Chapter 17.228 — SPECIAL USE REGULATIONS

Article IX — Cannabis

Sacramento Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Sacramento

17.228.900 Cannabis production.

A. For purposes of this section, "cannabis production" includes cannabis cultivation, cannabis distribution, and cannabis manufacturing.

  • B. A conditional use permit is required for cannabis production, except for the following:
  1. Cannabis manufacturing that complies with the following:

a. The use is limited to only packaging and labeling of cannabis or cannabis products, or producing edible or topical cannabis products using an infusion process;

  • b. Extraction is not being conducted; and

  • c. The gross receipts of the use are under $100,000 annually.

  1. Cannabis distribution in accordance with a type-S cannabis distribution permit, as described in article VIII of chapter 5.150.

  2. Cannabis distribution in accordance with a type-T cannabis distribution permit, as described in article VIII of chapter 5.150.

  3. For the purposes of this section, "gross receipts" has the same meaning as provided in section 3.08.020. C. Except as provided in subsection D, the conditional use permit, as required in subsection B, must be approved by the zoning administrator.

D. A conditional use permit, as required in subsection B, must be approved by the planning and design commission where the production site is within 600 feet of:

  1. A park identified as a neighborhood park or community park in the city's most recently adopted Parks and Recreation Master Plan; or

  2. A park not yet identified in the city's most recently adopted Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

  • E. The decision-maker may approve a conditional use permit for cannabis production based on the following findings:
  1. The findings set forth in section 17.808.200.C; and

  2. The proposed cannabis production will not result in undue concentration of cannabis production establishments. An undue concentration of cannabis production establishments will result if the following condition is met:

a. The proposed cannabis production use is located within the area bounded by Power Inn Road to the west, Folsom Boulevard to the north, and the city limits to the east and south; and will result in more than 2.5 million square feet of building floor space approved by a conditional use permit for cannabis production use in that area. Building floor space designated for a cannabis manufacturing use in a conditional use permit may be excluded from the 2.5 million square footage calculation.

  1. If the proposed cannabis production includes cannabis manufacturing with a volatile solvent, the fire chief or designee has determined that the proposed cannabis manufacturing use is compatible with surrounding uses.

F. In any zone, cannabis production must comply with the following provisions:

  1. Cannabis production must be within a fully enclosed building and must not be visible from the public right-ofway.

  2. Notwithstanding the provisions of California Business and Professions Code section 26054(b), a cannabis production site cannot be located within a 600-foot radius of a school. For purposes of this section, "school" means any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, but does not include any private school in which education is primarily conducted in private homes.

  3. The cannabis production site cannot have more than one sign. The sign may be attached or detached. The sign cannot be illuminated and cannot exceed six square feet in area.

  4. Cannabis production must comply with all applicable state and local laws.

  5. Each property owner seeking a conditional use permit for cannabis production shall provide a neighborhood responsibility plan in order for the decision-maker to make the requisite findings identified in subsection E. The neighborhood responsibility plan must address the adverse impacts of cannabis distribution on the surrounding area. Compliance with the neighborhood responsibility plan shall be achieved through an agreement with the city, conditions of approval on the use permit, or through other means acceptable to the city.

  6. Cannabis extraction must be performed in a manner that will not create explosive or ignitable mixtures, as approved by the fire chief or designee.

G. In the C-2 zone, cannabis production must comply with the following provisions:

  1. Cannabis distribution and nonvolatile cannabis manufacturing cannot exceed a total of 6,400 square feet in area.

  2. Cannabis distribution cannot be the only cannabis production use on the site.

H. Notice to city council. As soon as reasonably practicable after the zoning administrator or planning and design commission makes a decision on a conditional use permit required to establish cannabis production, the planning director shall report that decision to the mayor and the councilmember in whose district the project is located, by sending the report by electronic mail and confirming that each received it.

I. Procedures for call-up review. The mayor or the councilmember in whose district the project is located may call up for city council review any decision described in subsection H by filing a written request with the planning director within 10 business days of the zoning administrator's or planning and design commission's decision. If both a council member call-up and director-level decision appeal are pending on the same project, the city council will consider both at the same time. Notice of the city council hearing shall be given in the manner provided in section 17.812.010.A.2.a. The hearing before the city council shall be de novo.

usiness days of the zoning administrator's or planning and design commission's decision. If both a council member call-up and director-level decision appeal are pending on the same project, the city council will consider both at the same time. Notice of the city council hearing shall be given in the manner provided in section 17.812.010.A.2.a. The hearing before the city council shall be de novo.

J. Withdrawal of request for review. The requester under subsection I may withdraw that request. The withdrawal shall be noted on the next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council and shall be considered to have occurred on that date. Any other member of the city council shall have 10 days thereafter to file a request for call-up review. If the tenth day is a non-business day, the last day to file the request is the next business day. Noticing and hearing of the matter shall be as set forth in subsection I.

K. A conditional use permit issued in accordance with this section must specify whether the use allowed is for cannabis cultivation, cannabis distribution, or cannabis manufacturing. An addition of any use specified in this paragraph to the allowed uses specified in a conditional use permit is a modification of the terms and conditions of the conditional use permit subject to section 17.808.440. (Ord. 2024-0017 § 49; Ord. 2021-0024 § 26; Ord. 2020-0012 § 14; Ord. 2020-0006 § 8; Ord. 2018-0038 § 2; Ord. 2018-0022 § 2; Ord. 2017-0056 § 15)

17.228.910 Cannabis testing.

A. Cannabis testing may only be established in the C-2, C-4, M-1, M-1(S), M-2, M-2(S), MIP, MRD, and M-T zones.

B. In any zone, cannabis testing must comply with the following provisions:

  1. The cannabis testing site cannot be located within 600 feet of a school. For purposes of this section, "school" means any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, but does not include any private school in which education is primarily conducted in private homes.

  2. The cannabis testing must comply with all applicable state and local laws. (Ord. 2020-0006 § 9; Ord. 20190006 § 7; Ord. 2017-0059 § 15)

17.228.920 Cannabis dispensary.

A. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

  1. "School" means any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, but does not include any private school in which education is primarily conducted in private homes.

  2. "Substance abuse rehabilitation center" means any facility that provides care for persons who have a dependency on alcohol or controlled substances, except any hospital, city or county jail, or state prison. The care provided by a substance abuse rehabilitation center, includes medication, patient counseling, group therapy, physical conditioning, family therapy, and dietetic services.

  3. "Youth-oriented facility" means any establishment that caters to or provides services primarily intended for minors; that is patronized predominantly by minors; or where the people who regularly congregate or assemble are predominantly minors.

  • B. A conditional use permit is required to establish a cannabis dispensary in the C-2, C-4, M-1, M-1(S), M-2, M- 2(S), M-T, and SC zones.

  • C. Except as provided in subsection D, the conditional use permit, as required in subsection B, must be approved by the zoning administrator.

D. A conditional use permit, as required in subsection B, must be approved by the planning and design commission where any of the following conditions apply:

  1. The cannabis dispensary is a storefront cannabis dispensary, as defined in chapter 5.150, and the site is within 600 feet of another storefront cannabis dispensary site;

  2. The cannabis dispensary site is within 600 feet of any park, childcare center, in-home child care (family day care home), youth-oriented facility, church or faith congregation, substance abuse center, or cinema;

  3. The cannabis dispensary site is within 600 feet of any tobacco retailer that has 15,000 square feet or less of gross floor area; or

  4. The cannabis dispensary site is within 300 feet of a residential zone.

  • E. In any zone, a cannabis dispensary must comply with the following provisions:
  1. Cannabis dispensary operations must be within a fully enclosed building and must not be visible from the public right-of-way.

  2. The cannabis dispensary site cannot be located within 600 feet of a school.

  3. The cannabis dispensary must comply with all applicable state and local laws.

  4. Each property owner seeking a conditional use permit for cannabis dispensary shall provide a neighborhood responsibility plan in order for the decision-maker to make the requisite findings set forth in section 17.808.200. The neighborhood responsibility plan must address the adverse impacts of a cannabis dispensary on the surrounding area. Compliance with the neighborhood responsibility plan shall be achieved through an agreement with the city, conditions of approval on the use permit, or through other means acceptable to the city.

the decision-maker to make the requisite findings set forth in section 17.808.200. The neighborhood responsibility plan must address the adverse impacts of a cannabis dispensary on the surrounding area. Compliance with the neighborhood responsibility plan shall be achieved through an agreement with the city, conditions of approval on the use permit, or through other means acceptable to the city.

  1. Notwithstanding section 17.452.040.B.2.d, no cannabis dispensary may be established in a planned unit development, unless the planned unit development schematic plan and design guidelines expressly authorize the use. F. Notice to city council. As soon as reasonably practicable after the zoning administrator or planning and design commission makes a decision on a conditional use permit required to establish a cannabis dispensary, the planning director shall report that decision to the mayor and the councilmember in whose district the project is located, by sending the report by electronic mail and confirming that each received it.

G. Procedures for call-up review. The mayor or the councilmember in whose district the project is located may call up for city council review any decision described in subsection F by filing a written request with the planning director within 10 business days of the zoning administrator's or planning and design commission's decision. If both a council member call-up and director-level decision appeal are pending on the same project, the city council will consider both at the same time. Notice of the city council hearing shall be given in the manner provided in section 17.812.010.A.2.a. The hearing before the city council shall be de novo.

H. Withdrawal of request for review. The requester under subsection G may withdraw that request. The withdrawal shall be noted on the next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council and shall be considered to have occurred on that date. Any other member of the city council shall have 10 days thereafter to file a request for call-up review. If the tenth day is a non-business day, the last day to file the request is the next business day. Noticing and hearing of the matter shall be as set forth in subsection G.

I. A conditional use permit issued in accordance with this section must specify whether the use allowed is for a store-front cannabis dispensary or a delivery-only cannabis dispensary, and for the sale of medical cannabis or adult-use cannabis. An addition of any use specified in this paragraph to the allowed uses specified in a conditional use permit is a modification of the terms and conditions of the conditional use permit subject to section 17.808.440.

ction must specify whether the use allowed is for a store-front cannabis dispensary or a delivery-only cannabis dispensary, and for the sale of medical cannabis or adult-use cannabis. An addition of any use specified in this paragraph to the allowed uses specified in a conditional use permit is a modification of the terms and conditions of the conditional use permit subject to section 17.808.440.

J. A medical marijuana dispensary use that has a valid conditional use permit on the effective date of this ordinance is deemed to have an approved conditional use permit for a cannabis dispensary use allowing for a storefront cannabis dispensary and for the sale of medical cannabis, if the property owner provides a neighborhood responsibility plan described in subsection E.4. The deemed approved conditional use permit for a cannabis dispensary use shall be subject to all the provisions of this title relating to conditional use permits. (Ord. 2024-0017 § 50; Ord. 2021-0024 § 27; Ord. 2020-0023 § 3; Ord. 2019-0006 § 8; Ord. 2017-0059 § 16)