Title 17 Cannabis Amendments & Consumption Lounges Project

The Community Development Department is preparing proposed amendments to Title 17 (Planning & Development Code) of the City Code for all cannabis business types. This website provides information about the project to help you both understand and participate in the preparation and adoption of code amendments.

Public meetings

The project is currently in the public hearing phase. Below are the public hearings and summaries of the meetings that have taken place:

March 13, 2025 Planning and Design Commission meeting

The Planning and Design Commission agreed in part with staff’s recommendations, and forwarded a recommendation of approval, as amended to require a conditional use permit for cannabis cultivation and cannabis dispensaries and add 1) childcare center; 2) church or faith congregation; and 3) other dispensary to the sensitive use list, to the City Council.

April 08, 2025 Law and Legislation Committee meeting

Staff presented its recommendation alongside that of the Planning and Design Commission. The Law and Legislation Committee forwarded consideration of an ordinance to the City Council for discussion and direction.

September 16, 2025 City Council meeting

The City Council reviewed, commented, and provided direction on amendments to Title 17 relating to cannabis land uses.

Upcoming public hearing

November 18, 2025 City Council meeting (2:00pm)
The City Council will consider adopting an ordinance. Please visit the following website for instructions on how to participate and obtain copies of the agenda and staff report:

Past meetings

September 19, 2024 Virtual Webinar #2 10:30am

September 12, 2024 Planning and Design Commission workshop

September 5, 2024 Virtual Webinar #1 6:00pm

August 25, 2022 Planning and Design Commission meeting

August 20, 2024 Law and Legislation workshop

July 25, 2024 General Cannabis Careholder meeting

May 21, 2024 Law and Legislation meeting (cannabis projects update)

May 31, 2022 City Council Meeting (Policy Recommendations)

May 10, 2022 Law and Legislation workshop (Policy Recommendations)

March 15, 2022 Law and Legislation workshop (Overview of the Study; Ownership issues)

April 19, 2022 Law and Legislation workshop (Fiscal/Economic/Taxation Issues)

April 5, 2022 Law and Legislation workshop (Land Use Issues)

Background

In 2021, the City Council commissioned a study of its cannabis regulatory program and the cannabis industry in Sacramento to track the evolution of industry trends and practices, evaluate the City’s existing regulatory framework, and help guide future policy development in regulating cannabis. This study, titled Sacramento Comprehensive Cannabis Study (“Study”) was prepared by Economic Planning & Systems on March 8, 2022. The Study evaluates the City’s cannabis policies relating to land use, fiscal/taxation issues, and economic effects, and included analysis of other jurisdictions and published cannabis studies.

Following the completion of the Study, a series of workshops were held at the Law & Legislation Committee to gather input on three major topics – ownership, land use/zoning, and fiscal/economics. The workshops led to a bundle of recommendations to the City Council, which was presented on May 31, 2022. See Past Meetings section below for links to the City Council and Law & Legislation Committee meetings, agendas, and staff reports.

Why are we here?

During the May 31, 2022, City Council meeting, the Council considered the Comprehensive Cannabis Study and input gathered during the L&L workshops. Council directed staff to evaluate seven policy points or topics relating cannabis zoning regulations within Title 17 (Planning & Development Code) of the Sacramento City Code. The policy direction provided by Council is the starting point for analysis and evaluation of the Title 17 Cannabis Amendments project and is informed by the conclusions of the Study. 

Comprehensive Cannabis Study & Project Considerations

The analysis for Title 17 amendments is informed by the Study’s primary conclusions relating to cannabis land uses and zoning:

  • Cannabis businesses have not had a negative impact on other nearby retail or industrial uses. (Primary Conclusion #4, page 8)
  • Cannabis businesses have not created increases in crime beyond the levels generated by other businesses. (Primary Conclusion #6, page 9)
  • Cannabis businesses have not had a negative impact on nearby home values. (Primary Conclusion #5, page 9)
  • The cannabis industry does not appear to produce negative economic effects on commercial and residential districts. (Primary Conclusion #13, page 11)
  • Storefront dispensaries integrate well into a variety of commercial environments and are typically “good neighbors”. (Retail analysis page 76; Table 5. Overview of Cannabis Industry Function Groups (IFGs) page 24)
  • Potential for City to see reduction in cultivation uses due to higher land availability in the central and coastal regions of the state, and cheaper operating costs with jurisdictions that allow outdoor cultivation. (Primary Conclusion #12 findings, page 10)
  • Market will “shake-out” over time and it may not be necessary to limit cannabis cultivation and production uses (i.e., floor area restrictions). (Primary Conclusion #14 findings, page 11)

Staff contact information

Questions or comments should be directed to:

Kirk Skierski, Senior Planner
KTSkierski@cityofsacramento.org
916-808-7933

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