The Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist is the City of Sacramento guide to submitting a new application for a cannabis cultivation Business Operating Permit (BOP), including the nursery and processor permit types. If you searched for a Sacramento business license, note that this document covers only the cannabis cultivation BOP, which the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) reviews. It walks you through eight steps, from finding a zoned location to the State license. On this page you can fill out the checklist online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the City of Sacramento at the official source link.
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What is Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist – Sacramento, CA?
The Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist is the City of Sacramento guide for applicants seeking a new cannabis cultivation Business Operating Permit (BOP), listing in order the approvals, documents, fees and inspections involved, including for nursery and processor permit types.
The City allows cannabis cultivation in specific zones, subject to the Sacramento City Code (SCC) under Title 5 and Title 17. The checklist has blanks you mark as you complete each of its eight steps: find a location, obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Planning Division, obtain building permits, apply for the BOP with OCM, pay the application fee, complete a walk-through, apply for the Business Operating Tax with the Revenue Division, and apply for a State license from the Department of Cannabis Control. It also lists the documentation the BOP application needs and the non-city requirements that may apply (CEQA, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento County Agricultural Commission, Sacramento County Environmental Department and Sac Metro Air District).
The checklist is guidance only: it states that it is not an exhaustive list and does not replace compliance with all applicable requirements. It covers cultivation. The City's forms page lists separate checklists for delivery, distribution, manufacturing, microbusiness, storefront dispensary, consumption lounge and testing laboratory permits, and a separate renewal application checklist.
Who needs to file Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist – Sacramento, CA?
Anyone planning to apply for a new cannabis cultivation Business Operating Permit in the City of Sacramento uses this checklist. It also applies to applications for the nursery and processor permit types.
The City offers five cultivation permit types:
- Indoor cultivation of no more than 5,000 square feet of total canopy size
- Indoor cultivation of no more than 10,000 square feet of total canopy size
- Indoor cultivation of no more than 22,000 square feet of total canopy size
- Nursery (no canopy size)
- Processor (no canopy size)
Exclusions and limits: outdoor cultivation is not allowed in the City, and greenhouse cultivation may be allowed only under the terms of the CUP. This checklist is for new applications. Permit holders renewing use the Business Operating Permit Renewal Application Checklist, and other cannabis business types (delivery, distribution, manufacturing, microbusiness, storefront dispensary, testing laboratory) have their own checklists. Live Scan background checks are required for individuals with aggregate ownership interest of 20% or more and for officers, board members, LLC managers and others with similar responsibilities.
When to file Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist – Sacramento, CA
Use the checklist before you start a new cultivation application, because step 1 (finding a zoned location) and step 2 (the Conditional Use Permit) come before the BOP application. The BOP application itself is only valid for 180 days; it is deemed "Abandoned" if it is not approved and the extension fee and form are not submitted before 180 days.
Other timing rules on the checklist: OCM begins review only when the application is both submitted and paid, and an application with no fee received within 30 days of submittal becomes void. A walk-through is not scheduled until the location has been issued a Certificate of Occupancy (COO), and walk-throughs are scheduled only on Thursdays. The Business Operating Tax application follows the completed walk-through. The City's FAQ says a BOP is valid for one year from issue and must be renewed annually.
Documents you need
- Conditional Use Permit: a copy of the Record of Decision from the Planning Department.
- Cannabis Business Owner & Interested Parties List: a breakdown of 100% of the ownership, with name, title, address, phone, email and ownership interest of all owners.
- Live Scan (background check): required for individuals with aggregate ownership interest of 20% or more and for officers, board members, LLC managers and others with similar responsibilities.
- Business structure documentation: a description of the legal entity and its formation and organizing documents (for example articles of incorporation or organization, bylaws or operating agreement, partnership agreement, DBA filing if applicable).
- Statement of Information (SOI) for an LP, LLC or corporation: it must be the most current SOI and less than two years old.
- Business Plan: standard operating procedures, cash handling, transportation, inventory controls, financial management and California Cannabis Track and Trace procedures specific to the business.
- Budget: the most recent annual budget for operations, with business name, itemized expenses and projected income for the current year.
- Owner's Statement of Consent: written consent of the site owner or landlord stating street address and parcel number; completed, signed and notarized.
- Security and Lighting Plan: prepared by a valid qualified professional (PPO #, ACO#), with a lighting plan showing existing and proposed lights.
- Floor Plan: scaled plan for each level of each building, showing entrances, exits, walls and operating areas, prepared by a licensed civil engineer or architect.
- Odor Control Plan: describes the air treatment system or other methods that prevent odors being detected outside the buildings.
- Energy Efficiency Plan: an email showing the date you contacted SMUD Strategic Accounts about energy solutions for the site.
- Certificate of Liability Insurance: lists the business name and premises address and meets the minimum coverage requirement for cultivation.
- Certificate of Occupancy (COO): a copy specific to the business type applied for.
How to fill out Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist – Sacramento, CA
Confirm a zoned location
At step 1, mark the box once the site is in a cultivation zone: Agricultural (A), General Commercial (C2), Heavy Commercial (C4), Light Industrial (M-1, M-1S) or Heavy Industrial (M-2, M-2S). Check the 600-foot buffers from schools and from neighborhood and community parks.
Apply for the Conditional Use Permit
At step 2, mark the box after you submit the CUP application through the Planning Division's online portal. You can also check whether a property already has an approved CUP.
Apply for building permits
At step 3, mark the box after applying online through the Building Department's portal, including the Certificate of Occupancy specific to the cannabis activity.
Choose your cultivation permit type
At step 4, pick one of the five types: indoor up to 5,000, 10,000 or 22,000 square feet of total canopy, Nursery, or Processor. Nursery and processor have no canopy size.
Gather the BOP documentation
Mark each documentation box as you collect it: Conditional Use Permit, Owner & Interested Parties List, Live Scan, Business Structure Documentation, Business Plan, Budget, Owner's Statement of Consent, Security and Lighting Plan, Floor Plan, Odor Control Plan, Energy Efficiency Plan, Certificate of Liability Insurance and Certificate of Occupancy.
Mark your business structure items
Under Business Structure Documentation, use the list for your entity: Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Corporation (Inc.). Mark the Statement of Information, formation documents, signed agreement or bylaws, and DBA Filing if applicable.
Submit the BOP application
Mark step 4 when the application and documents are submitted through OCM's online permitting portal. Keep track of the 180-day validity period.
Pay the BOP application fee
At step 5, mark the box after paying. OCM begins review only when the application is both submitted and paid; if you qualify for a waiver (CORE Classifications 1, 2, 3, 5 or Veterans), note it.
Schedule the walk-through
At step 6, mark the box after OCM contacts you and the walk-through is done. It is scheduled only after the COO is issued and only on Thursdays; use the BOP walk-through checklist to prepare.
Apply for the Business Operating Tax
At step 7, mark the box after you submit the Business Operations Tax Online Application to the Revenue Division, which comes after the walk-through.
Apply for the State license
At step 8, mark the box after applying to the Department of Cannabis Control. The State license must match the BOP type with OCM and is a requirement of renewal.
Review and download the PDF
Check that each completed step is marked and that you noted the non-city requirements that apply to you. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and keep it with your application records.
How to submit Cultivation New Application Step-by-Step Checklist – Sacramento, CA
The checklist itself is a guidance tool and prints no address or filing channel of its own; the applications it lists are submitted through the City's online channels.
- BOP application: submit it with the required documentation through OCM's online permitting portal, then pay the application fee to OCM.
- Conditional Use Permit: apply through the Planning Division's online portal.
- Building permits: apply online through the Building Department's online portal; its public counters are open by appointment only.
- Business Operating Tax: after the walk-through, apply with the Business Operations Tax Online Application (Revenue Division).
- State license: apply to the Department of Cannabis Control.
An application fee applies and is non-refundable; it is waived for CORE businesses (Classifications 1, 2, 3 and 5) and Veterans. Current amounts are in the Business Operating Permit Fees document on the City's forms page, https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/finance/cannabis-management/business-operating-permits/forms--fees-and-faqs. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the City's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a site outside the cultivation zones (A, C2, C4, M-1, M-1S, M-2, M-2S) or within the 600-foot buffer from schools; sites within 600 feet of neighborhood and community parks go to the Planning and Design Commission.
- Planning outdoor cultivation, which is not allowed in the City; only greenhouse cultivation may be allowed, under the terms of the CUP.
- Submitting the BOP application without the Record of Decision for the Conditional Use Permit.
- Letting the application pass 180 days without approval and without submitting the extension fee and form, which makes it "Abandoned".
- Submitting the BOP application but not paying the application fee; with no fee received within 30 days of submittal the application becomes void.
- Filing an outdated Statement of Information; it must be the most current and less than two years old.
- Submitting an Owner's Statement of Consent that is not signed and notarized.
- Having the security and lighting plan or floor plan prepared by someone other than the required professional (qualified professional with PPO/ACO #; licensed civil engineer or architect).
- Expecting a walk-through before the location has a Certificate of Occupancy; OCM schedules them only after the COO is issued, and only on Thursdays.
- Treating the checklist as a complete list of requirements; it says it is not exhaustive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sacramento cannabis cultivation new application checklist?
It is a City of Sacramento step-by-step checklist for applicants seeking a new cannabis cultivation Business Operating Permit (BOP), including nursery and processor types. It covers location, Conditional Use Permit, building permits, the BOP application, fee, walk-through, tax account and State license.
Is this checklist the actual permit application?
No. The checklist is guidance and says it is not an exhaustive list. The BOP application, with the required documentation, is submitted through the Office of Cannabis Management's online permitting portal, and the CUP and building permits have their own online portals.
What cultivation permit types does Sacramento offer?
Five: indoor cultivation of no more than 5,000, 10,000 or 22,000 square feet of total canopy, plus Nursery and Processor, which have no canopy size. Outdoor cultivation is not allowed in the City.
Is greenhouse cannabis cultivation allowed in Sacramento?
It may be allowed under the terms of the CUP. The City's FAQ says it must not be visible from the public right-of-way and the structure must be a detached, single-story building up to 20 feet high with a maximum building area of 5,500 sq. ft.
How long is a cultivation BOP application valid?
180 days. If the application is not approved and the extension fee and form are not submitted before 180 days, it is deemed "Abandoned". An application with no fee received within 30 days of submittal becomes void.
Is there a fee for the BOP application?
Yes. The application fee must be paid for OCM to begin review, and it is non-refundable. It is waived for CORE businesses (Classifications 1, 2, 3 and 5) and Veterans. Amounts are in the City's Business Operating Permit Fees document.
When is the cannabis walk-through scheduled?
OCM contacts you to schedule it as part of the secondary review, but not until the location has been issued a Certificate of Occupancy. Walk-throughs take place only on Thursdays.
How long is a Sacramento cannabis BOP valid, and can it be transferred?
A BOP is valid for one year from issue and must be renewed annually. It cannot be transferred, sold or assigned (SCC Section 5.150.050); for ownership changes, submit a Business Information Change Form to OCM at least 30 days before the change.
Can I fill out this checklist online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Sacramento and does not submit applications; you apply through the City's portals.
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