Cathedral City council adopts first-reading cannabis ordinance adding odor-control plan and stiffer penalties; council removes 22,000-sq.-ft. canopy cap

The Cathedral City Council voted unanimously on first reading to adopt a package of amendments to the Cathedral City Municipal Code that adds an odor-control permitting process, raises possible administrative fines and clarifies enforcement steps for cannabis businesses.

City planning staff presented the ordinance as a citywide update to cannabis tax, licensing, zoning and enforcement rules. "The ordinance that is before you this evening is being recommended for approval by city staff," said Andy Firestein, who led the staff presentation. He told the council the changes reflect a "balanced approach" intended to protect residents while giving businesses a path to comply.

The measure comes after a surge of cannabis-odor complaints in 2024 and early 2025, staff told the council. Firestein said the city received 38 complaints early in 2024 and more than 900 between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2024 (including more than 200 in November and about 500 in December). The city has used increased inspections, overtime patrols and a consultant, SCS Engineers, to study odor sources and mitigation technologies.

Why it matters: The ordinance creates a formal, performance-based odor-control plan review and ties that plan to the local licensing process. Under the proposal, businesses will be required to submit an odor-control plan and install mitigation equipment; the city will review those plans and inspect installation. Staff said the change fills a gap in the current entitlement process that approved businesses before their mechanical/ventilation specifications were finalized.

Major provisions and enforcement path - Odor-control plan requirement: The draft adds a new odor-control permit and requires an odor-control plan as a condition of a cannabis conditional-use permit (CUP). Businesses must have an approved plan on file by the time of local license renewal (staff said implementation of the requirement will begin Jan. 1, 2026, tied to renewals; earlier compliance may be required if a business triggers violations). - Performance-based approach: The city will not prescribe…