Applications for cannabis licenses in Riverside City will be coming soon!
Update 1/23/22 – The city will have several future updates we will continue to update in this blog, as the planning commission and city councils meet later this month.
Riverside City, located in California’s Inland Empire region and the county seat of Riverside County, is an attractive location for cannabis businesses to set up shop due to its large population base, diverse economy, cost-effective living expenses, clear regulations, and easy access to major markets in Southern California.
The City of Riverside, CA has just finalized the process of developing an ordinance that allows for cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, testing, retail and distribution within specific zones of the City.
Applications for cannabis land-use and cannabis permitting are now being accepted. Contact us and can answer any questions not answered in this blog post about new regulations.
Read below to learn more below about cannabis regulations and how we can give you a jump start. This is a huge opportunity to establish legal, licensed cannabis operations in a county booming with cannabis activity. Join the green rush in Riverside!
City of Riverside Overview
Riverside, California is carefully examining and creating guidelines for the application process of cannabis businesses this year to ensure compliance with all regulations. They are ensuring that the regulations and guidelines for cannabis businesses in Riverside are beneficial for the businesses, the residents, and the government.
Riverside City Cannabis Regulations
In order to provide you with more comprehensive assistance, please fill out the forms with all your questions, and one of our specialists will respond to you as soon as possible.
As part of the process of developing cannabis-related applications, considering its a large County, the city of Riverside is contemplating issuing up to 14 licenses for cannabis businesses within the region.
Timeline for Riverside City License Applications in 2023
The Riverside Planning Commission continues to deliberate on the guidelines and procedures for Cannabis Application. The City Council is expected to address specific schedules and subjects related to this in the upcoming months.
County of Riverside Overview
With a population of approximately 2.4 million residents, Riverside County is centrally located near the Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego County cannabis markets. Riverside County offers an exciting opportunity to serve as a centralized base for your Southern California operations. Riverside County residents have a median income of $56,592 a year.
Read on to learn the details of the upcoming ordinances and find out how you can get a head start on the competition by finding a qualified cannabis location in Riverside County.
About Updated Cannabis Ordinance 348 in Riverside City
Made effective September 24, 2020, Ordinance 348 sets the following accepted county Cannabis Uses: Retail, Manufacturing, Distribution, Cultivation, Nursery, Testing Labs.
Proposed Caps: No official limit on retail and cultivation licenses, county may decide on the number of applications to be accepted in each application period.
Read our summary below or read the full cannabis regulations on the Riverside planning department website.
What is Economic Impact of Cannabis Legalization in Riverside County?
The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in Riverside County has had a positive effect on the county’s economy.
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s report on Cannabis Sales by County, shows that the tax revenue from cannabis sales has been increasing since it became legal in Riverside County. In 2019, the taxable sales were $103,489,169, but in 2020, it rose significantly to $264,192,821, which demonstrates a positive trend in the tax revenue generated by cannabis in the county. Source
Riverside County Licensing Process and Fees
Riverside County’s cannabis licensing process requires the following applications and documentation (of course, you’ll need to submit an application for State license as well):
- Riverside County Conditional Use Permit Application
- Riverside County Cannabis Conditional Use Permit Application Addendum
- Riverside County Cannabis Permit Application
The cost of the above process is based on a Riverside County deposit based system.
The Conditional Use Permit Application with the above stated Cannabis Addendum and Application would require an initial deposit of $9,646.14 plus $5.10 per acreage of the lot or site. Riverside County estimates total fees to be an average of $15,000.00 to $30,000.00 for the process.
Additionally, through the process, a Development Agreement would be necessary which has a cost of $5,100.00 plus a non-refundable cost fee of $1,000.00 for a total of $6,100.00.
There may be more fees involved depending on your site and that activity desired.
All fees that Riverside County charges are deposit based and these fees may be higher or lower depending on the work to be performed by the County.
Cannabis Taxes in Riverside County
During the Development Agreement a County Public Benefit Fee (Tax) will be negotiated and assessed. This fee will be paid annually, separate from any sales tax receipts. Public benefit fees are charged for the cost of doing business in the county by the square foot.
Timeline for Cannabis Licensing in Riverside County
Based on our review of and discussions regarding Riverside County Ordinance 348, we have created the following timeline to illustrate the expected processes to take place during the application process.
Click to enlarge or download our full timeline of Riverside County cannabis licensing:
Next Steps to Apply for Cannabis License in City or County of Riverside – Contact Us!
Interested in applying for a Riverside City or County cannabis licenses?
You’ll need a qualifying property, a realistic budget and a team of compliance experts to help in navigating county and state licensing requirements.
Let’s setup a time to talk by submitting the web form below. One of our Compliance officers will schedule a call to discuss your project and what it will take to become licensed and operational!
Riverside City & County, is a great opportunity for cannabis licensing!
Get started here:
Interested in other opportunities? We recommend you read more about Nevada Cannabis Lounge Applications
