Display and sale of drug paraphernalia.
Riverside Municipal Code § 9.04.230
in effect9.04.230 - Display and sale of drug paraphernalia.
A. Purpose. Regulating business establishments that display or offer for sale drug paraphernalia is a reasonable and necessary means to protect and promote the general welfare of the children and minors of the City of Riverside exposed to controlled substances. The regulations promote the general welfare and temperance of children and minors and are intended to help reduce the improper consumption and purchase of controlled substances by children and minors by limiting their exposure to drug paraphernalia.
B. Definitions. The following words and phrases, whenever used in this section, shall be construed as defined in this section.
1. Drug paraphernalia, including but not limited to one or more of those items identified in that list set forth subparagraph 3 below, shall mean any device designed primarily for use by individuals for the smoking or ingestion of cannabis, hashish, hashish oil, cocaine, or any other "controlled substance," as that term is defined in the Health and Safety Code of the State of California.
2. A device "designed primarily for" the smoking or ingestion set forth subsection B.1 above is a device, which has been fabricated, constructed, altered, adjusted, or marked especially for use in the smoking or ingestion of cannabis, hashish, hashish oil, cocaine, or any other "controlled substance," and is peculiarly adapted to that purpose by virtue of a distinctive feature or combination of features associated with drug paraphernalia, notwithstanding that it might also be possible to use the device for some other purpose.
3. Includable items or devices:
(a) Metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic pipes, with or without screens, permanent or otherwise, heads or punctured metal bowls;
(b) A device constructed so as to prevent the escape of smoke and to accumulate smoke into a chamber to permit inhalation or ingestion of larger quantities of smoke than would otherwise be possible, whether the device is known as a "bong," or otherwise;
(c) A smokeable pipe constructed with a receptacle or container in which water or other liquid may be placed into which smoke passes and is cooled in the process of being inhaled or ingested;
(d) A smokeable pipe which contains a heating unit, whether the device is known as a "electric pipe," or otherwise;
(e) A device constructed so as to permit the simultaneous mixing and ingestion of smoke and nitrous oxide or other compressed gas, whether the device is known as a "buzz bomb," or otherwise;
(f) A canister, container or other device with a tube, nozzle or other similar arrangement attached and so constructed as to permit the forcing of accumulated smoke into the user's lungs under pressure;
(g) A device for holding a cigarette, whether the device is known as a "roach clip," or otherwise;
(h) A spoon for ingestion through the nose;
(i) A straw or tube for ingestion through the nose or mouth.
4. Public library means a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials, such as books, manuscripts, newspapers, recordings, or films, are kept for use but not for sale, which is under the control, operation or management of the City.
5. Public park means a park, playground, swimming pool, recreation center reservoir, golf course or similar athletic field within the City of Riverside, which is under the control, operation or management of the City and which is devoted to active or passive recreation.
6. Religious institution means a building that is used primarily for religious worship and related religious activities.
7. Schools means an institution of learning for minors, whether public or private, which offers instruction in those courses of study required by the California Education Code or which is maintained pursuant to standards set by the State Board of Education. This definition includes kindergarten, elementary, junior high, senior high or any special institution of learning under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education, but it does not include a vocational or professional institution or an institution of higher education, including a community or junior college, college or university.
C. Business establishment responsibility.
1. It shall be unlawful for any person in charge or control of any business establishment where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale or sold, to knowingly allow or permit a minor, not accompanied by one or both of his or her parents or by his or her legal guardian, to enter and remain within any business establishment where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale or sold.
D. Signage requirements for business establishment.
1. It shall be unlawful for any person in charge or control of a business establishment where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale, or sold, to fail to display and maintain or fail to cause to be displayed and maintained, at least one sign stating that a minor may not enter unless accompanied by one or both of his or her parents or by his or her legal guardian.
2. For purposes of subsection D.1, the language "MINORS PROHIBITED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN" on the signs shall be printed in letters at least two inches high in black ink on a white surface. These signs shall be placed in a conspicuous location near each public entrance to the business establishment where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale, or sold.
3. In the event a substantial number of public invitees or patrons of a business establishment where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale or sold, uses a language other than English as a primary language, any sign required pursuant to this section shall be worded in both English and the language or languages involved.
E. Restrictions on entry by minors.
1. In the event a sign or signs have been posted as required by subsection B above, it shall be unlawful for a minor to enter any business establishment where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale or sold, unless a minor is accompanied by one or both of his or her parents or by his or her legal guardian.
F. Restrictions on locations for business establishments where drug paraphernalia may be displayed or sold.
1. Prohibitions.
a. No person shall operate a business establishment, where drug paraphernalia is displayed for sale, offered for sale or sold, within 500 feet of any school, religious institution, public library or public park.
b. The distance specified in subparagraph (a) above shall be the horizontal distance measured in a straight line from the property line of a school, religious institution, public park, or public library to the closest exterior structural wall of the business establishment without regard to intervening structures.
(Ord. 7629 § 1, 2023; Ord. 6703 § 1, 2003)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT9PESAMO_CH9.04OF_9.04.230DISADRPAFetched: 11/1/2026