Phase 1 Overview – General Business Information

• Contains general information about your business
• Initial Application Processing Fee
• Staff will review your application
• All owners need to complete a criminal background investigation

Phase I Instructions

Call the Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) at (408) 537-1420.

• Ask for the cannabis business applications to be emailed to you or download the application
• If leaving a voicemail message, please provide the following information:
  • Full Name
  • Contact Phone Number
  • Name of your business
  • Type of business (manufacturer, distributor, or testing lab)
  • Your Microsoft email account
• Staff will set up a SharePoint account and library for your business; you will be notified via the Microsoft email account you provided
• Upload the completed Phase 1 application and all supporting documents to your SharePoint library
  • You do not need to notify us when you submit a document; SharePoint will notify DCR staff each time a document is uploaded
• Staff will send you an invoice for the Initial Application Processing Fee (click here for cost)
• After the fee has been paid, staff will review your application and contact you if more information is needed
  • During review, all owners must complete the required background investigation
    • Instructions will be provided after the DCR receives your Phase 1 application and payment of the Initial Application Fee
    • There are fingerprint and background investigation fees per person for new applicants
  • While your Phase 1 application is under review, you may begin work on Phase 2.

Phase 2 Overview – Site Identification and Zoning Code Verification Certificate (ZCVC)

• Identify a site
• Obtain a ZCVC for your location (documents your location is compliant with San José’s land-use ordinance at the time it is issued)
• ZCVC Application Fee

Phase 2 Instructions

Identify a compliant location. If you need assistance in finding a compliant location, you may contact the Office of Economic Development at (408) 535-8181.

• Download the ZCVC Application
• Upload the completed ZCVC Application to your SharePoint library
• You will be sent an invoice for the ZCVC Application Fee
• After the fee has been paid, your ZCVC will be reviewed
  • If a ZCVC is denied for your location, you may identify another location and submit a new ZCVC application
  • Each ZCVC application submission requires payment of a separate ZCVC Application Fee
• If a ZCVC is issued for your location, upload it to your SharePoint library. You may submit the completed Phase 3 application at the same time.

Phase 3 Overview – Additional Business Information

• Contains additional specific information about your business, including site details and various required operations plans for your business Inspections for building code and operational compliance
• Application review and inspection time is covered in the Initial Application Fee paid in Phase 1; however, additional time could be billed at the hourly rate if necessary
• All managers and employees will need to complete a criminal background investigation
• After passing all reviews and inspections you may be issued a Notice of Completed Registration (“NOCR”)

When you receive a NOCR, you may then open your business and begin operations.

You do not need to have a property identified before submitting your Phase 1 application. If you need assistance in finding a compliant location, you may contact the Office of Economic Development at (408) 535-8181.

Phase 3 Instructions

• Upload the completed Phase 3 application and all supporting documents to your SharePoint library
• Staff will review your application and contact you if more information is needed
• Schedule a Special Tenant Improvement (STI) appointment with the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement (PBCE).
  • At the STI appointment, you propose all construction work needed for your premises and location
  • PBCE will identify any required building permits for your project
  • After approval from PBCE, you may begin construction
• During Construction:
  • Keep DCR Staff informed about the status of your construction
    • After construction is complete, all permits have been signed off, and the location has a Certificate of Occupancy, contact the DCR to schedule an inspection
      • DCR and Code Enforcement Staff will inspect your location for operational compliance with San José Municipal Code Chapter 6.88 and other building codes
      • Fire Department Staff may inspect the location at this time, or they may make their own appointment
• Prior to operating your business, all managers and employees must complete the required background investigation
  • Instructions will be provided
  • There are fingerprint and background investigation fees per person for new applicants
  • Plan ahead as the process may take several weeks
• If your business passes all required inspections, the business will be issued a Notice of Completed Registration (NOCR) and you may begin operations.