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 for which you are applying for or renewing. Licensing fees, except for cultivators and event organizers, are calculated based on your business’s gross annual revenue. Gross annual revenue is your license’s total income for the 12-month licensing period before you deduct any expenses. Failure to report accurate gross revenue may be grounds for discipline. If you pay less than the required amount, DCC may require you to pay the balance of the appropriate fee plus a penalty of up to 50 percent the correct licensing fee.
Cultivation license fees
Cultivation licenses fees are based on your size and type of production or lighting.
| Cultivation license type | Application fee | License 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 type | Application fee | Base license fee | Fee 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 revenue | Application fee | License 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 events | Application fee | License 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.
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.
