Project Overview

On February 15, 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed relevant County departments to move forward with the development and implementation of Commercial Cannabis Business Permit Program for unincorporated Los Angeles County. In accordance with this directive, the County of Los Angeles is proposing amendments to relevant County Codes that would allow commercial cannabis operations in the unincorporated areas. To achieve this in a responsible and transparent manner, the County is preparing the following for community review and feedback:

• Title 8 commercial cannabis administration amendments
• Title 22 zoning ordinance amendments in accordance with the California Quality Act (CEQA)
• Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to evaluate and disclose the potential environmental impacts of implementing a commercial cannabis business permit program

Title 8 Amendments: Operating Requirements

The County is developing operating requirements for commercial cannabis businesses as part of amendments to Title 8 of the County Code. These rules cover various operational aspects such as security measures, good neighbor policies, cannabis advertising, targeted worker hiring, and other relevant guidelines and are designed to ensure community health and safety and reduce youth access & exposure. These robust measures will act in combination with existing rules and regulations from the Public Health Department and Fire Department, creating a comprehensive framework that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities.

Title 22 Amendments: Planning and Zoning Ordinance

Title 22 – Planning and Zoning of the County Code regulates land use in Los Angeles County’s unincorporated areas. The zoning allows for specific land use activities in designated areas or zones, ensuring that activities take place in suitable locations for environmental and community safety. The Commercial Cannabis Eligible Areas Map highlights the zones in unincorporated areas of the County where different types of cannabis businesses may be permitted under the proposed zoning ordinance amendments.

Click the image below to view a map of Proposed Cannabis Business Permit Eligibility Areas in Unincorporated Los Angeles County.

Program EIR

The EIR will examine potential environmental impacts of the commercial cannabis program and identify mitigation measures to minimize or avoid potential adverse impacts. These measures will be integrated into the Cannabis Zoning Ordinance and other relevant ordinances as necessary.

Key areas of focus include establishing performance standards for commercial cannabis operations in unincorporated areas of the County. These standards will cover aspects such as lighting, access, landscaping, signage, advertising, and operational guidelines including hours of operation, security, noise, odor, emissions control, and water use.

The objective is to align with CEQA requirements through the EIR to facilitate an efficient environmental and land use review process for future cannabis business applications. The project is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2025.

Community Outreach

To help shape the proposed Commercial Cannabis Business Permit Program and the EIR, the County is conducting a series of community engagement efforts to solicit input:

• Community Meetings: A series of in-person meetings will be hosted across the County alongside a virtual session for wider accessibility.
• CEQA Public Comment Periods: As part of the EIR process, the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Draft EIR will include opportunities for formal public comments.

For session details including dates and locations, please visit our events page.