The local government of Cathedral City, CA has adopted several ordinances that define a set of regulations allowing certain Medical Cannabis Businesses to operate. Anyone who would like to originate a Medical Cannabis Business within the City must obtain prior approval from the City before beginning operations. Cathedral City issuing Conditional Use Permits for Dispensaries, Cultivation and Manufacturing. Cathedral requires each Medical Cannabis Business to obtain a Medical Cannabis License and a Conditional Use Permit in addition to any other generally applicable permits, licenses or approvals that are required of businesses. A separate Medical Cannabis License and Conditional Use Permit are required for each proposed location. Prospective Medical Cannabis Businesses may submit applications for a Medical Cannabis License and a Conditional Use Permit at the same time, or may wait until after the Medical Cannabis License has issued to apply for a Conditional Use Permit. A Conditional Use Permit cannot be issued until after the Medical Cannabis License has been approved. A Medical Cannabis License must be renewed annually. Follow these steps to obtain the required permits for a Medical Cannabis Business in Cathedral City, CA. Step 1: Determine an Acceptable Location for a Medical Cannabis Business Step 2: Complete the application process for a Medical Cannabis Business License in Cathedral City, CA. Step 3: Complete and Review the application process for a Medical Cannabis Business Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in Cathedral City, CA. Step 4: Complete Criminal History Check (Live Scan) Prior to applying:
Step 1: Determine an Acceptable Location for a Medical Cannabis Business The application must include the address and a detailed description of the proposed Medical Cannabis Business location. Dispensaries, Cultivation Sites and Manufacturing Sites are only being permitted in certain zones listed in Section 9.108.090 of the City Code. Dispensaries may be located in the I-1, CBP-2, and PCC zones. Cultivation Sites may be located in the I-1, CBP-2, PCC and OS zones. Manufacturing Sites may be located in the I-1 zone. Dispensaries, Cultivation Sites and Manufacturing Sites are subject to other locational restrictions, as stated in Section 9.108.090 of the City Code, including minimum distance requirements from schools, day-care centers and youth centers, residential zones, and East Palm Canyon Drive. Any person who desires to open a Medical Cannabis Business in the City should ensure that the proposed location of the use satisfies the City’s locational restrictions in Section 9.108.090 prior to filing an application for either a Medical Cannabis License or a Conditional Use Permit.
City of Cathedral Zoning Map: http://www.cathedralcity.gov/home/showdocument?id=5350 Step 2: Complete and Review the Application Process for a Medical Cannabis Business License in Cathedral City, CA.
Medical Cannabis Business License Application Completed applications need to be submitted in person at: Cathedral City Community Development Department 68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero Cathedral City, CA 92234 All applicants are required to complete the application form and submit two (2) copies. A deposit in the amount of $7,500.00 is required along with the application and the following additional documentation:
The applicant will be notified in writing by the City Manager of the decision to approve or deny the Medical Cannabis License. If approved the license will not be issued until the applicant posts a cash deposit or letter of credit in the amount of $5,000 as the security required by Section 5.88.040(I)(5) of the City Code. The Medical Cannabis License will not be considered final, and no Conditional Use Permit may be issued, until this amount is posted. Step 3: Complete and Review the Application Process for a Medical Cannabis Business Conditional Use permit (CUP) City of Cathedral, CA. Conditional Use Permit Application Applicants may apply for the Conditional Use Permit CUP at the same time as the Medical Cannabis License or they can wait until the Medical Cannabis License is approved. The City will not schedule the Conditional Use Permit for a public hearing before the Planning Commission until a Medical Cannabis License has been approved by the City Manager and the appeal period has expired or all appeals have been exhausted. The Conditional Use Permit application might require at least one site visit by City Planning staff and the potential need to revise submitted plans to ensure they comply with all applicable laws and regulations prior to scheduling of the hearing before the Planning Commission. The CUP application form must be submitted to the City in person, along with the following documentation:
Step 4: Complete Criminal History Check (Live Scan) Once an application has been submitted, applicants may contact the Police Department at (760) 770-0304 to schedule an appointment to start the LiveScan fingerprinting and the background check process. The background check can begin after the application is submitted or after the City has completed the courtesy pre-screening or made a formal determination that the application is complete. At the time the application is submitted the City will provide the applicant with a Live Scan form for each person identified in the application as an owner, director, officer, or person who is managing or otherwise responsible for the activities of the proposed of the Medical Cannabis Business. Live Scan forms will also be available on the City’s website. Background checks consist of a two-step process: Step 1: Each individual associated with the application must be fingerprinted using Live Scan technology.
Step 2: The background check shall generally consist of, but not be limited to:
The Background Investigator will submit a full report to the Chief of Police upon completion of the background check. The Background Investigator shall be tasked solely with providing factual information in his or her report in order to provide the Chief of Police with a sufficient factual basis to decide as to whether the application should be approved or denied. Once the Chief of Police reviews the report from the Background Investigator they will make a recommendation as to whether the criminal history of one or more of the individuals indicates that Good Cause exists to deny the application. The Chief of Police’s recommendation shall be issued in writing within ten (10) calendar days of his receipt of the report from the Background Investigator and shall include an explanation as to the Chief of Police’s reasoning in making the recommendation, including the analysis bridging the facts to the ultimate conclusions. |