The proposed zoning code amendment reflects community input provided at the community meeting and through the survey. The amendment was considered by the Planning Commission on September 19, 2024, and Long Beach City Council held adoption hearing at the end of 2024.
Community Development
In October 2021, the Long Beach City Council directed staff to explore zoning regulations for non-storefront businesses. In 2022, feedback was collected from the community and businesses on this topic to inform a set of amendments to the Long Beach Municipal Code to implement the Council’s policy direction.
Based these insights, a Zoning Code Amendment was drafted to establish new regulations for adult-use cannabis delivery-only dispensaries. On Sept. 19, 2024, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted (5-0) to approve the amendments with revisions to include the prohibition of cannabis delivery-only dispensaries on ground levels within the Community Pedestrian-Oriented (CCP) Zoning District. The action also included clarification that cannabis delivery-only dispensaries in pedestrian-oriented zoning districts can be located on the second floor or above. The following proposed amendments are forwarded to the City Council for consideration:
These changes largely reflect an evolution in the industry that has already occurred and these changes to Long Beach Municipal Code are necessary to catch-up with existing practice in the marketplace. Recognizing and regulating these uses is part of a larger City strategy to support the legal cannabis industry, reduce competition from unlicensed or unregulated businesses and open new business opportunities to those previously left out of the cannabis industry.
Past Community Engagement
On Aug. 31, 2022, the Community Development Department’s Planning Bureau hosted a virtual community meeting to educate participants about the growing demand for e-commerce and delivery-only retail use in Long Beach, such as ghost kitchens, cannabis retailers and distribution centers. Additionally, an online survey was conducted in 2022, and the City received 43 responses on this topic. The majority of participants expressed no concern for non-storefront buildings, so long as the property is well-maintained and has a visually interesting building façade. City staff has included building design standards and operational requirements as a part of proposed amendments.
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