Cannabis

California now allows the cultivation, processing, and sale of cannabis for recreational use if a cannabis businesses has obtained the appropriate State and local permits. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance regulating the commercial cannabis industry in the unincorporated areas of the County. This includes retail sales, delivery (including from outside the County or from a city within the County), cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and distribution. Certain types of cannabis operations are limited to a specific number of permits (i.e., retail sales and cultivation). A commercial cannabis health permit is required to conduct any type of commercial cannabis activity in the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.

Environmental Health reviews applications for cannabis health permits and conducts unannounced inspections of cannabis operations. Delivery companies have their vehicles inspected at least once annually.

If your cannabis operation is located in an incorporated city, contact that city for information regarding their local regulations.

Applications, Forms, Fees

Permit Process

Resources

Operations

FAQ

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  Application and Forms/Fee Schedule

  This is a list of all the applications, forms, and fee schedule associated with the Commercial Cannabis Program.

  Health Permit Applications and Fee Schedule

  • Health Permit Application: Commercial Cannabis Operation
  • Required Accompanying Documents – For New Applicants Only
  • Required Accompanying Documents – For Renewals Only
  • Fee Schedule

  
  
  
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  How to Apply for a Permit

  The operator of a cannabis business must obtain all State and local permits prior to commencing operation. Those businesses operating in the incorporated areas of the County or delivering from outside these areas to customers in the unincorporated areas of the County must obtain a commercial cannabis health permit from Contra Costa Environmental Health.

  To obtain a permit, a completed commercial cannabis health permit application and applicable fee must be submitted to Environmental Health. The application is reviewed and if deemed complete, an onsite permit inspection is then conducted. Unannounced inspections are done afterwards.

  Each year prior to the expiration of cannabis health permits on June 30th, cannabis businesses must apply for a new health permit.

  • Cannabis Application Process and Flowchart - (pending)

  
  
  
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  Resources: Codes, Documents, Signage, Training, Videos, Other Link

  The following are documents and informational resources for cannabis operations.

  Codes

  • Contra Costa County Ordinance 413-4: Commercial Cannabis Permits (enforced by Environmental Health)
  • Contra Costa County Ordinance 88-28: Cannabis Regulation (enforced by the Department of Conservation and Development)
  • California Code of Regulations Title 16
  • California Business and Professions Code Division 10 - (pending)

  
  
  

  Documents

  • CBD Information 1/21
  • Health Permit Application: Commercial Cannabis Operation
  • Required Accompanying Documents – For New Applicants Only
  • Required Accompanying Documents – For Renewals Only
  • Cannabis Application Process and Flowchart - (pending)
  • Cannabis brochure - (pending)
  • CDPH Information on Industrial Hemp (IH) Derivatives Including Cannabidiol (CBD)
  • Delivery inspection checklist

  
  
  

  Other Links

  The following agencies may have regulatory oversight related to your operation, depending on items sold or types of food processes performed.

  • Department of Cannabis Control (DCC)
  • Contra Costa County Agriculture Department
  • CalOSHA
  • City Building and Fire Departments
  • Conservation and Development | Contra Costa County, CA Official Website

  
  
  
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  Types of Operations

  There are several types of cannabis operations. These may operate singly or in combination, depending on the permit(s) obtained by the operator.

  • Cultivation – Any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of cannabis plants.
  • Delivery – An operation delivering cannabis products directly to the consumer.
  • Distribution – An operation selling cannabis products to other cannabis vendors, but not directly to the public.
  • Manufacturing – An operation involved in the extraction process, infusion process, packaging, and labeling. Includes the manufacture of products containing cannabis, such as edible cannabis products.
  • Retail sales – A store that sells cannabis products directly to the consumer.
  • Testing laboratory – An operation conducting laboratory testing of cannabis and cannabis products.

  
  
  
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  Cannabis FAQs

  
  

  • Cannabis FAQs (pending)