How-To

How to Get a California Cannabis License

Licensing a cannabis business in California is a two-step process: local first, then state. The rules are strict and change often. Here is the path through local approval and the DCC, the license types and fees, and the bond the state requires.

California cannabis licensing by the numbers

$5,000: California state cannabis licensee surety bond, per licensed premises; CA Dept. of Cannabis Control
$1,000: DCC annual license fee for a cannabis retailer (fees vary widely by license type); CA Dept. of Cannabis Control
$8.6B: U.S. surety direct written premium; SFAA, 2022

Two licenses, local first

Every California cannabis business needs two approvals: a local permit from the city or county where you will operate, and a state license from the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). You must secure the local approval first, and you cannot operate until both are in place. Local rules are the single most common reason an application stalls.

The path, step by step

1. Check your local jurisdiction. Confirm your city or county allows your cannabis activity, and check zoning for your proposed location.
2. Get local permits. Complete the local permitting process and secure the approvals your jurisdiction requires.
3. Gather documents and apply to the DCC. Prepare your business, premises, and owner information and submit your state application.
4. Pay fees and post the bond. Pay the DCC license fee and file the $5,000 state cannabis bond for the premises.
5. DCC review and approval. The DCC reviews your application, confirms local compliance, and checks owner background before issuing the license.

License type	DCC annual license fee
Retail	$1,000
Distribution	$1,000
Testing laboratory	$1,000
Manufacturing	$1,500 to $75,000
Cultivation	$1,205 to about $77,905, by size

The $5,000 state bond

The state also requires a $5,000 cannabis surety bond payable to California for each licensed premises. It is small and low-cost, and it is the piece we handle. For how the state and local bond requirements fit together, see our guide to the cannabis bond and local permits.

Confirm the current rules

Cannabis licensing changes frequently. Provisional licenses have been phased out, fees are updated periodically, and local rules differ everywhere. Confirm the current requirements with the DCC and your local jurisdiction before you rely on them. When you reach the bond step, start a quote and we will issue your $5,000 bond fast.

Questions

FAQs

Reviewed by Michael Melshenker, CEO. Updated June 2026.

Do I need both a state and a local cannabis license in California?

Yes. You need local approval from your city or county and a state license from the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). You get the local permit first, and you cannot operate until both are in place.

How much does a California cannabis license cost?

DCC fees vary widely by license type, from $1,000 for retail, distribution, and testing to $1,500 to $75,000 for manufacturing and up to about $77,905 for large cultivation. Application fees and local permit fees are separate.

What bond do I need for a cannabis license?

California requires a $5,000 surety bond payable to the state for each licensed premises. It is a small, low-cost bond, and we place it. It is separate from your license fees.

Where do I start?

With your local jurisdiction. Confirm your city or county allows your cannabis activity, check zoning, and complete local permitting before you apply to the DCC. Local rules are the most common thing that stops an application.