California Cannabis 
Licensing & Permits

Licensing & Permits Guide

Starting a cannabis business in California? You’ll need a state-issued license from the DCC, along with local authorization from your city or county. License types include cultivation, retail, distribution, manufacturing, and testing.

This guide explains each license type, how to apply, what documents you’ll need, and key steps to approval. We also cover social equity considerations and fast-track application options available in certain jurisdictions.

Many cities and counties do not grant cannabis permits. Therefore, you need to do some research on where you want to run your business. First step is knowing if your city or county even regulates cannabis businesses.

Local zoning regulations will dictate where you can operate a cannabis business. Typically, different zones will allow (or not) for different cannabis business types. For example, retailers may only be allowed in commercial zoning while manufacturers are only allowed in industrial zoning.