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Report regarding a study session on potential storefront retail cannabis regulations (Adena Friedman, Chief Planner and Cecelia Mariscal, Associate Planner)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the City Council receive information and provide staff with feedback on preparing an ordinance to allow for storefront retail cannabis uses.
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INTRODUCTION
In the 2026 City Council Priorities Action Plan, the City Council included an item to consider storefront retail cannabis in commercial zoning districts. In response, staff has researched regulations and best practices and developed potential approaches to establishing a retail cannabis program.
At this time, staff is requesting City Council feedback and direction on five components of a retail cannabis program:
Cannabis Retail Locations;
Number of Storefronts;
Application and Permitting Process;
Performance Standards; and
Fiscal Approach.
BACKGROUND
In 2018, City Council took actions to amend South San Francisco Municipal Code Title 20 (Zoning) to permit certain cannabis businesses to align with statewide changes that allowed businesses to sell cannabis products for medical use to individuals who are at least 18 and have a valid physician’s recommendation and recreational use for adults 21 and over. The City Council made the decision at that time to exclude storefront retail cannabis, and to permit cannabis manufacturing, testing, distribution, indoor cultivation, and delivery-only retail with a Conditional Use Permit (approved by the Planning Commission, and valid for a five-year term) and an annually renewed Operator’s Permit. Permitted businesses must be located east of Highway 101 and at least 600 feet from schools, preschools, childcare centers, and residences. Please see Attachments 1 and 2 for the Operator’s Permit application, and Zoning Ordinance Section 20.410 for current cannabis regulations. Additionally, in November 2018, South San Francisco voters passed Measure LL establishing...
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