A. Visibility of Manufacturing Processes. From a public right-of-way, there shall be no exterior evidence of cannabis manufacturing allowed on the premises, except for any signage authorized by this Code.
B. Use of compressed gas. Any compressed gases used in the manufacturing process shall be approved by the Fire Chief. Any compressed gases shall not be stored on any property within the City of Chico in containers that exceed the amount approved by the Fire Chief. Each site or parcel subject to a Commercial Cannabis Permit shall be limited to a total number of tanks as authorized by the Fire Chief on the property at any time.
C. Use of solvents. Any solvents used in the manufacturing process shall be approved by the Fire Chief. Cannabis Manufacturers using solvents or gases for extraction shall use N-butane, isobutane, propane, or heptane, or other solvents or gases exhibiting low to minimal potential human-related toxicity approved by the Fire Chief. These solvents must be of at least ninety-nine percent purity and procedures showing that any extraction process must use them in a professional grade closed loop extraction system designed to recover the solvents and work in an environment with proper ventilation, controlling all sources of ignition where a flammable atmosphere is or may be present.
D. Use of Gas Extraction Systems. If an extraction process uses a professional grade closed loop CO2 gas extraction system, every vessel must be certified by the manufacturer for its safe use.
a. Closed loop systems for compressed gas extraction systems must be commercially manufactured and bear a permanently affixed and visible serial number.
b. Certification from an engineer licensed by the State of California must be provided to the Fire Chief for a professional grade closed loop system used by any commercial cannabis manufacturer to certify that the system was commercially manufactured, is safe for its intended use, and was built to codes of recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, including but not limited to:
i. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME);
ii. American National Standards Institute (ANSI);
iii. Underwriters Laboratories (UL); or
iv. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
c. Certification document must contain the signature and stamp of the professional engineer and serial number of the extraction unit being certified.
E. Fire Chief Approval. Professional closed loop systems, other equipment used, the extraction operation, and all related facilities must be approved for their use by the Fire Department and meet any required fire, safety, and building code requirements specified in Building and Fire Codes, as adopted by the City.
F. Approved Non-solvent/gas Manufacturing Methods. Cannabis Manufacturers may use:
a. Heat, screens, presses, steam distillation, ice water, and other methods without employing solvents or gases to create kief, hashish, bubble hash, or infused dairy butter, or oils or fats derived from natural sources, and other extracts.
b. Food grade glycerin, ethanol, and propylene glycol solvents to create or refine extracts.
G. Ethanol Recapture. Ethanol shall be removed from all extracts in a manner to recapture the solvent and ensure that it is not vented into the atmosphere.
H. Procedures and Protocols. Cannabis Manufacturers creating cannabis extracts must develop standard operating procedures, good manufacturing practices, and a training plan prior to producing extracts for the marketplace.
I. Training. Any person using solvents or gases in a closed looped system to create cannabis extracts must be fully trained on how to use the system, must have direct access to applicable material safety data sheets and handle and store the solvents and gases safely. Training materials and records shall be presented to the City upon request.
J. Assurance Testing. Parts per million for one gram of finished extract cannot exceed State standards for any residual solvent or gas when quality assurance tested.
K. Added Artificial Flavor Prohibited. Cannabis manufacturers shall not manufacture cannabis products which contain an added characterizing flavor. For purposes of this Chapter, “characterizing flavor” means a taste or aroma, other than the taste or aroma of cannabis, imparted either prior to or during consumption. This includes, but is not limited to, tastes or aromas relating to food or drink of any sort; menthol; mint; wintergreen; fruit; chocolate; vanilla; honey; candy; cocoa; dessert; alcoholic beverages; herbs; or spices. Flavor agents consisting of cannabis terpenes shall not be considered an added characterizing flavor. Such prohibition shall not apply to cannabis products which are manufactured as edible or topical products.
L. Annual California Fire Code Operational Permit. Cannabis manufacturers shall obtain annually and keep current at all times a Fire Code Operational Permit.
M. Sprinkler System. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all buildings containing cannabis manufacturing uses, including but not limited to oil extraction operations and cannabis-infused product kitchens/bakeries.
N. Fire Alarm System. An automatic fire alarm system shall be provided through building containing cannabis manufacturing uses, including but not limited to oil extraction operations and cannabis-infused product kitchens/bakeries. The installed fire alarm system shall meet the requirements of emergency voice/alarm communication systems required by the California Fire Code and shall be designed and installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards.
O. Fire Department Access. A key box shall be installed at an approved location to allow immediate access to the premises in the event of an emergency for life-saving and fire-fighting purposes, due to the potential hazards associated with manufacturing facilities. The box shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with UL 1037 and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the fire code official.
(Ord. 2553; Ord. 2589 §4)