Storefront Retail and Microbusinesses Annual Licensing Application Process

Type 10 and Type 12 Annual Applications will be processed according to the following steps:

1. Complete Annual License applications will be processed within 30 days. Once the application is confirmed to be complete, DCR will provide the Applicant with a Notice of Complete Application.
2. Within 10 days of receiving the Notice of Complete Application, the applicant or a designated representative must contact the Neighborhood Council in which the proposed Business Premises is located, and offer to appear before the Neighborhood Council to address questions about the application. Applicants MUST provide written evidence of the offer to appear before the Neighborhood Council.
3. DCR will schedule a community meeting within 45 days of sending the Notice of Complete Application. Notice of the community meeting will be provided by DCR to the nearest Neighborhood Council, Business Improvement District, and Council Office. Notice of the community meeting will also be mailed to the owners and occupants of all property within 700 feet of the property line of the proposed Business Premises.
4. The community meeting will be held virtually. During the meeting, DCR will accept written and oral testimony regarding the application. The testimony will be summarized into a report for the Cannabis Regulation Commission.
5. Within 90 days of the date DCR sends a Notice of Complete Application, DCR will either deny the issuance of the Annual License without a hearing, or, make a recommendation to the Cannabis Regulation Commission to issue the Annual License. DCR may deny a License based on written findings for any of the reasons listed in LAMC Section 104.04.
6. If DCR recommends issuance of the Annual License, DCR will schedule the application to be heard by the Cannabis Regulation Commission. Notice of the Commission meeting will be provided by DCR to the nearest Neighborhood Council, Business Improvement District, and Council Office. Notice of the Commission meeting will also be mailed to the owners and occupants of all property within 700 feet of the property line of the proposed Business Premises.
7. The Commission will hold a public meeting to decide whether or not to issue the Annual License. During the Commission meeting, the Commission will again hear public comment about the application. The Applicant, or a designated representative, may be provided time to speak about the application. The Commission may deny the issuance of an Annual License based on written findings for any of the reasons listed in LAMC Section 104.04. The Commission may impose conditions to address public safety concerns.
8. If the application is approved by the Commission, DCR will file the Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). There is a 35-day appeal period for CEQA determinations.
9. If there is no appeal, DCR will issue the Annual License.

Community Meetings and CRC Hearings

Each retail application must have a community meeting and then approval in a public hearing by the Cannabis Regulation Commission. Notice of community meetings and public hearings will be mailed to the owners and occupants of all property within 700 feet of the property line of the proposed Business Premises. Each notice will contain information on the Applicant, the date of the meeting, time of the meeting, and how to access the virtual meeting and/or hearing. It will also include instructions for submitting materials in support of testimony for the meeting/hearing and guidelines for oral testimony.

Applicants must also post the Notice of Community Meetings at the Business Premises Location. DCR will email the applicants these notices to print out and put in visible location to the street.

Community Meetings. Community meetings will be conducted virtually. During this meeting, DCR will accept oral testimony concerning the application. Each individual will be afforded two minutes to provide oral testimony, time permitting. Written testimony may be submitted through a dedicated JotForm link: https://form.jotform.com/240317009264146 using the Applicant’s DCR record number. The deadline for written submissions is the day of the community meeting. DCR would appreciate it if each submission is limited to 10 pages on size 8 1⁄2 x 11 paper, including attachments. Written and oral testimony will be summarized for the Cannabis Regulation Commission, which will decide whether to issue the license during the public hearing. Written testimony received after the deadline will not be included in the report presented to the Cannabis Regulation Commission. Please note that the community meeting is designed solely for the community to express any concerns or support related to the application. There will be no discussion or decision made during this meeting.

Public Hearings. Public hearings will be conducted by the Cannabis Regulation Commission (CRC). The CRC will consider public comment regarding the application and decide whether to issue the commercial cannabis license. The meeting’s agenda will be provided no later than 72 hours before the meeting. An individual’s testimony will be limited to one (1) minute of general public comment per meeting and one (1) minute of public comment per agenda item, up to two (2) minutes per meeting. In total, an individual shall be limited to three (3) minutes of public comment per meeting. The Commission may limit the total amount of time for public comment.

Below is a sample of the notice of community meetings and public hearings.

RETAIL APPEALS

DCR or the Cannabis Regulation Commission (CRC) may deny the issuance of an Annual License based on written findings for any of the reasons listed in LAMC Section 104.04. They include: general denial reasons, business premises reasons, unqualified ownership, disqualification of primary personnel, suspension for unlicensed activity or life safety violations.

If DCR denies the License Application, the Applicant must appeal to the CRC within 15 days. If the CRC denies the License Application, the Applicant must appeal to the City Council within 15 days. A decision by either appellate body is final.

Appeals to the Commission

An Applicant wishing to appeal DCR’s denial of their Annual License application for Storefront Retailer or Microbusiness Commercial Cannabis Activity with on-site sales must submit a request for an appeal to the CRC and include the reasons why DCR abused their discretion or made an error in denying the license. They must also pay the $6,802 fee listed in LAMC Section 104.19(e). The Applicant will have an opportunity to present their case to the CRC at a public hearing to be held within 90 days of receipt of the appeal. DCR will provide notice of the CRC hearing no less than 20 days prior to the hearing date.

Appeals to City Council

An Applicant wishing to appeal the CRC’s denial of their Annual License application for Storefront Retailer or Microbusiness Commercial Cannabis Activity with on-site sales must submit a request to City Council stating the reasons why the CRC abused their discretion or made an error in denying the license. They must also pay the $6,210 fee listed in LAMC Section 104.19(e). The City Council shall hold a public hearing to consider the appeal within 15 City Council meeting days of City Council's receipt of the appeal. No later than three days prior to any City Council hearing under this subsection, DCR shall provide notice of the hearing by electronic mail to the Applicant. The decision of the City Council is final.