Zoning and Location Requirements
The Stockton cannabis regulatory ordinance allows specified types of commercial cannabis activity to legally operate in the City. The types of commercial cannabis activity and zones where commercial cannabis activity may operate are:
- Retail Storefront (Dispensary) - (Summary)
- Microbusiness - (Summary)
- Non-Storefront Retail (Delivery Only) - (Summary)
- Cultivator - (Summary)
- Volatile Manufacturer - (Summary)
- Non-Volatile Manufacturer - (Summary)
- Distributor - (Summary)
- Testing Laboratory - (Summary)
Distance from Sensitive Uses
The following location requirements apply to all Commercial Cannabis business types:
- No cannabis business operator shall be established or located within 300 feet, measured from the nearest property lines of each of the affected parcels, of any existing residential zone or use.
- At the time the land use permit is issued, no cannabis business operator shall be established or located within 600 feet of any of the following:
- A public or private academic school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, nursery school, preschool, or childcare facility.
- A public park, playground, recreational area, or youth facility.
- Religious facilities.
- Drug abuse, or alcohol recovery/treatment facility.
Distance from Existing Cannabis Businesses for Retail Storefronts and Microbusinesses:
- No retailer operator shall be established or located within 1,000 feet of any of the following:
- Existing cannabis storefront retailer operator.
- Existing RDC, ROM, and/or RCM micro business operator.
- Existing indicates the possession of an approved
- No RDC, ROM, and/or RCM micro business operator shall be established or located within 1,000 feet of any of the following:
- Existing cannabis storefront retailer operator
- Existing RDC, ROM, and/or RCM microbusiness operator.
- Existing indicates the possession of an approved use permit.
All distances shall be measured between the closest property lines of the affected locations.
For the full text of the Commercial Cannabis Zoning and Location Requirements review the Stockton Municipal Code 16.80.195.
Summary of Commercial Cannabis Activity and Zone Types
The City of Stockton interactive zoning map can be used as an aid in researching various Stockton areas and the corresponding zoning designation.
Retail Storefront (Dispensary): A retailer operator permit shall only be issued for properties located in Commercial, Office (CO), Commercial, General (CG), Commercial Downtown (CD), Commercial, Large-Scale (CL), Mixed Use (MX), Industrial, General (IG) or Industrial, Limited (IL) zones.
Microbusiness: A microbusiness permit shall only be issued for property located within the Mixed Use (MX), Industrial, Limited (IL), and Industrial, or General (IG) zones.
A microbusiness permit for a Retail/Distributor/Manufacturer (RDM) business type shall be allowed within Commercial, Office (CO), Commercial, General (CG), Commercial, Large-Scale (CL), if the retail component of the business floor area is 50% or more and no cultivation activities will take place as a part of the business operations.
Non-Storefront Retail (Delivery Only): A non-storefront retail operator permit (delivery only) shall only be issued for property located within the Commercial, Office (CO), Commercial, General (CG), Commercial, Downtown (CD), Commercial, Large Scale (CL), Mixed Use (MX), Industrial, Limited (IL), and Industrial, General (IG).
Cultivator: A cultivator operator permit shall only be issued for property located within the Industrial, Limited (IL), Industrial, General (IG), Mixed Use (MX), Port (PT), or Open Space (OS).
Volatile Manufacturer: A volatile manufacturer operator permit shall only be issued for property located within the Industrial, Limited (IL), Industrial, General (IG), Mixed Use (MX), or Port (PT).
Non-Volatile Manufacturer: A non-volatile manufacturer operator permit shall only be issued for property located within the Industrial, Limited (IL), Industrial, General (IG), Mixed Use (MX), or Port (PT).
Distributor: A distributor operator permit shall only be issued for property located within the Mixed Use (MX), Industrial, Limited (IL), Industrial, General (IG), or Port (PT).
Testing Laboratory: A testing laboratory operator permit shall only be issued for property located within the Mixed Use (MX), Commercial, Office (CO), Commercial, Neighborhood (CN), Commercial, General (CG), Commercial, Downtown (CD), Commercial, Large-Scale (CL), Industrial, Limited (IL), or Industrial, General (IG).
External Links
Bureau of Cannabis Control California
California Cannabis Industry Association
California Department of Food & Agriculture - CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing
California Department of Public Health - Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch
Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA)
National Cannabis Industry Association
This City of Stockton web page last reviewed on --- 10/25/2022