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Cannabis

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1. Did the City of Coalinga adopt regulations for personal and/or commercial cannabis? Do the regulations address both medical and adult use cannabis?

Yes. And yes. On February 3, 2018, the City adopted Ordinance Number 804 which provides for comprehensive regulations of both medical and adult use cannabis activities.

2. What Commercial Cannabis activities are permitted in the City of Coalinga?

Permitted activities include:

• Distribution
• Indoor Cultivation
• Manufacturing (Volatile/Non-Volatile)
• Testing

3. Is cultivation in a greenhouse allowed?

Greenhouse cultivation is allowed, as long as the operation’s odors are not detectable and visible from the public right-of-way or an adjacent property. Greenhouse operations shall meet the all criteria for the zoning district it is located in.

4. Does the City of Coalinga allow for personal cannabis cultivation?

Yes. Each residence is allowed up to a maximum limit of 6 mature plants for personal use cultivation, regardless of the number of residents, and regardless of the reason for cultivation (medical and/or adult use). All plants shall be grown indoors. See Section 5-15.03 for Coalinga Municipal Code (Regulations applicable to the personal cultivation of medical marijuana) for more specific locational and operational requirements.

5. Where can I operate a commercial cannabis business?

The City allows several types of commercial cannabis activities in its Manufacturing and Business Light Industrial (MBL) zoning district. You can research the zoning of a specific parcel through the City’s GIS system, accessible at LINK.

6. Is there a limit to the number of permits a cannabis business can obtain?

The City does not have a limit on the number of cannabis permits a business can hold. However, a business that holds a testing license cannot hold any other cannabis licenses.

7. How are cannabis facilities taxed in the City of Coalinga?

The City of Coalinga imposes the following cannabis business taxes on licensed cannabis businesses:

• Cultivation: $7 per square foot of canopy
• Manufacturing, Distribution and Testing: $25 per square foot for the first 3,000 square feet, and $10 per square foot for all remaining square footage where cannabis is located
• Nurseries: $2 per square foot of canopy
• Retailer: 10% gross receipts

8. Is there a minimum distance required from a school for a commercial cannabis business?

Yes. Cannabis operations shall comply with the distance separation requirements from schools as required by State law. In addition, a commercial cannabis operation shall not be located within 1,800 feet from any existing school or proposed school site as identified in the General Plan. Measurements shall be from property boundary to property boundary. 

For purposes of this section, school means any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12, inclusive, but does not include any private school in which education is primarily conducted in private homes.

9. hat is meant by “abutting/adjacent” a residential use or district”?

The term “abut” shall mean as having property lines, street lines, or zoning district lines in common.

10. What is involved in the Regulatory Permit and Conditional Use Permit application process, now that I have identified a site within an eligible zoning district, have secured owner consent and am ready

As a prerequisite, all prospective applicant will first need to schedule a pre-application meeting by contacting the Community Development Department at 559-935-1533, ext 143 where a full and comprehensive overview of the application process will be discussed.

11. What land use applications and forms must I complete?

All commercial cannabis activities require the submission of a regulatory permit and conditional use permit. You will submit a Conditional Use Permit application (PDF). Additional forms and applications for zoning (site plan review, environmental review, ect.), site and/or building modifications can be accessed through the Zoning Documents Folder.

12. What are the application fees and when are they required?

You must submit application processing fees with the filing of the application. Look for Planning Fees in the Fee Schedule for the applicable processing fees for land use and development permits. Look for Building fees for Plan Check fees.

Examples of typical application processing fees associated with cannabis applications:

• Conditional Use Permit: $1,767
• Employee Permit Fee: $490
• Environmental Review: $646 plus 15% of Consultant Contract
• Pre-application Meeting: $503
• Regulatory Permit Fee: $2,055
• Site Plan Review: $1,227

13. What is necessary to approve Conditional Use Permit?

The review authority for the use permit (Planning Commission) may require conditions of approval to address impacts associated with the proposed use and must make the following findings to approve the permit:

• General Plan consistency. Approval of the proposed project will advance the goals and objectives of and is consistent with the policies of the General Plan and any other applicable plan that the City has adopted
• Neighborhood compatibility. The location, size, design, bulk, coverage, density, traffic generation and operating characteristics of the proposed project are consistent with the purposes of the district where it is located, and will not have an adverse effect on the neighborhood and surrounding properties
• Asset for the neighborhood. The nature, use and architectural/design features of the proposed development make it attractive, functional and convenient. The proposed development enhances the successful operation of the surrounding area in its basic community functions or provides an essential service to the community or region

14. How long will it take to review my application?

Timeframes will vary from application to application, depending on the complexity of the proposal, site or environmental constraints, and the public process. Current average timeframes for cannabis applications are approximately 60 to 90 days depending on the status of owner/applicant backgrounds and the level of environmental determination.

15. When do I need to get my State Operator License?

All Cannabis Operators shall diligently pursue and obtain a state cannabis license as soon as possible in order to secure the applicable state license at the time of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

16. Can I have multiple cannabis land uses at one location?

Yes. Multiple Cannabis Businesses may be approved on any one site or parcel if all of the proposed Cannabis Businesses and their co-location are authorized by both local and state law. Cannabis Operators issued permits for multiple license types at the same physical address shall maintain a clear separation between license types unless otherwise authorized by local and state law.

17. How do I obtain “local authorization” by the city to be considered for a state license?

Local authorization for a Cannabis Business comes in the form of both an approved regulatory permit and land use permit. This would include the approval and issuance of a Cannabis zoning clearance through a Conditional Use Permit and regulatory clearance through the issuance of a regulatory permit. Local authorization is granted to the state only if the applicant name, site address, land use, and associated license type match our records exactly. Local authorization approves the land use; it is not a certificate of occupancy.

18. Does the zoning clearance or use permit give me the right to occupy the site and begin to operate?

No. There are subsequent steps to complete prior to initiation of use. The land use clearance approves the use on the site subject to compliance with local and state regulations, conditions of approval, building and fire codes, and/or any necessary building or site improvements. Subsequent to the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit (PDF) the applicant’s Regulatory Permit must be approved by the Police Department including the issuance of applicable building permit(s) to confirm compliance with building and fire code occupancy standards, conditions of approval, and applicable Zoning Code requirements related to cannabis activities. In addition, all cannabis land use permits must be followed by the filing of a business license.

19. Is there an annual renewal process for a Cannabis business zoning clearance or use permit?

Yes. Cannabis licenses issued by the City of Coalinga are subject to annual renewal. A $382 renewal fee shall accompany the renewal application 30 days before the end of each calendar year.

20. Will there be regular inspections by the City?

Yes. The operation will be subject to random inspections by the City of Coalinga for compliance with all local and State cannabis regulations in accordance with the City’s monitoring and compliance program.

21. Is the City of Coalinga restricting the number of licenses issued?

No. There are no undue concentration limits for cannabis activities on the City of Coalinga.

22. Do I need to physically need to go to the Coalinga Police Department to do my Live Scan?

Yes, in accordance with the City’s arrangement to live scan cannabis employees, the live scan must be conducted at the Coalinga Police Department. Please contact the Police Department to schedule an appointment.

23. Where Can I Find the State Regulations?

Regulations for the three State agencies that regulate cannabis can be found on our Cannabis Page, under State Regulations. Retail (storefront and non-storefront), distribution and testing are regulated by the Bureau of Cannabis Control; cultivation is regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and manufacturing is regulated by the California Department of Public Health.