On November 3, 2020, Ventura County voters passed Measure O which, in general, allows for the cultivation of cannabis and ancillary activities in pre-existing greenhouses and other indoor structures on land zoned agricultural, industrial, and commercial on premises that are 1,200 feet away from sensitive uses such as schools, day care centers, youth centers, parks, drug rehabilitation centers, or residential neighborhoods within the unincorporated area of the county in existence as of March 4, 2020.
This page provides a step-by-step guide to apply for a Cannabis Business License, applications and forms, fee payment portal, and application status report.
The applicant must submit an application to the County Executive Office which will review the submittal within 60 days to determine if the application includes all the required information. Please note that the review start date to meet the 60-day approval timeline will NOT commence until the County Executive Office has received all the required documents, information, and forms, including the Land Use/Entitlement Permit (Zoning Clearance) and state cannabis licenses.
Steps to Receive Ventura County Cannabis Business License
Step 1: Review Processing and Application Procedure Guidelines
Step 2: Submit the Applications and Fees
Cannabis Business License applicants must submit a complete comprehensive application package digitally in PDF format. This can be done in person, FED EX, UPS, or any other common carrier delivery service. The submittal must also include a flash drive containing one complete comprehensive copy of the application.
Applications for a Cannabis Land Use Entitlement / Permit (Zoning Clearance) must be submitted to the County Planning Division at the following e-mail address: cannabis.rma@ventura.org.
Payments for both the Business License and the Land Use Entitlement/Permit(Zoning Clearance) must be made by a certified check, cashier’s check or money order made payable to the County of Ventura. Please note the County will not accept cash or credit cards.
Mailing Address:
County Executive Office
800 S. Victoria Ave., L#1940
Ventura, CA 93009
Step 3: Application Acceptance & Completeness Review
CEO’s Office accepts Business License application for processing and evaluates application for completeness. If incomplete, applicant will be promptly notified.
RMA Planning evaluates the Zoning Clearance application to determine if application can be accepted for processing. If the request is not compliant with the zoning ordinance or the application does not contain the required supplemental materials, the application will not be accepted for processing and will be returned to the applicant with a written explanation as to why the request is not compliant with the zoning ordinance and a list of any missing application materials.
Step 4: Application Processing
The CEO’s Office will complete processing of the Business License Application within 60 days of receipt of a complete application. If the CEO’s Office receives new or revised information from the applicant during processing, it shall notify applicant of a modified processing schedule.
The RMA Planning Division will complete processing of the Cannabis Activity Zoning Clearance within 30 days of receipt of a complete application. If during the processing of the Zoning Clearance Application the RMA Planning Division receives new or revised information from the applicant, it shall notify the applicant of a modified processing schedule.
Step 5: Application Approval / Denial
Within 30 days of accepting the Zoning Clearance Application for processing, the RMA Planning Division will take formal action to either issue or deny the Zoning Clearance. The applicant and the CEO’s Office will be notified of the decision.
Within 60 days of accepting the Business License Application for processing, the CEO’s Office will take formal action to either approve or deny the application. The Applicant and RMA Planning will be notified of the decision. However, in no event shall the Business License be approved if RMA Planning has not issued a Zoning Clearance.
Step 6: Schedule a Pre-License Inspection
A pre-licensing inspection is required before the County issues a cannabis business license. The pre-license inspection is conducted by a cannabis consultant to the County, a member of Sheriff’s Office narcotics team, and staff from the County Executive Office. The County team will observe compliance with certain aspects of state regulations (California Code of Regulations Title 4, Division 19, Department of Cannabis Control) and the County’s cultivation ordinance (Section 2716, Division 2, Chapter 5, Cannabis business license operating requirements) that are needed prior to cultivation activities.
Step 7: Business License Issuance
Upon the receipt of a final pre-license inspection report from the County’s consultant, County Executive Office staff will prepare the necessary documents for the CEO to review to issue the cannabis business license. Once signed, a copy of the cannabis business license will be provided to the applicant and will be effective for one-year.
Application Guidelines
Applications & Forms
- State Cannabis Licenses
- Cannabis Business Employee/Owner Background Check
- Land Use Entitlement / Permit (Zoning Clearance) Application (includes checklist)
- Cannabis Business License Application
- Financial Responsibility, Indemnity and Consent to Inspection Terms
- Energy Conservation Plan Template (Needed for Section D described in the Application Procedure Guidelines)
- Property Consent Form
Fees
Payments for both the Business License and the Land Use Entitlement/Permit(Zoning Clearance) must be made by a certified check, cashier’s check or money order made payable to the County of Ventura. Please note the County will not accept cash or credit cards.
Cannabis Business License Fee – $14,700
Land Use Entitlement / Permit (Zoning Clearance) – $2,284
Mailing Address:
County Executive Office
800 S. Victoria Ave., L#1940
Ventura, CA 93009
Taxes
Renewal
License Report
Contact Information
County Executive Office
800 S. Victoria Ave., L#1940
Ventura, CA 93009
Phone: (805) 654-5071
Email: cannabis@ventura.org
Resources
Ventura County Cannabis Information
- Medical Marijuana Identification Program
(Health Care Agency) - Commercial Cannabis Regulations Development History
(Resource Management Agency) - Industrial Hemp Program
(Agricultural Commissioner) - Cannabis Regulations
Cultivator Resources
State Resources for Cannabis
- California’s Cannabis Portal
- California Department of Food and Agriculture Cannabis Cultivation Licensing Program
- Cannabis and Pesticides – California Department of Pesticide Regulation
- California Industrial Hemp Program
Cannabis State Law Background
- Trailer Bill Consolidation of Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA) and Proposition 64
- MMRSA of 2015 – Assembly Bill 243 (Wood) (PDF)
- MMRSA of 2015 – Assembly Bill 266 (Bonta) (PDF)
- MMRSA of 2015 – Assembly Bill 643 (McGuire) (PDF)
- Assembly Bill 21 (Wood) – MMRSA Clean Up
- Senate Bill 837 (Budget Committee) – MMRSA Clean Up, “Marijuana” Changed to Cannabis
- Proposition 64 – The Adult Use of Marijuana Act, Approved by Voters November 8, 2016
