Palm Springs Municipal Code Art. II Cannabis Lounges

Except as more specifically provided in this Article II, Article I of Chapter 5.55 shall apply to cannabis lounges.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. No cannabis business, its manager, its employee, or person with an ownership interest, shall allow any person to smoke, ingest, or otherwise consume cannabis products on its site, or within 20 feet of the site, except as described in this chapter.

B. No cannabis business, its manager, its employee, or person with an ownership interest, shall permit, aid, abet, or conceal the smoking, ingesting, or other consumption of cannabis or cannabis products on its site in violation of this code.

C. Each cannabis dispensary that is not authorized to operate a cannabis lounge must have a sign prominently displayed stating, "Smoking, ingesting, or consuming cannabis or cannabis products on this site or in a public place is prohibited."

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. No person shall operate a cannabis consumption lounge without first having received from the City a valid cannabis dispensary permit with a condition that expressly authorizes the operation of a lounge in accordance with this article.

B. A cannabis dispensary permit may be authorized to allow the operation of a cannabis consumption lounge with one or more of the following conditions:

1. Preparation and sale of non-cannabis infused food.

2. Delivery and service of non-cannabis infused food.

3. Host non-ticketed events and host up to twenty-four (24) ticketed events per year, subject to the provisions of this chapter.

C. Cannabis lounges may host outdoor special events by submitting written verification of the steps that it will take to comply with applicable rules governing the event, and shall comply with all applicable conditions of approval, public safety requirements, and nuisance mitigation standards established by the City to operate said events. Cannabis lounges located directly adjacent to a site that sells primarily alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or tobacco products on the site may operate outdoor events with a land use permit.

D. Cannabis lounges may apply to operate an onsite kitchen facility. Operators must comply with both State and Riverside County regulations. Additionally, all proposed kitchen facilities must be inspected by the City to determine that the facility is safe to occupy and suitable for the intended use.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

Notwithstanding any other provision of the code, a cannabis lounge consumption operator shall:

A. Prevent and eliminate nuisances on its site, including the unlawful consumption of cannabis and cannabis products;

B. Maintain the exterior of the site, including any parking lots under the control of the permittee, free of litter, debris, and trash;

C. Properly store and dispose of all waste generated on the site, including chemical and organic waste, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations; and

D. Make cannabis and cannabis products unusable and unrecognizable before discarding them.

E. Maintain sanitary surfaces and devices.

F. Sanitation and Cleaning Frequency. Each cannabis consumption lounges shall ensure that:

1. The surfaces, utensils, and reusable devices that have direct contact with cannabis products are adequately washed, rinsed and sanitized.

2. After being cleaned, surfaces of equipment, utensils, and reusable devices that have direct contact with cannabis products are sanitized in:

a. Hot water manual operations by immersion for at least 30 seconds with a temperature of 170°F (77°C) or above;

b. Hot water mechanical operations by being cycled through equipment that is set up and achieving a utensil surface temperature of 160°F (71°C) as measured by an irreversible registering temperature indicator; or

c. Chemical manual or mechanical operations, including, without limitation, the application of sanitizing chemicals by immersion, manual swabbing, brushing or pressure spraying methods using a solution as specified on the manufacturer's label use instructions that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, by providing an exposure time of at least 30 seconds unless the manufacturer's label use instructions provide otherwise.

3. If the surfaces of utensils or equipment come into contact with potentially hazardous cannabis products and ingredients, the surfaces and utensils are cleaned throughout the day at least once every four hours.

4. The surfaces of utensils and equipment that have direct contact with cannabis products and ingredients that are not potentially hazardous are cleaned:

a. At any time when contamination may have occurred; and

b. In equipment, including, without limitation, ice bins and beverage dispensing nozzles, and enclosed components of equipment, such as ice makers, cooking oil storage tanks and distribution lines, beverage and syrup dispensing lines or tubes, coffee bean grinders and water vending equipment:

(i) At a frequency specified by the manufacturer; or

(ii) If the manufacturer does not specify a frequency, at a frequency necessary to prevent the accumulation of soil or mold.

State and local public health regulatory agencies may require permits and/or conduct inspections related to the services offered at the cannabis consumption lounge.

G. Any preparation or sale of noncannabis food or beverage products shall be in compliance with all applicable provisions of the California Retail Food Code (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 113700) of Part 7 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code).

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. Enclosed. A cannabis consumption lounge must be indoors and fully enclosed.

B. Not Visible to the Public. Cannabis consumption shall not be visible from any public place, non-age-restricted area, any unsecured area surrounding the buildings on the site, or the site's main entrance and lobby.

C. Partitioned. A cannabis consumption lounge must be separated from all other areas of the cannabis dispensary by solid walls and doors. The wall may include glass to provide visibility between the dispensary and the lounge.

D. Soundproof. A cannabis consumption lounge must be adequately soundproofed so that the interior noise does not violate Chapter 11.74 (Noise Ordinance).

E. Licensed Security Personnel. A cannabis consumption lounge shall have adequate state-licensed security personnel to patrol the site and the area within 100 feet of the site to preserve the safety of persons and to protect the site from theft. All security personnel shall possess a valid California Department of Consumer Affairs security guard license while on duty on the site.

F. Loitering in or around the cannabis consumption lounge is prohibited, and the cannabis consumption operator shall ensure the absence of loitering.

G. Smoking or vaporizing of any cannabis product by an employee or customer is not allowed in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing area of a food facility located on the premises. For purposes of this subparagraph, the following definitions apply:

1. "Food facility" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Health and Safety Code Section 113789.

2. "Warewashing" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Health and Safety Code Section 113940.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. The cannabis consumption lounge shall be designed to have negative pressure to limit, to the extent possible, leakage of smoke and particulate matter into the non-smoking areas of the site;

B. The lounge shall have an HVAC system that does not recirculate air and that has a high rate of air exchange; and

C. The lounge shall have an odor-absorbing ventilation and exhaust system that prevents the odor from inside of the lounge from being detected outside of the site or within any other area located within the same building as the lounge.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A cannabis consumption lounge operator shall display a valid cannabis permit with a condition that authorizes the operation of a cannabis consumption lounge in a conspicuous place inside of the lounge so that all persons inside of the lounge may readily see it. Additionally, at the entrance of the lounge, a sign must be posted that states, "Cannabis consumption, including smoking and vaping, is allowed inside of this lounge. No person under 21 years of age shall be in the lounge." The sign must be posted in a conspicuous place so that all persons entering the cannabis lounge may readily see it. The sign must be clearly legible and not less than eight inches by 10 inches in size.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. Employees shall be permitted at their discretion and without penalty or sanction to wear a mask for respiration, including N95 and NIOSH N95 rated masks in any area where cannabis is smoked. Employers are required to pay for such masks.

B. When hired, employees who will be working where cannabis is smoked shall be provided in writing the Department of Public Health or its successor's guidance regarding secondhand cannabis smoke.

C. A cannabis consumption lounge that offers on-site consumption of cannabis products shall include secondhand smoke in their analysis of potential work hazards for purposes of their injury and illness prevention programs required by Section 3203 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A cannabis consumption lounge operator shall display signs designated by the city that address the health impacts of the consumption of cannabis. The signs must be displayed at the entrance to the lounge in a conspicuous place so that all persons entering the cannabis consumption lounge may readily see it.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

Cannabis consumption lounge operators shall include properly maintained solid waste, organic waste, and recycling containers in sufficient numbers and locations to service the needs of the lounge.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

All cannabis consumption lounges may operate between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. Access to any area where cannabis consumption is allowed shall be restricted to persons 21 years of age or older and each entrance to any such area shall be prominently posted with a warning that cannabis consumption, including smoking of cannabis, is permitted inside.

B. No cannabis consumption lounge operator shall allow any violation of this section.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. Operator Age Limit. No person under 21 years of age shall operate a cannabis consumption lounge in any capacity, including as a manager, employee, contractor, or volunteer.

B. Education and Training. The cannabis consumption lounge operator shall educate their managers, employees, and volunteers about the various types of cannabis and cannabis products allowed in the consumption lounge, including the potency, absorption time, and effects; and shall train their managers, employees, and volunteers to likewise educate customers on their purchases. The cannabis lounge operator shall also train their managers, employees, and volunteers to recognize signs of impairment in their customers.

C. Community Relations Employee. The cannabis lounge operator shall designate an employee as their onsite community-relations contact; provide their name and phone number by certified mail to all owners and tenants of neighboring properties within 100 feet of the site; and advise them to notify the community-relations contact if there are operational problems with the lounge that impact the neighborhood. The cannabis consumption lounge operator shall also provide the name and phone number by e-mail to all owners and tenants of neighboring properties within 100 feet of the site; and advise them to notify the community relations contact if there are operational problems with the lounge that impact the neighborhood. The cannabis consumption lounge operator shall also provide the name and phone number of the onsite community relations contact to the Department of Special Program Compliance.

D. The cannabis consumption lounge operator shall ensure that during the consumption lounge hours of operation:

1. Adequate onsite staffing;

2. Continuous security monitoring;

3. Manager availability on the licensed premises; and

4. Compliance with all security and operational requirements outlined in Sections 5.55.200, 5.55.205, and 5.55.210.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. Consumption in Lounge Only. No person shall consume cannabis or cannabis products at a cannabis lounge in any area other than within the authorized portions of a licensed cannabis consumption lounge.

B. No cannabis consumption lounge operator shall allow any person to consume in the lounge any cannabis or cannabis product that was not purchased from the associated dispensary.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. No cannabis consumption lounge operator shall sell or provide for free any cannabis or cannabis products inside the lounge area.

B. No cannabis consumption lounge operator may sell or provide for free any food or beverages inside the lounge unless such food and beverage does not contain cannabis or alcohol.

C. No cannabis consumption lounge operator shall allow any cannabis or cannabis product to be stored, displayed, served or otherwise handled in a manner that results in contamination of, or co-mingling with, any food or beverage product. Food and beverage products shall be maintained, prepared, and served in compliance with all applicable State and local health and safety laws and regulations.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)

A. Closing Announcement. One hour before the closing time of the lounge and at the closing time, the cannabis consumption lounge operator or their manager shall announce the closing time of the lounge and request that customers respect the residents of the adjacent neighbors by being quiet when leaving.

B. Retail Limit. No cannabis consumption lounge operator or its manager, employee, or volunteer shall provide cannabis or cannabis products to obviously impaired customers.

C. Car Services. A cannabis consumption lounge operator shall provide written information on ridesharing and ride-hailing car services for their customers.

D. Alcohol/Tobacco. The sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco is prohibited on the cannabis consumption lounge premises.

(Ord. 2121, 9/9/2026)