To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: LUKE SMUDE, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE CITY’S PROHIBITION OF GENERAL FOOD SALES, INCLUSIVE OF BEER AND WINE, AT SERVICE STATIONS IN THE COASTAL ZONEend
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the November 4, 2025 City Council Meeting, Council Member Castle requested staff return with a discussion item regarding the possible sale of general grocery items at service stations in the City’s Coastal Zone. The City Council last discussed this item on September 19, 2023, when the Council initiated approval of Ordinance No. 3263-23 that allowed for the sale of general food items at service stations in the City’s Inland Zone.
BACKGROUND
The City of Redondo Beach currently features 11 service stations. Prior to the implementation of Ordinance No. 3263-23, which occurred in November 2023, all service stations were allowed to sell only incidental convenience items, not general food items. From a legal perspective, the “general food/grocery” category also pertains to both beer and wine.
Ordinance No. 3263-23 amended the Redondo Beach Municipal Code (RBMC) to allow for general food sales at service stations in the City’s Inland Zone only. The change impacted 9 of the City’s 11 total service stations. At the time, the City Council opted not to extend the allowance for general food sales to the two service stations in the Coastal Zone. The prohibition in the Coastal Zone remains in place today.
Should the Council wish to amend the existing Coastal Zone policy, an ordinance amending the RBMC would be required. In addition to regular City Council approval, the action would also be subject to certification by the California Coastal Commission.
If approved by Council and certified by the California Coastal Commission, service station owners would then have the opportunity to apply for a Conditional Use Permit to allow for general food sales, with or without the inclusion of beer and wine for off premises consumption. While service station owners could make the election as to whether to sell beer and wine as part of general food sales, the City could not approve only grocery sales and exclude beer and wine from any new regulations. Liquor, however, is excluded from the general food category and is not part of this consideration.
If no follow up action is requested, the ban on general food sales for service stations in the Coastal Zone would remain in effect. If Council would like to pursue lifting the ban in the Coastal Zone, staff would return with the necessary draft ordinance and revisions to the RBMC.
COORDINATION
This item was produced in coordination with the Community Development, Financial Services, and Police Departments, along with the City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the preparation of the report is included in the annual operating budgets of the participating Departments. Any fiscal impacts associated with future processing of Conditional Use Permits for gas station food sales would be offset by application fees collected by the Community Development Department.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Ord - No. 3263-23 Amending RBMC Title 10, Chapter 2, Section 10-2.1605 - General Food Sales Service Stations in the City’s Inland Zone
• Administrative Report - City Council, September 19, 2023
• Administrative Report - City Council, November 1, 2022
• Map - Service Stations Citywide