establishment that delivers cannabis or cannabis products as part of a retail sale.
47. "Regulatory Safety Permit (RSP)" means a permit issued by the City pursuant
to this article to a commercial cannabis business.
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48. "Security monitoring" means the continuous and uninterrupted attention to
potential alarm signals that can be transmitted from a security alarm system for
the purpose of summoning law enforcement.
49. "Sell," "sale," and "to sell" include any transaction whereby, for any
consideration, title to cannabis is transferred from one person to another, and
includes the delivery of cannabis goods pursuant to an order placed for the
purchase of the same and soliciting or receiving an order for the same, but does
not include the return of cannabis -goods by a licensee to the licensee from whom
such cannabis goods were purchased.
50. "Sublet" means to lease or rent all or part of a leased or rented property.
51. "State" means the State of California.
52. "Testing Laboratory" means a laboratory, facility, or entity in the State that
offers or performs tests of cannabis or cannabis products and that is both of the
following:
a) Accredited. by an accrediting body that is independent from all other
persons involved in commercial cannabis activity in the State; and,
b) Licensed by the Bureau of Cannabis Control.
53. "Volatile solvent' means any solvent that is or produces a flammable gas or
vapor that, when present in the air in sufficient quantities, will create explosive or
ignitable mixtures. Examples of volatile solvents include but are not limited to,
butane, hexane, propane, and ethanol, or as it may be defined and amended by
the State.
54. "Wholesale" means the sale of cannabis goods to a distributor for resale to one
or more retail cannabis businesses.
Section 40-3. Compliance with State and Local Licensing Requirements
Any commercial cannabis business as defined by the State of California and the City of
Santa Ana shall operate in conformance with all regulations and standards set forth in
this article to assure that the operations of any commercial cannabis business as
defined by the State of California and allowed by the City of Santa Ana are in
compliance with local and State law and are established to mitigate any adverse
secondary effects from its operations.
Commercial cannabis businesses shall be required to obtain a Regulatory Safety Permit
(RSP) from the City of Santa Ana and a State license once they become available, and
shall comply with any applicable State licensing requirements, such as operational
standards and locational criteria.
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Multiple cannabis uses and licenses proposed on any one site shall occur only if
authorized by the State and the City of Santa Ana and only if all uses proposed are
allowed pursuant to the City's Zoning Code. Any cannabis activity not specifically
permitted by this article is prohibited.
Section 40-4. Maximum Number of Regulatory Safety Permits
The total number of commercial cannabis businesses in operation shall be determined
based on the number of locations which have been issued a Regulatory Safety Permit
by the City of Santa Ana. In no case shall the City of Santa Ana allow more the than the
following commercial cannabis businesses to operate within City limits, regardless of
the location's compliance with any other Section specified in this article:
A. 20 total cannabis indoor cultivation businesses.
B. 20 total cannabis manufacturing businesses.
C. 20 total cannabis medicinal retail businesses (as regulated by Article XIII of
Chapter 18).
D. 23 total cannabis adult -use retail businesses
E. 20 total cannabis distribution businesses.
F. No cap on cannabis testing laboratory businesses.
Section 40-5. Zoning Compliance and Regulatory Safety Permit Requirements
Commercial cannabis activities are expressly prohibited in all zones in the City of Santa
Ana; however, specific commercial cannabis businesses are allowed as a special use in
the Industrial zone (M-1, M-2). Commercial cannabis businesses shall apply for and
conduct business only in the appropriate zones as described in Table 40-5 and the City
of Santa Ana's zoning ordinance as a requisite for obtaining a Regulatory Safety Permit.
No commercial cannabis business may operate in the City of Santa Ana without a
Regulatory Safety Permit.
This Land Use Table 40-5 shall be used to determine whether a commercial cannabis
business is permitted — "P", or not permitted — "X". Any commercial cannabis business
in the City of Santa Ana shall also operate in compliance with the City's zoning
ordinance. If a Zoning District is not listed in the Land Use Table in this section then the
use is expressly not permitted.
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Land Use Classifications:
Commercial A - permitted cultivation area: 0 to 5,000 square feet
Commercial B — permitted cultivation area: 5,001 to 10,000 square feet
Commercial C — permitted cultivation area: 10,000 to 22,000 square feet
Commercial D — permitted cultivation area: 22,000 square feet
Section 40-6. Separation Requirements
(a) No commercial cannabis business shall be located within 1,000 feet of any:
(1) School (K-12) as defined by Section 11362.768 of the Health and Safety
Code; or
(2) Park; or
(3) Existing Residential zone.
(b) No cannabis retail business shall be located within 500 feet of another retail
business, except for permitted co -location.
(c) No separation requirements for all non -retail commercial cannabis businesses.
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1 M 2 Regulatory,
Land Use -Classification
Zo . e Permit
Required
Indoor - Type A FBF- P Yes
Cultivator
Cultivator
Indoor - Type B;P
P Yes
Cultivator
Indoor - Type C
wF,a
P
Yes
Nursery
Indoor/Outdoor - Type D
Xi
X;
NA
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Yes
Medicinal Retail
'
a
Yes
Retail
(SAMC Chapter 18)
P
Retail
Adult -Use Retail
LIDO 3
SMI
Yes
Testing
No Retail
MIM
Yes
Laboratory
Distribution
Freight/TransportF
P
Yes
Micro -Business
Cultivation / Retail / Manufacture
Distribution
NA
Land Use Classifications:
Commercial A - permitted cultivation area: 0 to 5,000 square feet
Commercial B — permitted cultivation area: 5,001 to 10,000 square feet
Commercial C — permitted cultivation area: 10,000 to 22,000 square feet
Commercial D — permitted cultivation area: 22,000 square feet
Section 40-6. Separation Requirements
(a) No commercial cannabis business shall be located within 1,000 feet of any:
(1) School (K-12) as defined by Section 11362.768 of the Health and Safety
Code; or
(2) Park; or
(3) Existing Residential zone.
(b) No cannabis retail business shall be located within 500 feet of another retail
business, except for permitted co -location.
(c) No separation requirements for all non -retail commercial cannabis businesses.
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Section 40-7. Exceptions
Commercial cannabis cultivation is expressly prohibited in all zones and all specific plan
areas in the City except for Industrial zone (M-1, M-2); provided, however, that six (6)
plants per private residence may be cultivated indoors within a legally permitted
structure for personal use in compliance with all applicable local and State regulations.
Section 40-8. General Provisions for Commercial Cannabis Activities in the City
of Santa Ana
1. Commercial Cannabis Regulatory Safety Permit Required
a. Each business shall obtain a Regulatory Safety Permit (RSP) specific to the
business activity defined by the State pertaining to that activity. Following is a list
of current permit types:
i. Cultivation
ii. Distribution
iii. Manufacturing
iv. Retail sales (Adult Use)
v. Testing
b. It shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership or corporation to
engage in, conduct or carry on, in or upon any premises within the City of Santa
Ana any commercial cannabis business without a RSP. A cannabis business
shall register and obtain a RSP from the City of Santa Ana prior to operation.
The RSP applicant shall pay an annual non-refundable application fee in an
amount established by the City Council.
c. A copy of the RSP shall be displayed at all times in a place visible to the public.
d. A RSP shall be valid for a period of one (1) year, unless sooner revoked. No
permit granted herein shall confer any vested right to any person or business for
more than the above -referenced period.
2. Maintenance of Records and Reporting
All records shall be maintained by the commercial cannabis business for a period of
five (5) years and shall be made available by the commercial cannabis business to
an authorized City of Santa Ana representative upon request. If they are not
produced as requested the City may seek a search warrant, subpoena, or court
order. In addition to all other formats that the commercial cannabis business may
maintain, these records shall be stored by the commercial cannabis business at the
location in a printed format in a fire -proof safe. Any loss, damage or destruction of
the records shall be reported to the Police Department within 24 hours of the loss,
destruction or damage.
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a. The business shall obtain and maintain a valid Seller's Permit from the State
Board of Equalization.
b. Financial records include, but are not limited to: bank statements, sales invoices,
receipts, tax records, and all records required by the California State Board of
Equalization under Title 18 California Code of Regulations section 1968.
c. Personnel records, including each employee's full name, address, phone
number, social security, or individual tax payer identification number, date of
beginning employment, and date of termination of employment if applicable.
d. Training records, including but not limited to the content of the training provided
and the names of the employees that received the training.
e. Contracts with other businesses regarding commercial cannabis activity.
f. Permits, licenses, and other local authorizations to conduct the commercial
cannabis activity.
g. Security records.
h. Proof of building ownership or landlord letter acknowledging business type.
i. Proof of insurance.
3. Operational Standards for Commercial Cannabis Business Activities
a. The location, interior and exterior, shall be monitored at all times by web -based
closed circuit television for security purposes. The camera and recording system
must be of adequate quality, color rendition and resolution to allow the ready
identification of any individual committing a crime anywhere on or adjacent to the
location. The recordings shall be maintained unaltered in a secure location for a
period of not less than ninety (90) days. The police department may request the
recordings in connection with an investigation.
b. All controlled access areas, security rooms and all points of ingresslegress to
limited access areas and all point of sale (POS) areas shall have fixed camera
coverage capable of identifying activity occurring within a minimum of twenty (20)
feet.
c. The surveillance system storage device or cameras shall be transmission control
protocol/TCP capable of being accessed through the internet by the police
department or their designee on request.
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d. The applicant shall conduct and pay for any required CEQA reviews and
analyses, and pay for all costs, including those of the City, associated with
project review under CEQA.
e. Commercial cannabis businesses shall create and maintain an active account
within the State's track and trace system prior to commencing any commercial
cannabis activity. In the event of system failure, the business shall keep a hard
copy record and transfer the information to the track and trace system within 24
hours of the system being available.
f. No physical modification of the licensed premises is allowed without written prior
permission by the City of Santa Ana and payment of any additional fees required
by the City.
g. Commercial cannabis business activities shall provide adequate off-street
parking and comply with the City of Santa Ana Municipal Code parking
requirements in order to service customers without causing negative impact.
h. The commercial cannabis business shall provide adequate disabled access
parking per the requirements in the California Building Code.
i. The commercial cannabis business shall minimize nuisances such as trash, litter,
and graffiti.
j. Any and all signage, packaging, and facilities shall not be 'attractive', as it is
defined by the State, to minors.
k. Commercial cannabis business facilities shall be required to provide an air
treatment system that ensures off-site odors shall not result from its operations.
This requirement at a minimum means that the facility shall be designed to
provide sufficient odor absorbing ventilation and exhaust systems so that any
odor generated inside the location is not detected outside the building, on
adjacent properties or public rights-of-way, or within any other unit located within
the same building as the facility if the use occupies only a portion of a building.
I. A permitted commercial cannabis business entity shall have 180 days after
permit issuance by the City of Santa Ana to begin initial operations, unless
otherwise approved by the Director of Planning and or designee. A permitted
commercial cannabis business entity that ceases to operate for more than 180
calendar days shall be deemed "abandoned" and the permit shall be forfeited. A
business may temporarily suspend operations for a period of time as may be
reasonably required to affect upgrades, modifications, repairs, or other property
issue mitigations as approved by the Director of Planning or designee.
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m. The commercial cannabis business shall comply with all State regulations
regarding:
L Testing, labeling and storage of all cannabis products.
ii. Use of appropriate weighing devices.
iii. Electrical and plumbing regulations subject to periodic and unannounced
inspections to ensure compliance.
iv. State deadlines for applying for a State license and receiving a State
license within six (6) months after the date the State begins issuing
licenses. This may be waived if the State has longer delays in issuing
licenses of the type the commercial cannabis business seeks.
n. The commercial cannabis business shall meet all State and local regulations for
the disposal of all cannabis materials and materials used in conjunction with
processing, distributing and cultivating of cannabis.
o. The commercial cannabis business shall conform to all State and local
regulations regarding water usage. No liquids of any kind shall be discharged into
a public or private sewage or drainage system, watercourse, body of water or
into the ground, except in compliance with applicable regulations of the California
Regional Water Quality Control Board (California Administrative Code, Title 23,
Chapter 3).
p. The, commercial cannabis business shall maintain a comprehensive general
liability combined single occurrence insurance policy issued by an "A" rated
insurance carrier in an amount no less than Two Million Dollars, with primary
coverage, naming the City of Santa Ana as additional insured.
q. No free samples of any cannabis or cannabis product may be distributed at any
time.
r. All agents, private security officers or other persons acting for or employed by a
commercial cannabis business shall display a laminated identification badge at
least 2" X 2" in size, issued by the business. The badge, at a minimum, shall
include the business's "doing business as" name and license number, the
employees first and last name, and a color photo of the employee that shows the
full front of the employee's face.
s. All private security officers acting for or employed by a commercial cannabis
business shall be licensed by the State and issued a business license from the
City of Santa Ana.
t. The commercial cannabis business shall have a centrally -monitored fire and
burglar alarm system which shall include all perimeter entry points and perimeter
windows and the building or . portion of the building where the commercial
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cannabis business is located shall contain a fire -proof safe or fire proof filing
cabinet and include a safety and security plan.
u. The commercial cannabis business shall ensure a licensed alarm company
operator or one or more of its registered alarm agents installs, maintains,
monitors and responds to the alarm system. The alarm company shall obtain a
City of Santa Ana business license.
v. The commercial cannabis business shall provide the name and phone number of
an on-site staff person to the police department and the Code Enforcement
Division of the Planning and Building Agency for notification if there are
operational problems with the establishment.
w. The commercial cannabis business must obtain and maintain a valid City
business license at all times as a condition for receiving, renewing, and
maintaining their regulatory safety permit.
x. Occupancy shall not exceed that required under the Uniform Building Code and
Uniform Fire Code, and the maximum occupancy load shall be posted at the
main entrance.
y. For any commercial cannabis business with two (2) or more employees, the
business owner shall attest that he/she has entered into a labor peace
agreement and provide a copy of the agreement to the City.
z. Each commercial cannabis business owner, operator(s) and employee(s) shall
complete a criminal background check and wear a visible photo ID at all times
during working hours. Owners, operators, employees, managers or volunteers
may not have been convicted of, or pled guilty/no-contest to a felony or
misdemeanor drug charge within the past four (4) years; nor shall they be a
person required to register as a controlled substance offender pursuant to Health
& Safety Code section 11590.
4. Additional Operational Standards for Adult -use Retail Business
a. At all times the adult -use retail business is open, it shall provide at least one
private security guard who is licensed, possesses a valid Department of
Consumer Affairs "security guard card", and has a valid business license from
the City of Santa Ana.
b. The private security guard and adult -use retail business personnel shall monitor
the site and the immediate vicinity of the site to ensure that patrons immediately
leave the site and do not consume cannabis in the vicinity of the retail business
or on the property or in the parking lot.
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c. Exterior signage shall comply with Article XI of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana
Municipal Code. Interior signage or advertising may not be visible from the
exterior. Retail businesses must comply with the advertising and marketing
provisions of Business and Professions Code §§ 26150-26155.
d. There shall be no on-site sales of alcohol or tobacco products, (excluding rolling
papers and lighters) and no on-site consumption of food, alcohol or tobacco by
patrons.
e. Hours of operation shall be limited to: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. No licensed retail
business shall be open to the public between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 6:59
a.m. of any day.
f. An adult -use retail business shall notify patrons of the following both verbally and
through posting of a sign in a conspicuous location:
L Secondary sale, barter or distribution of adult -use cannabis is a crime
and can lead to arrest.
ii. That loitering on and around the retail site is prohibited by California
Penal Code § 647(e) and that patrons must immediately leave the site
and not consume cannabis in the vicinity of the retail site or on the
property or in the parking lot.
iii. A warning that patrons may be subject to prosecution under federal
cannabis laws.
iv. That the use of cannabis may impair a person's ability to drive a motor
vehicle or operate machinery.
g. No one under the age of 21 shall be allowed to enter an Adult -use facility unless
the licensed adult -use facility holds a medicinal use cannabis retail license issued
by the State and the licensed premises for the adult -use cannabis license and
medicinal cannabis license are .the same in accordance with Business and
Professions Code section 26140.
h. If food is distributed, the retail business shall comply with all relevant State laws,
County and City ordinances pertaining to the preparation, distribution and sale of
food.
L All retail businesses shall establish and implement a program to incentivize the
recycling of used containers.
j. Retail businesses shall also record on the video surveillance system point-of-sale
areas and areas where cannabis goods are displayed for sale.
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k. Adequate signage shall clearly state who has inspected any cannabis product for
pesticides, or other regulated contaminants, distributed at this location.
I. Shipments of cannabis goods may only be accepted during regular business
hours.
m. Inventory shall be secured using a lockable storage system during non -business
hours.
n. No cannabis product shall be visible form the exterior of the business.
o. All required labelling shall be maintained on all product, as required by State law,
at all times.
p. Educational tours of adult -use retail cannabis businesses shall be allowed.
5. Additional Operational Standards for Commercial Cannabis Delivery Services
a. Commercial cannabis deliveries may be made only from a commercial cannabis
retail business permitted by the City in compliance with this article, and in
compliance with all State regulations.
b. All employees who deliver cannabis shall have valid identification and a copy of
the commercial cannabis retail business' Regulatory Safety Permit and State
license at all times while making deliveries.
c. All commercial cannabis delivery businesses shall maintain proof of vehicle
insurance for any and all vehicles being used to transport cannabis goods as
required by State law.
d. Deliveries may only take place during normal business hours of the commercial
cannabis retail business.
e. During delivery, the delivery employee shall maintain a physical or electronic
copy of the delivery request and shall make it available upon request by the
licensing authority and law enforcement officers. The delivery request
documentation shall comply with State law.
f. A licensed delivery employee shall not leave the State of California while
possessing cannabis products.
g. A commercial cannabis retail business shall maintain a list of all deliveries,
including the address delivered to, the amount and type of product delivered, and
any other information required by the State.
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h. A manifest with all information required in this section shall accompany any
delivery person at all times during the delivery process and delivery hours.
I. Any delivery method shall be made in compliance with State law, as amended,
including use of a vehicle that has a dedicated GPS device for identifying the
location of the vehicle (cell phones and tablets are not sufficient).
j. Each delivery request shall have a receipt prepared by the retail business with
the following information:
I. Name and address of the retail business
ii. The name of the employee who delivered the order
iii. The date and time the delivery request was made
iv. The complete delivery addresses
v. A detailed description of the cannabis goods requested for delivery
including the weight or volume, or any accurate measure of the amount of
cannabis goods requested.
vi. The total amount paid for the delivery including any fees or taxes.
k. At the time of the delivery, the date and time delivery was made, and the
signature of the person who received the delivery.
I. No cannabis delivery vehicle shall display signs, decals or any other form of
advertisement with the exception of a maximum four -inch by four -inch decal.
m. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during regular business hours.
6. Additional Operational Standards for Manufacturing Cannabis Businesses
a. Commercial cannabis manufacturing facilities are prohibited from using volatile
solvents in the manufacturing process as defined in the California Health and
Safety Code 11362.3(d) and as further defined in the California Health and
Safety Code 11362.775(b)(1)(A) and as amended from time to time, unless a
conditional use permit (CUP) for volatile solvents is applied for and granted
pursuant to Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.
b. A licensed commercial cannabis non-volatile manufacturing facility may conduct
all activities permitted by the State. This includes but is not limited to, non-volatile
extractions, repackaging and relabeling, infusions and extractions.
c. Any manufacturing activity that will be conducted by the commercial .cannabis
business shall be included on the application. No additional manufacturing
activity can be conducted without applying for and receiving written permission
from the City of Santa Ana for that additional activity.
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d. At all times, the commercial cannabis manufacturing facility will be compliant with
all State regulations for cannabis manufacturing including Health and Safety
Code 11362.775, as amended from time to time. Signage shall be posted
regarding chemicals being used at the manufacturing facility.
e. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during the business's regular business hours.
f. Cannabis manufacturing facilities shall not contain an exhibition or product sales
area or allow for retail distribution of products at that location.
g. Educational tours of cannabis manufacturing businesses shall be allowed.
7. Additional Operational Standards for Indoor Cannabis Cultivation Businesses
a. From a public right-of-way, there shall be no exterior evidence of cannabis
cultivation.
b. The Building Official may require additional specific standards to meet the
California Building Code and Fire Code, including but not limited to installation of
fire suppression sprinklers.
c. Compliance with Section 13149 of Water Code as enforced by the State Water
Resources Control Board.
d. Educational tours of indoor cannabis cultivation businesses shall be allowed.
8. Additional Operational Standards for Cannabis Testing Laboratory Businesses
a. A licensed cannabis testing facility business, its owners and employees may not
hold an interest in any other cannabis business except another testing business.
b. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during the business's regular business hours.
G. Educational tours of cannabis testing laboratory businesses shall be allowed.
9. Additional Operational Standards for Cannabis Distribution Businesses
a. Inspections by an authorized City of Santa Ana representative may be conducted
anytime during the business's regular business hours.
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b. A distributor shall ensure that all cannabis goods batches are stored separately
and distinctly from other cannabis goods batches on the distributor's premises.
c. Employee breakrooms, eating areas, changing facilities, and bathrooms shall be
completely separated from the storage areas.
d. Educational tours of cannabis distribution businesses shall be allowed.
Section 40-8. Commercial Cannabis Selection Process
1. Commercial Cannabis — Registration Application and Regulatory Safety Permit
Required
The Commercial Cannabis Regulatory Safety Permit ('RSP") selection process will be
conducted in two phases, Phase 1 (Registration Application) and Phase 2 (Regulatory
Safety Permit Application). Registration Applications will be reviewed by the Director of
Planning and Building or designees(s) for completeness and compliance, and if eligible,
will be placed on the 'Regulatory Safety Permit (`RSP") Eligibility List' and entered into
the Phase 2 Regulatory Safety Permit Application process. In Phase 2, the City of
Santa Ana has established a merit based point system to objectively award permits as
described in the Regulatory Safety Permit Application.
2. Phase 1 — Registration Application
a. Following the adoption of this article, the Director of Planning and Building shall
prepare commercial cannabis business registration application forms and a
related administrative policy. Each commercial cannabis business interested in
operating pursuant to this article may submit an application together with a non-
refundable processing fee in an amount established by the City Council.
b. The Registration Application period shall be thirty (30) calendar days from the
date the applications are released. Following the application period, the Director
of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall stop accepting applications and
review all applications received in Phase 1. Each application that is complete and
iri compliance with the application requirements in Phase 1 shall be placed on
the 'RSP Eligibility List' and shall be notified in writing whether they are a 'RSP
Eligible Applicant' or not. Each applicant on the RSP Eligibility List may then
choose to file an application for a RSP in Phase 2.
c. The requirements for Phase 1 include but are not limited to:
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i. All application documents required in the City's Phase 1 Registration
Application package.
H. Application was submitted during the application period.
iii. Application forms are filled out completely.
iv. Business Owner(s)/Applicant(s) referenced on the application provides
a Live Scan that was conducted within 14 days prior to submitting the
application.
V. Phase 1 application fee is paid.
vi. A signed statement that the proposed location of the commercial
cannabis business on the application meets the zoning criteria
established in this article including, but not limited to, any and all
sensitive use separation criteria required by this article.
d. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall determine whether
each application demonstrates compliance with the minimum requirements
(above) and be placed on the RSP Eligibility List and entered into the Phase 2
application and review process.
e. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall review each
application upon submission and ensure that the application is complete.
Incomplete applications will be promptly rejected and the applicant shall be
notified in writing of the deficiencies. The applicant shall be given an opportunity
to cure any incomplete or deficient application prior to the conclusion of the
application processing term, if such time period is applicable.
3. Phase 2 - Regulatory Safety Permit Application
a. Each applicant identified on the RSP Eligibility List may choose to complete and
file a RSP application to the Director of Planning and Building. The application
shall be filed together with a nonrefundable fee as established by resolution of
the City Council, to defray the cost of investigation required by this article.
b. The RSP application period shall be open for thirty (30) calendar days and may
run concurrently with the Phase 1 review period. Following the RSP application
period, the Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall stop accepting
applications and review all applications received in Phase 2.
c. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) will review all application
documents required in the City's Phase 2 application package plus the additional
requirements in subsection (d) below. The Director of Planning and Building or
designee(s) will use a merit based point system to review and rank each of
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applications from the most to the least points and objectively award the top
applicants a RSP. A complete description of the merit based point system and all
merit based point considerations shall be included with the application forms.
d. Phase 2 requirements include but are not limited to:
i. All application documents required in the City's Phase 2 RSP
application package.
ii. Phase 2 application fee is paid and a comprehensive owner
background check is completed.
iii. The Building Official or designee has inspected all structures in which
the use is located to determine that all applicable standards and
requirements are met. If a building permit is required for site
improvements, Permit issuance will be deferred until a certificate of
occupancy or other building permit approval is issued. Additionally, the
Building Official has determined that there are no notices of nuisance
or other code compliance issues recorded or on the property.
iv. The Planning Manager or designee has issued a Zoning Clearance
documenting compliance with the following:
1. The use is permitted;
2. All land use permits, if any, have been approved and all
conditions of approval have been met or are in good standing;
3. No zoning violations exist on the property; and
e. The Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) shall review each
application upon submission and ensure that the application is complete.
Incomplete applications will be promptly rejected and the applicant shall be
notified that business day of the deficiencies. The applicant shall be given an
opportunity to cure any incomplete or deficient application prior to the conclusion
of the application processing term, if such time period is applicable.
4. Regulatory Safety Permit Annual Renewal
a. Applications for the renewal of a permit shall be filed with the Director of Planning
and Building or designee(s) at least sixty (60) calendar days before the expiration
of the current permit. Temporary permits will not be issued. Any permittee
allowing their permit to lapse or which permit expired during a suspension shall
be required to submit a new application, pay the corresponding original
application fees and be subject to all aspects of the selection process.
b. Any person desiring to obtain a renewal of their respective permit shall file a
written application under penalty of perjury on the required form with the Director
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of Planning and Building or designee(s) who will conduct a review. The
application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee established by the
City Council to defray the cost of the review required by this article. An applicant
shall be required to update the information contained in their original permit
application and provide any new and/or additional information as may be
reasonably required by the Director of Planning and Building or designee(s) in
order to determine whether said permit should be renewed.
5. Appeal of Denial of Regulatory Safety Permit I Denial of RSP Renewal
The City Manager or designee(s) will review all Regulatory Safety Permit applications
and renewal requests, along with all other relevant information, and determine if a RSP
should be granted and/or renewed. If the City Manager determines that the permit shall
not be granted and/or renewed, the reasons for denial shall be provided in writing to the
applicant. No such denial shall become effective until the applicant for the regulatory
safety permit and/or renewal has been notified in writing by certified mail of the right to
appeal the denial decision pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3 of this Code. If a
timely appeal is filed, the denial shall be effective only upon decision of the City Council.
Otherwise, the denial shall become effective after the timely appeal period has passed.
The matter may be subject to judicial review under the provisions of California Code of
Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6.
Section 40-9. Audits.
Annual audits. No later than June 3011, of every year, each licensed commercial
cannabis business shall file with the City an audit or financial review of its operations of
the previous calendar year. The form and contents of the document shall be specified
by the Executive Director of Finance and Management Services, or designee(s).
Section 40-10. Inspection and enforcement responsibilities.
The Code Enforcement Division of the Planning and Building Agency may enter and
inspect the location of any commercial cannabis business between the hours of 7: 00
a.m. and 11:00 p.m., or at any reasonable time, to ensure compliance with this article.
In addition, a designated unit within the police department may enter and inspect the
location of any commercial cannabis business and the recordings and records
maintained as required by this article, except that the inspection and copying of private
medical records shall be made available to the police department only pursuant to a
properly executed search warrant, subpoena, or court order. It is unlawful for any
owner, responsible person, landlord, lessee, member including but not limited to a
member engaged in the management), or any other person having any responsibility
over the operation of the commercial cannabis business to refuse to allow, impede,
obstruct or interfere with an inspection, review or copying of records and closed- circuit
monitoring authorized and required under this article, including but not limited to, the
concealment, destruction, and falsification of any recordings, records, or monitoring.
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Section 40-11. Violation and enforcement.
1. Violation/enforcement.
Each and every violation of this article shall constitute a separate violation and shall be
subject to all remedies and enforcement measures authorized by this Code.
Additionally, as a nuisance per se, any violation of this article shall be subject to
injunctive relief, revocation of the commercial cannabis business registration, revocation
of the certificate of occupancy for the location, disgorgement and payment to the City of
any and all monies unlawfully obtained, costs of abatement, costs of investigation,
attorney fees, and any other relief or remedy available at law or equity. The City may
also pursue any and all remedies and actions available and applicable under local and
State laws for any violations committed by the commercial cannabis business and
persons related or associated with the business.
2. Suspension or revocation.
When an authorized City of Santa Ana representative finds that any person holding a
regulatory safety permit under the provisions of Chapter 40 has violated the provisions
of this chapter or is found guilty of conduct which would form the basis of denial of the
regulatory safety permit as set forth in Article XIII of Chapter 18, s/he may revoke or
suspend the permit. No such revocation shall become effective until the regulatory
safety permit holder has been notified in writing by certified mail of the right to appeal
the revocation decision pursuant to the provisions or Chapter 3 of this Code. If a timely
appeal is filed, the revocation shall be effective only upon decision of the City Council.
Otherwise, the revocation shall become effective after the timely appeal period has
passed.
Section 40-12. Transfer of Ownership.
1. Upon the transfer of any interest in a commercial cannabis business, the regulatory
safety permit shall be null and void. Any person, firm or entity desiring to own
operate the commercial cannabis business shall make a new application. Prior to or
concurrent with the submission of said application the transferee shall obtain all
required business licenses, post all required security deposits, acquire all necessary,
certificates, permits or other licenses allowing the doing of any act which the person
paying or holding the same would not otherwise be entitled to do; and any permit,
license, variance or other instrument of approval or evidence that any conditions
exist as required by any other section of this Code or by any statute or code
provisions of the state must first be obtained or complied with before the doing of
any act or thing for which it is required. A fee as established by resolution of the City
Council shall be payable for each such application involving transfer of any interest
in an existing commercial cannabis business. The provisions of this section shall
apply to any person, firm, or entity applying for a regulatory safety permit for
premises previously used as such establishment.
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2. Any such transfer of any interest in an existing commercial cannabis business or any
application for an extension or expansion of the building or other place of business
of the commercial cannabis business shall require inspection and compliance with
section 40-10 of this article.
3. The owner or operator of a commercial cannabis business shall be responsible for
notifying the City of any intention to rename, change management, or convey the
business to another person/entity. Notification to the City must be made a minimum
of sixty (60) days prior to such transfer.
Section 40-13. Limitations on the City's Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the City shall not assume any liability whatsoever,
with respect to approving any Regulatory Safety Permits pursuant to this article or the
operation of any commercial cannabis business approved pursuant to this chapter. As a
condition of approval of a Regulatory Safety Permit as provided in this chapter, the
applicant or its legal representative shall:
1. Execute an agreement indemnifying the City from any claims, damages, injuries or
liabilities of any kind associated with the registration or operation of the commercial
cannabis facility or the prosecution of the applicant or business or its members for
violation of federal or State laws;
2. Maintain insurance in the amounts and types that are acceptable to the City Attorney
or designee;
3. Name the City as an additionally insured on all City required insurance policies;
4. Agree to defend, at its sole expense, any action against the City, its agents, officers,
and employees related to the approval of a Regulatory Safety Permit; and
5. Agree to indemnify and reimburse the City for any court costs and attorney fees that
the City may be required to pay as a result of any legal challenge related to this
ordinance and/or the City's approval of a Regulatory Safety Permit. The City may, at
its sole discretion, participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action,
but such participation shall not relieve the operator of its obligation hereunder.
Section 40-14. Fees and Taxes
All commercial cannabis businesses shall pay applicable fees and taxes, which shall
include one or more of the following:
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1. Application Fees. The business owner shall submit a non-refundable fee to cover the
cost of processing an application for the commercial cannabis business. These fees
may be divided into two fees according to Registration Application (Phase 1) and
RSP Application (Phase 2).
2. Regulatory Safety Permit Renewal Fees. The business owner shall submit a non-
refundable fee to cover the cost of processing an application renewal annually.
3. Business License Fee. The business owner shall at all times maintain a current and
valid business license and pay all business taxes required by the Santa Ana
Municipal Code.
4. In -Lieu Agreement Fees
5. Additional cannabis -specific gross receipts, excise, cultivation or any other tax
approved by the voters of the City of Santa Ana.
6. All required taxes including sales and use taxes, business, payroll etc.
Section 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby
declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection,
sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more
sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 6. The Clerk of the Council shall certify the adoption of this ordinance
and shall cause the same to be published as required by law.
ADOPTED this day of 2017.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
Lisa Storck
Assistant City Attorney
Miguel A. Pulido
Mayor
75E-2-61
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers:
NOT PRESENT:Councilmembers:
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify that the
attached Ordinance No. NS --to be the original ordinance adopted by the
City Council of the City of Santa Ana on , and that said
ordinance was published in accordance with the Charter of the City of Santa Ana.
Date:
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
75E-2-62
Ordinance No. NS -XXX
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