Commercial Cannabis Activity

The Mayor and City Council amended Ordinance MC- 1464 in September 2018, regulating commercial cannabis activities in the City as reflected in Municipal Code Chapter 5.10. The current Ordinance (MC-1503) reflects the updated regulations.

General Information

No person may engage in any commercial cannabis business or in any commercial cannabis activity within the City of San Bernardino including cultivation, manufacture, processing, laboratory testing, transporting, dispensing, special events, distribution, or sale of cannabis or a cannabis product unless the person:

  1. has a valid Commercial Cannabis Business Permit from the City of San Bernardino;

  2. has a valid State Seller' s Permit; and

  3. is currently in compliance with all applicable state and local laws and regulations pertaining to the commercial cannabis business and the commercial cannabis activities, including the duty to obtain a City business registration certificate and any required state licenses. Engaging in a commercial cannabis business or in any commercial cannabis activity includes establishing, owning, managing, conducting, leasing to, operating, causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing the fact of such an act.

Where to start for the Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB) application process:

1.We are currently in the process of updating our Application Procedures. Please check back soon for updated regulations and guidelines.

2. Submit a Zoning Verification Letter (ZVL) request to determine if the parcel/property meets the sensitive use buffers and General Plan designations as outlined in Municipal Code Chapter 5.10.

The ZVL application form is available at the Community Development Department public counter. Please note: An application is required because the Ordinance has a series of standards that require on-site inspection of the location and the surrounding area to determine if it meets the sensitive use buffers outlined in Municipal Code Chapter 5.10.025.

Notwithstanding the results of a Zoning Verification Letter, under SBMC Section 5.10.180, the ultimate determination on an application for a Commercial Cannabis Business Permit is made by the Mayor and City Council and an application may still be filed for this property. You should be aware that absent any amendments to the Commercial Cannabis Activities Ordinance (SBMC Chapter 5.10) the staff analysis and recommendation will note the property does not comply with the requirements of SBMC Section 5.10.250.

Turnaround time: 10 working days
Fee: $183 / Location

3.The City of San Bernardino is currently closed to New Applications at this time. To stay up to date on the process and when new applications will be taken, please use the Updates Page. Click here to learn more.

For more in-depth information, please email Stephanie Castro in the Community & Economic Development Department at castro[email protected].

Fee Schedule: