Within the city of Pleasant Hill, the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of marijuana/cannabis is prohibited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is not a violation of this Section for an individual to cultivate, for their personal use, no more than six cannabis plants per residence, regardless of the number of individuals residing at the residence. Cultivation shall be subject to the following limitations:
A. 
The individual cultivating the cannabis plants shall reside in a private residence located on the same lot as the plant(s).
B. 
Cannabis plants may be cultivated either indoors or outdoors, or a combination of both indoors and outdoors, in compliance with the following standards.
1. 
Outdoor Cultivation:
a. 
No part of a plant shall be within five feet of any property line.
b. 
All plants shall be kept within a locked space (e.g., enclosed within a locked gate).
2. 
Indoor Cultivation:
a. 
All accessory structures shall comply with the locational and other requirements established in Section 18.15.060 (Accessory Structure and Uses: Residential Districts) or Section 18.25.050 (Accessory Structure and Uses: Commercial, Office, and Industrial Districts) as applicable.
b. 
Structures and equipment used for indoor cultivation, such as indoor grow lights, shall comply with all applicable building, electrical, and fire code regulations as adopted by the City.
c. 
The plants shall be kept in a locked space within a fully enclosed and secure structure.
C. 
The plants shall not be visible from a public right-of-way, public space, or adjacent lot(s).
D. 
Nothing in this Section is intended to preclude any landlord from limiting or prohibiting personal cultivation of marijuana/cannabis by tenants.
E. 
Nothing in this Section is intended to authorize commercial cultivation of marijuana/cannabis.
F. 
Nothing in this Section is intended to authorize any public or private nuisance due to odor or as otherwise specified in Chapter 7.05 (Public Nuisances).
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
All commercial cannabis uses are prohibited in all zoning districts and overlay zoning districts unless one or more such uses is expressly and affirmatively authorized by this Code, except in the following instances:
A. 
Conduct specified in Business and Professions Code Sections 26054(c) and (d), 26080(b), or 26090(e).
B. 
Cannabis delivery originating from a cannabis retailer located outside of the City.
C. 
The activities of an individual qualified patient or an individual primary caregiver that are exempt from State licensure in accordance with Business and Professions Code Section 26033, or a natural person's personal use activities in accordance with Health and Safety Code Sections 11362.1 and 11362.2, applicable State law and this Code.
D. 
Cannabis temporary events, as provided under Business and Professions Code Section 26200, are prohibited in the city unless specifically authorized by separate resolution or ordinance of the City Council.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
A. 
Medical Cannabis Retailers. Medical cannabis retailers may be located in any Light Industrial (LI), General Commercial (C), or Professional and Administrative Office (PAO) zoning district, subject to the approval of a Use Permit in compliance with Chapter 18.155 (Use Permit), the other regulations established in this Chapter, and the following restrictions:
1. 
A medical cannabis retailer's premises shall be closed to the public (i.e., no public storefront) and shall conduct sales exclusively by delivery.
2. 
Medical cannabis retailers are prohibited from establishing or locating within 600 feet of a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any grades one through 12, day care center, or youth center, as defined by State law. For the purposes of this Section, all distances shall be measured from the outer extents of the cannabis retailer's business premises (whether leased or owned) excluding parking facilities and common areas to the nearest property lines of each affected parcel.
3. 
The City shall issue no more than two Use Permits for medical cannabis retailers.
4. 
A medical cannabis retailer's business premises (excluding parking facilities and common areas) shall not exceed a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet.
5. 
Medical cannabis retailers shall obtain and maintain a State license for retail medicinal cannabis sales in accordance with the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, California Business and Professions Code, Division 10, Section 26000 et seq.
6. 
Medical cannabis retailers shall not create a public nuisance through offensive odors.
7. 
On-site consumption of medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products is prohibited.
8. 
Medical cannabis retail use shall be conducted indoors only, with no outdoor use or activity related to the cannabis retailer use.
9. 
Renderings of the business facade shall be provided and reviewed as part of the Use Permit application. Building facade plans shall include renderings of the exterior building elevations and any proposed signs for all sides of the building. All building facades and signs shall be in keeping with the high architectural quality and design standards of the City. The business facade and building signs shall be compatible with and complementary to surrounding businesses and shall add visual quality to the area.
B. 
Adult-Use Cannabis Retailers. Without limiting the generality of the prohibition on commercial cannabis uses in Section 18.65.020 (Commercial Cannabis Uses), adult-use cannabis retailers are prohibited in all zoning districts and overlay districts in the city.
C. 
Applicability of Other Regulations. The provisions in this Section are not intended to provide exclusive regulation of cannabis retailers. Any entity or individual engaged in the business of cannabis retail sales must comply with any and all applicable regulations established in this Title, all other City ordinances, and State law.
D. 
It is anticipated that the number of applications could exceed the number of allowable permits for cannabis retailers. The City shall not accept applications until the City Council has adopted a resolution setting forth the application period, application procedures, and guidelines to evaluate applications for cannabis retailer permits.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)