Skip to content

Application and license fees

Application and license fees

There are two types of fees for cannabis licenses:

  • Application fees – due when you submit your application. Your application is reviewed after the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) receives your application fee.
  • License fees – due when your application is approved. DCC issues your license after you pay the license fee. The license fee is also due each year, when you renew the license.

Fees are specific to the license type you are applying for or renewing. Most fees are calculated based on your business’s gross annual revenue. Gross annual revenue is all the money received for activities conducted under the license before subtracting expenses.

Cultivation license fees

Cultivation licenses fees are based on your size and type of production or lighting.

Cultivation license typeApplication feeLicense fee
Specialty cottage outdoor$135$1,205
Specialty cottage indoor$205$1,830
Specialty cottage mixed-light tier 1$340$3,035
Specialty cottage mixed-light tier 2$580$5,200
Specialty outdoor$270$2,410
Specialty indoor$2,170$19,540
Specialty mixed-light tier 1$655$5,900
Specialty mixed-light tier 2$1,125$10,120
Small outdoor$535$4,820
Small indoor$3,935$35,410
Small mixed-light tier 1$1,310$11,800
Small mixed-light tier 2$2,250$20,235
Medium outdoor$1,555$13,990
Medium indoor$8,655$77,905
Medium mixed-light tier 1$2,885$25,970
Medium mixed-light tier 2$4,945$44,517
Nursery$520$4,685
Processor$1,040$9,370
Large cultivation license typeApplication feeBase license feeFee per additional 2,000 square feet
Large outdoor$1,555$13,990$640
Large indoor$8,655$77,905$7,080
Large mixed-light tier 1$2,885$25,970$2,360
Large mixed-light tier 2$4,945$44,517$4,040
Manufacturing license fees

Type 7, 6, N and P licenses

Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $100,000 (Tier I)$1,000$2,000
$100,001 to $500,000 (Tier II)$1,000$7,500
$500,001 to $1,500,000 (Tier III)$1,000$15,000
$1,500,001 to $3,000,000 (Tier IV)$1,000$25,000
$3,000,001 to $5,000,000 (Tier V)$1,000$35,000
$5,000,001 to $10,000,000 (Tier VI)$1,000$50,000
More than $10,000,000 (Tier VII)$1,000$75,000

Type S licenses

Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $100,000 (Tier I)$500$2,000
$100,001 to $500,000 (Tier II)$500$7,500
$500,001 to $1,000,000 (Tier III)$500$15,000

Shared-use facility registration

There is no additional fee for a Type 7, 6 or N licensee to register a shared-use facility.

Distribution license fees
Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $1,000,000$1,000$1,500
$1,000,001 to $2,500,000$1,000$6,000
$2,500,001 to $5,000,000$1,000$11,250
$5,000,001 to $10,000,000$1,000$22,500
$10,000,001 to $20,000,000$1,000$45,000
$20,000,001 to $30,000,000$1,000$75,000
$30,000,001 to $50,000,000$1,000$120,000
$50,000,001 to $70,000,000$1,000$180,000

Distributor transport-only licenses

If your business transports only goods you cultivate or manufacture, you can get a reduced license fee.

Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $1,000$1,000$200
$1,001 to $3,000$1,000$500
More than $3,000$1,000$1,000
Testing laboratory license fees
Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $160,000$1,000$3,000
$160,001 to $320,000$1,000$6,000
$320,001 to $480,000$1,000$8,000
$480,001 to $800,000$1,000$13,000
$800,001 to $1,200,000$1,000$20,000
$1.200,001 to $2,000,000$1,000$32,000
$2,000,001 to $2,800,000$1,000$48,000
$2,800,001 to $4,400,000$1,000$72,000
More than $4,400,000$1,000$112,000
Retail license fees
Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $500,000$1,000$2,500
$500,001 to $750,000$1,000$5,500
$750,001 to $1,000,000$1,000$7,500
$1,000,001 to $1,500,000$1,000$11,000
$1,500,001 to $2,000,000$1,000$14,500
$2,000,001 to $3,000,000$1,000$22,500
$3,000,001 to $4,000,000$1,000$30,500
$4,000,001 to $5,000,000$1,000$38,500
$5,000,001 to $6,000,000$1,000$46,500
$6,000,001 to $7,500,000$1,000$57,000
More than $7.5 million$1,000$96,000
Microbusiness license fees
Gross annual revenueApplication feeLicense fee
Less than or equal to $1,000,000$1,000$5,000
$1,000,001 to $2,000,000$1,000$12,000
$2,000,001 to $3,000,000$1,000$20,000
$3,000,001 to $4,000,000$1,000$32,000
$4,000,001 to $6,000,000$1,000$45,000
$6,000,001 to $7,000,000$1,000$60,000
$7,000,001 to $10,000,000$1,000$80,000
$10,000,001 to $20,000,000$1,000$100,000
$20,000,001 to $30,000,000$1,000$120,000
$30,000,001 to $40,000,000$1,000$140,000
$40,000,001 to $50,000,000$1,000$160,000
$50,000,001 to $60,000,000$1,000$180,000
$60,000,001 to $80,000,000$1,000$220,000
More than $80,000,000$1,000$300,000
Cannabis event license fees

Cannabis event annual license fees are based on the number of events you plan to hold during the year.

Number of planned cannabis eventsApplication feeLicense fee
5 or fewer$1,000$3,000
6 to 10$1,000$5,000
11 to 20$1,000$9,000
More than 20$1,000$20,000

Temporary cannabis event licenses are $1,000 per event.

Request a fee waiver

If you were negatively affected by the criminalization of cannabis, you can apply to have your license fee waived. Read the eligibility criteria.

How fee amounts were set

State law requires the cannabis fees to:

  • Cover DCC’s costs to provide oversight for the industry
  • Be scaled so that larger businesses pay more

The application and license fees are based on the findings of economists who studied the cannabis industry in California and recommended fee amounts.