All commercial cannabis activities require Commercial Cannabis Use Permit, Commercial Cannabis Operating Permit and business license. You will also have to obtain the required State of California licenses.
An El Dorado County business license should be obtained after you have received an El Dorado County Commercial Cannabis Use Permit and Commercial Cannabis Operating Permit along with the necessary licenses from the State of California.
The County allows for seven (7) retail storefronts and 150 commercial cannabis cultivation operations. It does not have permit limits on the other allowed commercial cannabis activities (e.g. distribution, manufacturing, test laboratories, delivery services, etc.).
Applications are available now. The County will put applications on a waiting list if/when it has reached the maximum storefront and cultivation permits mentioned above.
The County Commercial Cannabis Use Permit runs with the life of the parcel, unless a shorter time period is specified or the conditions set in place are not met and the permit is revoked. For more information please click on the following link:
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/planning/Cannabis/Pages/Cannabis---Commercial.aspx
The County Commercial Cannabis Operating Permit is valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance, unless a shorter time period is specified. For more information please click on the following link:
The County business license is valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance, unless a shorter time period is specified by the Treasurer- Tax Collector. For more information please click on the following link:
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/TaxCollector/pages/Business_License_Info.aspx
Approval of a land use permit (Commercial Cannabis Use Permit) only entitles the use itself and approval of an operating permit only allows the commercial cannabis operations within certain conditions. Separate permits or licenses may also be required including any proposed construction or grading activities. For more information please click on the following link:
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/Building
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/Ag
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/EMD
Proposition 64 permits adults 21 years and older to use recreational cannabis within a private residence and grow cannabis indoors (up to six (6) plants per residence) for personal use. Cannabis use is still prohibited in public and areas where smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Proposition 64 does allow commercial recreational cannabis cultivation, manufacturing or sales operations with local approval /permits. In addition, commercial cannabis activities require a license(s) from the State Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch or CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing, which will not grant a license without a local jurisdiction's approval.
Not for personal use. Please click on the following link for more information on personal use rules:
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/planning/Cannabis/Pages/Cannabis---Personal.aspx
Proposition 64 does not allow the sale of homegrown cannabis, whether whole plant, clippings, clones, or any product derived from any part of the plant.
It is illegal to smoke or consume medical or recreational cannabis in any public place in El Dorado County. Smoking or consuming medical or recreational cannabis is also prohibited under state law where smoking tobacco is prohibited, which includes but is not limited to hallways and lobbies of apartment buildings and hotels, on the street, in schools, amusement parks, public parks and places of business usually open to the general public.
Additionally, consumption or smoking of cannabis is prohibited within 1,000 feet of a school or youth area while children are present, except on private residential property provided the smoking is not detectable by children.
El Dorado County has new regulations when it comes to the personal cultivation of cannabis. The County has replaced the ability to grow 200 square feet (with one medical prescription or valid medical card), 400 square feet (with two medical prescriptions or valid medical cards in certain zones), or 600 square feet (with three medical prescription or valid medical cards in certain zones) with the ability to plant up to six cannabis plants outdoors on a legal parcel without differentiating between medical or recreational cannabis in all zones except Multi-Unit Residential. Alternatively, up to 6 plants may be grown indoors in any zone, including Multi-Unit Residential zones. No more than 6 plants may be grown per residence indoors or outdoors at any given time and any cannabis grown under the ordinance must be exclusively for the personal use of the residents of the parcel.
Any individuals interested in growing cannabis for personal use should read the ordinance to ensure compliance with all the regulations, including setbacks, screening, and odor control. The link below is the personal cultivation ordinance. Please click on the link to learn all the rules: Personal Cultivation Ordinance