After January 1, 2025, DCC can no longer renew a provisional license, and no provisional will be effective after January 1, 2026, except for eligible local equity verified retailers. If a provisional license does not transition to an annual license before its 2025 expiration date, it must cease operations per California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 4, section 15024.1.

Review Business and Professions Code (BPC) sections 26050.2 and 26050.5 for more information about provision license deadlines. 

Frequently asked questions

Q:  Are there any exceptions to the January 1, 2025, provisional license renewal deadline?   

A:  Locally verified equity retail licenses with valid provisional licenses may be eligible for provisional license renewal until January 1, 2031, or until 5 years from when the provisional license was initially issued, whichever is earlier.   

For more information, review BPC section 26050.5.  

Q:  How can I tell if I have an annual license or a provisional license?  

A:   To determine if you have an annual or provisional license, you can look up your license information.  

CLEaR system users can follow the instructions found on DCC’s webpage Finding your license.  

CLS system users can follow the instructions found on DCC’s webpage Finding your license record. 

Q: If I have a provisional license that expires after January 1, 2025, can I still renew? 

A:  Provisional licenses must transition to annual licenses before their 2025 expiration to be eligible for license renewal, except for eligible locally verified equity retailers. 

For more information, review BPC sections 26050.2 and 26050.5.   

Q:  If I have a provisional license that expires after January 1, 2025, can I continue to operate after January 1, 2025?    

A:  You may continue to operate after the January 1, 2025, deadline so long as your provisional license is not expired, suspended, revoked, or cancelled, or DCC has notified you of other restrictions.   

Q:  How can I transition my provisional license to an annual license?

A:  Provisional licensees must comply with all annual license requirements for the applicable license type to transition from a provisional license to an annual license. You can follow the instructions below to resolve any outstanding annual license requirements. 

CLS licensing system users:  

• The designated responsible party must reference all deficiency notice(s) and submit any requested documentation via a Science Amendment. To learn more about submitting a Science Amendment, visit the DCC website.   
• To locate your deficiency notice(s), the DRP must log into their account on the DCC’s cultivation licensing portal, select My Licenses, locate and select the license number, select Record Info, and then click Attachments.    
• If you have already submitted a Science Amendment and have questions regarding the status, email info@cannabis.ca.gov. 

CLEaR licensing system users:   

• The owner applicant must reference all emailed deficiency notice(s) and email any requested documentation to the DCC contact identified in the deficiency notice.    
• If you already submitted all final documentation and have questions regarding the status, email info@cannabis.ca.gov. 

Q:  What if I fail to transition to an annual license before my provisional license expires in 2025? 

A:  Failure to transition to annual licensure before your provisional license expires in 2025 may result in: 

• The suspension, cancellation, revocation, or natural expiration of your provisional license and  
• The denial of your annual license application  

If you cannot or choose not to transition to an annual license, you may withdraw the application at any time before DCC denies the application.  

If DCC denies your annual license application, you may request an appeal hearing within 30 calendar days of the date stated on the denial notice.   

If your license is no longer valid, you must cease all commercial cannabis activity immediately including the sale, receipt, or transfer of cannabis or cannabis products.  

Q:  How will I know if DCC is considering suspension or revocation of my provisional license?   

A: DCC will issue a notice of provisional license review. The notice will describe: 

• The nature and facts of each violation 
• How to correct the violation(s) to achieve compliance and 
• The action DCC is considering, such as suspension, cancellation, or revocation

The notice will also provide instructions for requesting an informal meeting with DCC to discuss the matter.   

Q: What should I do if DCC terminates my provisional license because I can’t or choose not to transition to an annual before my provisional license expires? 

A: If DCC terminates your provisional license for any reason, you must sell or destroy all cannabis and cannabis products on the premises should before the license becomes inactive.  

If DCC terminates your license and cannabis or cannabis products remain on the premises, a licensed distributor or microbusiness authorized for distribution may obtain approval from DCC to buy and distribute your inventory. 

Distributors and microbusinesses authorized to engage in distribution may request approval to purchase cannabis or cannabis products from a terminated license by submitting a written request for authorization to DCC using the form DCC-LIC-028. The request must be submitted within 14 calendar days of license termination. 

For more information, review CCR section 15024.1. 

Q:  Who can I contact if I have questions? 

A:  The DRP or Owner Applicant for the license can email info@cannabis.ca.gov for more information.  Please include the license number in question. 

Support

For further assistance, please contact us.

For questions about lake or streambed alteration agreements, please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

For questions about cannabis cultivation General Order, please contact the State Water Resources Control Board.

Related resources