ATTENTION: The County Executive Office (Office) has received business license applications presumed to be complete*, and subject to the acreage cap for more than 1,575 acres in the unincorporated areas. The Office will cease review of new applications and will not process new payments of fees until further notice.
County Code Chapter 50 Section 50-7, Limits on Cannabis Business Licenses, allows for NO MORE THAN 1,575 acres of cannabis cultivation, nurseries, and microbusinesses with cultivation to be licensed at any one time within the entire unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County outside the Carpinteria Agricultural Overlay District.
*These applications have an approved Land Use Entitlement, submitted a business license application through Accela, and paid all required fees/deposits.
Santa Barbara County Commercial Cannabis Regulations
Introduction
On February 27, 2018, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors adopted a series of ordinances that regulate commercial cannabis operations within the County's unincorporated area. The ordinances categorize cannabis operations into eight permit types, and allow each license type in certain zones throughout the County's unincorporated area.
On May 1, 2018, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors adopted the Cannabis Business License Ordinance, which added a local commercial cannabis business license to the County Code, added an acreage limit of 186 acres to the Carpinteria Agricultural Overlay District, and a limit of 8 retail licenses for the County.
POPULAR TOPICS
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
A step-by-step guide to legally running a cannnabis-related business in Santa Barbara County
ZONING & PERMITTING
Where and how you can start a commercial cannabis operation depends on which zone your parcel is located in.
BUSINESS LICENSING
The annual permit/license process and related requirements established for commercial cannabis
STATE LICENSING
Temporary licenses issued by the State of California licensing authorities are required for all applicants and permit types withn the County.
NEWS & EVENTS
News and upcoming events related to cannabis licensing and regulation in Santa Barbara County
FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions related to commercial cannabis operations in the County
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Intergovernmental Links, Board of Supervisors documents and other archived materials
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Informational Meeting for Current and Prospective Cannabis Licensees – September 17, 2018
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