How to Apply for Cannabis BOP
The City of Sacramento Office of Cannabis Management offers a variety of different cannabis business operating permit options. Below is a general summary of the process to receive a permit. Please be aware that this is not an exhaustive list or substitution for ensuring compliance with all applicable requirements.
Step 1: Find a Location
To check a property address and view the zones located within the City, utilize this link here.
Step 2: Conditional Use Permit (CUP) – Planning Division
Obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for production by submitting an application through the Planning Division’s online portal. To check if a property already has an approved CUP, utilize this link here.
Step 3. Apply for Building Permits – Building Department
- Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy specific to the cannabis activity.
- All Building Department applications must be submitted online via the Building Department’s online portal. The Building Department’s public counters are open by appointment only.
Step 4: Business Operating Permit (BOP) – Office of Cannabis Management
For an overview of the BOP process, utilize this link here. A BOP application with the required documentation may be submitted through OCM’s online permitting portal.
The application is only valid for 180 days. It will be deemed “Abandoned” if the application is not approved and the extension fee of $500 and form is not submitted before 180 days.
The following checklists for a new BOP application per permit type will assist you with the process:
- Cultivation Step-by-Step Checklist
- Delivery Step-by-Step Checklist
- Distribution Step-by-Step Checklist
- Manufacturing Step-by-Step Checklist
- Microbusiness Step-by-Step Checklist
- Storefront Dispensary Step-by-Step Checklist
- Storefront Dispensary - Consumption Lounge Step-by-Step Checklist
- Testing Laboratory Step-by-Step Checklist
Step 5: Pay BOP Application Fee – Office of Cannabis Management
In order for OCM to begin reviewing the application, the application must be both submitted and paid for. The application fee is waived for CORE businesses (Classifications 1, 2, 3, and 5) and Veterans. The application fees are non-refundable and can be found utilizing this link here. If no application fee has been received within 30 days of submittal, the application will become void.
Step 6: Walk-through – Office of Cannabis Management
OCM will reach out to schedule a walk-through as part of the secondary review portion of the application. It is important to note that a walk-through will not be scheduled until the location has been issued a COO. Walk-throughs are only scheduled on Thursdays. To help you prepare, review the BOP walk-through checklist to ensure the requirements are in place and ready for evaluation – link here.
Step 7: Business Operating Tax – Revenue Division
When the business has completed the walk-through, apply online to submit the Business Operations Tax Online Application – link here.
Step 8: State License – Department of Cannabis Control - link here
Apply for a State license from the Department of Cannabis Control. It is best to take your tenant improvement schedule into consideration during this process to ensure the business has a valid State license as the application goes through the BOP final review and/or to start operating your cannabis business. A state license is a requirement of renewal and will need to match the BOP type with OCM.
Other Non-City Requirements
CEQA Compliance
If the City has determined that the project is exempt from CEQA review, applicants can obtain from their planner a completed Notice of Exemption (NOE). The NOE must be filed with these agencies:
- Sacramento County Clerk, and
- the State Office of Planning and Research (OPR). There is no fee for filing with OPR. The applicant must file the notice of exemption in order to obtain a date-stamped copy of the NOE required to apply for a Department of Cannabis Control State license.
Sacramento Metro Air District Compliance
The Sac Metro Air District regulates cannabis-related manufacturing equipment, air pollution control devices, and onsite power generation. Please contact the Sac Metro Air District at (279) 207-1122 or permitting @airquality.org if you have any of the following:
- Onsite power generation equipment (e.g., microturbines or generators)
- Solvent-based cannabis extraction
- Cleaning processes using boilers