Burbank City Council Approves Urgency Ordinance to Impose a Temporary Moratorium on New Firearm Retail Uses

Burbank, CA (July 27, 2022) – The Burbank City Council approved an Urgency Ordinance on July 26, 2022, imposing a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new or replacement retail businesses selling firearms or ammunition, allowing City staff time to research and present a comprehensive zoning proposal so that Council may consider various regulatory frameworks for firearms retailers. The moratorium goes into effect immediately and will last for 45 days, unless extended further.

During the 45-day period, staff will study, analyze, and propose potential land use regulations concerning firearm retailers including:

• Limiting or reducing the number of firearm retailers in the City by suspending the issuance of new licenses and allowing the number of retailers to decline over time through attrition;
• Amending the business license process governed by BMC Section 3-4-111 to establish additional requirements for firearms retailers such as successfully passing an audit by a state or federal agency as a condition of license renewal. Council may further consider the implementation of local inspections regarding inventory, storage, site security, and transaction procedures; and
• Adopting a Zone Text Amendment to enact buffer zones and prevent the establishment of firearms retailers near sensitive-use locations.

While a review of available data does not indicate that firearms dealers/retailers create an inordinate demand for public safety services, their congregation along critical commercial corridors raises concerns for sustainable and economically diverse retail areas in the City. Additionally, Burbank community members have raised questions and concerns about the number of firearms retailers in the City, specifically their proximity to residential neighborhoods and sensitive-use locations like schools, places of worship, and public parks.

“We hear and understand the community’s concerns regarding firearms and firearm retailers in Burbank, which is why City Council advocates for measures that seek to keep our community safe while also protecting an individual’s right to lawfully bear arms under the Second Amendment,” said Mayor Jess Talamantes. “By establishing this temporary moratorium staff can further look into firearm-related measures to preserve the general welfare of our community.”

In taking this action, Council also directed staff to research and report back on other short-term and long-term options to address community concerns regarding firearms. Staff will return to City Council at a future date to present proposed regulations concerning firearms retailers.
Interested persons may watch July 26th City Council Meeting here and review the full staff report presented to the Council Members here.

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