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Sonoma County Cannabis Program
Dispensaries
Note: Dispensary delivery operations must be connected to a brick and mortar dispensary.
Limit on Number of Dispensaries
The County has been issuing land use permits for dispensaries since 2007. No more than 9 cannabis dispensaries can be permitted within the unincorporated county at any one time. There are currently 8 permitted dispensaries and 1 application that has been deemed complete. At this time, the County is not accepting new dispensary applications.
Required Permits and Inspections
Cannabis Land Use Permit
Cannabis dispensaries are allowed in the urban commercial zones (C1, C2, and LC) and will require a use permit from Permit Sonoma.
A use permit is a discretionary permit and each application is reviewed and conditioned on a case-by-case basis. Each permit is subject to public notification and environmental review.
Application: Cannabis Supply Chain Business Use Permit Application PJR-124
Building, Well and Septic Permits
As applicable, from Permit Sonoma
Trip Generation Form
As applicable, from Permit Sonoma
- PJR-127 Cannabis Trip Generation Form (PDF: 118 kB)
Fire Review and Inspection
Fire and Emergency Services will review all manufacturing permit applications and be responsible for inspecting and monitoring for compliance.
Cannabis Health Permit
Dispensaries will require a permit from the Department of Health Services.
Business or Operator Requirements
The following is true for all cannabis permits:
- Operators and employees must be at least 21 years of age
- Operators shall be subject to background searches
- Local hiring preference for business
- Compliance with occupational safety requirements (Cal/OSHA, wage and hour laws, etc)
Ongoing - Operational Requirements
- Annual permit requirement
- Annual inspections required
Note: Dispensary delivery operations must be connected to a brick and mortar dispensary.