Cannabis

The first application period for manufacturing, distribution, cultivation, laboratory testing, and delivery-only retail businesses closed on May 9, 2018. No additional applications are being accepted at this time. 

The second application period for permits is expected to open in the first quarter of 2022.  Please sign-up for cannabis email updates from the City to be notified when the second application period begins. 

Important Deadlines for Applicants Who Applied in 2018

In accordance with City Council Resolution 2021-R86(PDF, 2MB), all manufacturing, delivery-only retail, cultivation, distribution, and testing applicants who initially applied in 2018 who have not yet received their permits must complete the permitting process and receive their permit by October 1, 2022. If a current applicant does not secure its permits by October 1, 2022, its application will be deemed abandoned and will be rejected by the City. After October 1, 2022, the Permit Administrator may at her or his discretion extend the permitting period as necessary for the applicant to complete its permit, as long as the applicant again pays the required Step 1 application fee and is actively working to secure its cannabis business permit.

Culver City's Online Cannabis Permitting Portal

Additional Rules Regarding Deadlines for Applicants for Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permits Who Submitted Applications Between April 9, 2018 and May 9, 2018(PDF, 124KB)  (Published December 4, 2019)

Cannabis Permit Annual Renewal: Instructions(PDF, 253KB)

Cannabis Permit Annual Renewal: Primary Applicant Representative Signed Statement Form(PDF, 206KB)

Cannabis Permit Annual Renewal Responsible Person Signature Form v092319(PDF, 192KB)

Cannabis Business Regulations

Cannabis business regulations can be found in Culver City Municipal Code Section 11.17 (Commercial Cannabis Businesses) and Section 11.32 (Cannabis Business Tax).

All cannabis businesses in Culver City are required to obtain a City cannabis business permit in order to legally operate.

Types of Permitted Cannabis Businesses

The following business types are allowed (both medicinal and adult-use) with a City permit:

• Storefront Retail
• Delivery Only Retail (“Home Delivery”)
• Manufacturing
• Distribution
• Laboratory Testing
• Indoor commercial cultivation

The following business types are prohibited:

• Commercial outdoor cultivation
• Commercial mixed-light cultivation

Businesses are allowed to apply for and receive permits in multiple business categories (eg manufacturer/distributer), as long as they meet all the requirements of each category and are located in the appropriate zone.

Maximum Number of Permits Issued

The City will issue a limited number of permits in each category.  The maximum number of permits is established by City Council Resolution(PDF, 2MB) .

A storefront retail cannabis business does not need a separate delivery-only retail permit to do delivery-only retail.

Businesses may hold multiple permits for the same site, depending on their business activities.  For example, a manufacturer who wants to also distribute and home-deliver from its Culver City location must obtain manufacturing, distribution, and delivery-only retail permits.

The City will award up to three storefront retail cannabis business permits through a competitive, multi-phased, merit-based process, with the City Council ultimately approving the awarding of the permit. A conditional use permit will also be required for storefront retail cannabis businesses.

Restrictions on Operating Hours

Cannabis businesses are limited to the following limits on operating hours:

• Cannabis retail storefronts may only be open for business between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

• Cannabis deliveries by delivery-only retailers must take place between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. 

• There are no specific restrictions on the operating hours of other types of cannabis businesses, except they will be subject to operating hours restrictions as non-cannabis businesses of the same type.

Zoning and Distancing Information

Cannabis businesses operating with a city cannabis business permit are allowed within the following Culver City zones:

Manufacturers, distributors, cultivators, laboratory testers, and delivery-only retailers have no distancing requirements, as long as they are located in the appropriate zone.

Zoning Map

The Culver City Zoning Map shows the location of the City's various zones(PDF, 5MB).

Special Distancing Requirements for Storefront Retail Businesses

In addition to being located in the appropriate zone, storefront retail cannabis businesses must be located:

• At least 600 feet from sensitive receptors, including:

  • K-12 schools

  • Day care centers (includes pre-schools)

  • Youth centers

  • Parks

  • Playgrounds

• At least 1000 feet from another cannabis retail storefront business

• Not on corner lots next to residential zones, subject to the exceptions described below.

The City prohibits operation of a cannabis storefront retail business within 600 feet of “sensitive receptors” that were in existence at the time that the commercial cannabis business permit application was received by the City (in most cases on September 27, 2018). A sensitive receptor business will not prevent a cannabis storefront retail business from opening within 600 feet if the sensitive receptor business comes into existence at the specific location after the City receives the cannabis business’ permit application.  However, new sensitive receptor businesses coming into existence after the City receives the cannabis business’ permit application are not prohibited from locating within 600 feet of a cannabis retail storefront business.

Sensitive Receptors

Sensitive receptors are defined as follows:

• Day Care Centers (defined in California Health & Safety Code Section 1596.76)

• Youth Centers (defined in California Health & Safety Code Section 11353.1)
  • "Youth center" means any public or private facility that is primarily used to host recreational or social activities for minors, including, but not limited to, private youth membership organizations or clubs, social service teenage club facilities, video arcades, or similar amusement park facilities.
  • "Primarily used to host recreational or social activities for minors" means more than 50% of the onsite activities are oriented towards children under the age of 18. This could include, but is not limited to, martial arts studios, dance studios, gymnastics studios, indoor playgrounds, birthday party facilities, art studios, children's activity centers, tutoring centers, etc.

Sensitive Receptor Map

Locations that may meet the zoning and 600 foot distancing requirements for retail storefront cannabis businesses are shown in green and blue on this map (Note that this map has not been updated to account for new prohibitions on corner parcels adjacent to residential streets).(PDF, 2MB)

Important Notice: The green and blue parcels shown on the map may be eligible for cannabis retail storefronts. The red parcels may be ineligible. Although the City strives to provide the best information it can, this map is provided for informational and preliminary planning purposes only. The City makes no claims, representations, or warranties (expressed or implied) concerning the validity, reliability, or accuracy of information depicted on this map. The City cannot guarantee the currency of information contained in this map, and decisions regarding the purchase or lease of real property for the purpose of operating a cannabis business should not be based upon information depicted on this map or the data displayed. The City will not approve applications or permits based solely on the GIS data displayed in this map or any subset thereof. Actual field conditions will determine whether or not a cannabis business is located in conformance with applicable laws. All information and data on this map is subject to change without notice.

Sensitive Receptors Identified Subsequent to Publishing of Map (Updated 9/4/18)

Additional sensitive receptors may have been identified subsequent to the publishing of this list and the map. Please contact Culver City Cannabis Permitting with information on additional sensitive receptors that may not be reflected on the map or list.

More detailed information about location requirements is contained in the Culver City Municipal Code Section 11.17 (Commercial Cannabis Businesses) and Title 17 (Zoning Code).

Sensitive Receptor Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “sensitive receptor”? “Sensitive receptor” means K-12 schools, day care centers, pre-schools, parks, playgrounds, and “youth centers”.

What is a “youth center”? “Youth center” means any means any public or private facility that is primarily used to host recreational or social activities for minors, including, but not limited to, private youth membership organizations or clubs, social service teenage club facilities, video arcades, or similar amusement park facilities. "Primarily used to host recreational or social activities for minors" means more than 50% of the onsite activities are oriented towards children under the age of 18. This could include, but is not limited to, martial arts studios, dance studios, gymnastics studios, indoor playgrounds, birthday party facilities, art studios, children's activity centers, tutoring centers, etc.

How does the City determine if a sensitive receptor is “in existence”? One or more of the following factors may be considered by the City to determine if the sensitive receptor was in existence at the time of the City’s receipt of the commercial cannabis storefront retail permit application: (1) The sensitive receptor is open and operating; (2) The sensitive receptor has a Culver City Business Tax Certificate for the specific location and sensitive use; (3) The sensitive receptor has submitted a business tax certificate application to the City for the specific location and sensitive use and is undergoing construction or other tenant improvements at the specific location in question; and (4) Other factors that may indicate a sensitive receptor was in existence as determined by the City Manager.

Residential Corner Prohibition

Storefront retail cannabis businesses are also prohibited from corner parcels adjacent to residential neighborhoods, except when the residential neighborhood is in Los Angeles, and/or if the building's exterior wall is more than 45 feet from the property line of the closest residentially zoned property.

Operating Requirements

Operating requirements for cannabis businesses can be found in the Culver City Municipal Code, Chapter 11.17.

Public Health Requirements

Cannabis businesses are also subject to specific public health requirements.

Personal Cultivation

State law permits the indoor personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants per residence. The Culver City Municipal Code, Section 17.210.015(B), further regulates personal cultivation of cannabis.

Highlights of Culver City’s personal cultivation regulations:

• Personal cultivation must take place within a residence, or within a fully enclosed and secured structure. This goes a step further than the State law by requiring that plants not simply be behind a locked gate, but in an enclosed structure in the back yard (e.g. a greenhouse), in order to address both odor and security concerns.

• The owner of the property must consent (i.e. renters must get the owner’s permission).

• Lighting must remain below 1200 watts, for the purposes of safety.

• Gas products cannot be used, for the purposes of safety.

• Personal cultivation cannot occur in a home’s kitchen, bathroom, or primary bedrooms.

• Any adverse impacts must be mitigated so that it does not become a public nuisance (e.g. odor).

Cannabis Business Tax

At the April 10, 2018 municipal election ballot, Culver City voters approved Measure A, a cannabis business tax.  The initial and maximum rates approved by voters:

• Retail (medicinal): range of 5 -8% with an initial rate of 5%
• Retail (adult-use): range of 6-10% with an initial rate of 6%
• Manufacturing: range of 4-6% with an initial rate of 4%
• Distribution: range of 2-6% with an initial rate of 2%
• Testing: 1-1.5% with an initial rate of 1%
• Cultivation: $12 per square foot of canopy

The initial rates will be in place for a minimum of two years, after which they will be able to be adjusted by City Council resolution. Cultivation rates are to be adjusted according to the consumer price index after a two year initial period.

Cannabis businesses are also subject to Culver City's Business Tax. 

Environmental Determination

On November 27, 2017, after public discussion and deliberation, the City Council adopted a Negative Declaration based on an Initial Study, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, that determined that the amendments to the Municipal Code addressing cannabis activities show no substantial evidence that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.

Culver City Cannabis Notice of Determination(PDF, 349KB)

Culver City Cannabis Initial Study and Negative Declaration(PDF, 25MB)