On December 15, 2023, the City of Monterey officially launched the Cannabis Business Permit application process. This signals the opening of the window to apply for Storefront and Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permits. That window will close at 4:00p.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024 [UPDATE: The application window for Storefront and Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permits has now closed. The review process is currently underway. Thank you to all who have applied.]. The most up to date information regarding Cannabis Business Permits, to include application and regulatory documents, may be found on this page. 

Interested parties may apply for the following types of Cannabis Business Permits in the City of Monterey:

• Storefront & Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit Application
• Temporary Cannabis Event Permit Application
• Cannabis Testing Laboratory Permit Application
• Out-Of-City Cannabis Retail Delivery And Distribution Cannabis Business Permit Application

Each permit application, except for Out-Of-City Cannabis Retail Delivery And Distribution Cannabis Business Permit Applications, has its own set of Procedure Guidelines and Review Criteria. These documents may be found here:

• Storefront & Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit Application Procedure Guidelines and Review Criteria (UPDATED 1/26/2024)
• Temporary Cannabis Event Permit Application Procedure Guidelines and Review Criteria
• Cannabis Testing Laboratory Business Permit Application Procedure Guidelines And Review Criteria

Financial Responsibility, Indemnity And Consent To Inspection Terms forms are required for each type of Cannabis Business Permit. These forms may be found here:

• Storefront & Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit Application Financial Responsibility, Indemnity and Consent To Inspection Terms
• Temporary Cannabis Event Permit Application Financial Responsibility, Indemnity And Consent To Inspection Terms
• Cannabis Testing Laboratory Business Permit Application Financial Responsibility, Indemnity And Consent To Inspection Terms
• Out-Of-City Cannabis Retail Delivery And Distribution Business Permit Application Financial Responsibility, Indemnity And Consent To Inspection Terms

For each application requiring a Background Check, a separate fee of $300 will be required per owner, applicant, and responsible party. For those applications requiring a Live Scan, applicants may have their Live Scan conducted at the Monterey Police Department or another California Department of Justice approved Live Scan facility.

UPDATE: The City is aware of an issue with the Live Scan process that is preventing applicants from adequately completing this requirement. Due to the delay caused by this issue, the deadline for completing the Live Scan requirement is being extended to a to be determined date.

A fee will be paid directly to the agency conducting the Live Scan and may vary by location. Background Check forms and Live Scan forms may be found here:

• Cannabis Business Permit Owner Background Application
• Live Scan Form (Coming Soon)

Answers to frequently asked questions may be found below in the FAQ document.

• FAQ

Storefront and Non-storefront retail cannabis business permit timeline
The window for Storefront and Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit applications has now closed, and the process has entered Phase 1. The timeline is as follows (subject to change):

Phase 1: Completion Check/Determination of Eligibility	January 29 - February 14
Phase 2: Application Evaluation and Review	February 14 - March 29
Phase 3: Interviews	March 29 - April 12
Phase 4 - Final Recommendation and Award of Permits	April 12 - May 10

Follow the Storefront and Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit application process flowchart link below for a detailed depiction of each phase of the process.

• Storefront and Non-Storefront Cannabis Business Permit Application Process Flowchart

Cannabis Fee Schedule

In order to allow Storefront and Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit applicants not completing the application process to avoid paying for all four phases, the fee payment schedule is staggered by item. Application fees for Phases 1 & 2 plus the background check fee will be due between January 4, 2024 and January 29, 2024 [This window has now closed.]. If selected to move forward, a payment of $1,840 is due within five (5) business days of the applicant being notified they have been selected to proceed to Phase 3. If selected to move forward again, a payment of $2,360 is due within five (5) business days of the applicant being notified they have been selected to proceed to Phase 4.

Description	FY24 Fee
Application Review	Per Applicant
Storefront & Non-Storefront Phase 1	$1,510
Storefront & Non-Storefront Phase 2	$3,335
Storefront & Non-Storefront Phase 3	$1,840
Storefront & Non-Storefront Phase 4	$2,360
Testing Laboratory	$2,425
Temporary Cannabis Event	$1,610
Out-of-City Retail / Distribution	$70
Background Check	$300 per owner
Annual Cannabis Compliance Fee	$2,395
Cannabis Audit	$6,000
Cannabis Business Permit Renewal	$780
Zone Clearance	$140

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For background on the ordinance process (steps 1, 2, and 3 in the above graphic), please refer to haveyoursaymonterey.org/cannabis.