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Sandra Rivera, Agency Director

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Cannabis Permits

The County ordinance code provides permitting opportunities for the following commercial cannabis uses in unincorporated Alameda County:

• Cultivation (maximum 10 permits)
• Retail (maximum 5 permits)
• Combined Cannabis Operation (applicant for a CCO permit must hold a valid cultivation or retail permit)
• Delivery
• Testing Lab

The County is currently accepting permit applications for cannabis delivery, testing labs, Combined Cannabis Operations and one cannabis retail operation in Castro Valley or the South Livermore Valley Plan Area. A summary of the status of applications for each permit type is detailed below.

Cultivation and Retail

In late 2017, the County completed the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for cultivation and retail permits on sites in the East County pursuant to Chapters 6.106 and 6.108 of the Alameda County Ordinance Code. Permits have been issued in response to the RFP's, and the successful applicants now need to apply for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and State licenses prior to commencing operation.

No permits for cultivation are currently available.

Delivery

Any person or company delivering cannabis in unincorporated Alameda County, must apply for a Cannabis Delivery Operator Permit pursuant to Chapter 6.108 of the Alameda County General Ordinance Code. The Cannabis Delivery Operator Permit Application form is available here.

Testing Lab

A cannabis testing lab is capable of being permitted on A (Agricultural) zoned land in unincorporated Alameda County. A cannabis testing lab requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) pursuant to Title 17 Zoning of the Alameda County Ordinance Code.

Combined Cannabis Operation

The applicant must hold a valid cultivation or retail permit in unincorporated Alameda County to apply for a Combined Cannabis Operation. The applicant must apply to transfer the existing cultivation or retail permit to become a Combined Cannabis Operation. The Combined Cannabis Operation is the same as what the State defines as a "microbusiness", which is a business allowing three out of four license types (cultivation, retail, manufacturing, distribution) on the one site.

Manufacturing and Distribution

The County does not allow stand-alone manufacturing or distribution businesses. These uses are only allowed as part of a cultivation operation or Combined Cannabis Operation.

** For further information regarding commercial cannabis regulation in unincorporated Alameda County, refer to the home page: Commercial Cannabis Regulation in Unincorporated Alameda County.