Permit Types, Fees & Taxes

Cartoon drawing of a permit on a clipboard with checked boxes.

Types of Permitted Cannabis Businesses 

  • Storefront Retail
  • Delivery-only Retail ("Home Delivery")
  • Distribution
  • Testing Laboratory

Types of Prohibited Cannabis Businesses: 

  • Commercial Outdoor Cultivation
  • Commercial Mixed-Light Cultivation

Maximum Number of Permits Issued 

The City will issue up to the maximum number of commercial cannabis business permits by permit type as follows:  

Permit Type Maximum Number of Permits  Current Number of Issued Permits  Current Number of Applicants  Permits Remaining 
Storefront Retail * 3 1 0 2
Delivery-only Retail  15 5 1 9
Manufacturing 4 3 1 0
Distribution 15 4 1 10
Testing Laboratory 4 0 0 4

 

Cannabis Business Tax 

Culver City voters approved Measure A, a Cannabis Business Tax, at the April 10, 2018 municipal election ballot. The tax is imposed on a fiscal year basis and are due in quarterly installments. 

The initial and maximum rates approved are: 

  • Retail (medicinal): range of 5-8% with an initial rate of 5% of gross receipts.
  • Retail (adult-use): range of 6-10% with an initial rate of 6% of gross receipts.
  • Distribution: No distribution tax is collected. 
  • Testing: 1-1.5% with an initial rate of 1% of gross receipts.
  • Cultivation: $12 per square foot of canopy.

Cannabis Business License Required 

Every business must apply and receive a business tax certificate to commence or operate in Culver City. 

Cannabis Business Permit Fee List 

Approved by Resolution of the City Council 04/28/2025 

Cannabis Business Permit Fee List

Step 1 Fee

Fee Description             Fee 
First permit category applied for: $3,208.50
for Storefront Retail, add: $3,121.68
 for Manufacturing, add: $1,655.46
for Cultivation, add: $517.09
for each additional permit category applied for simultaneously, add: $2,202.98

 

Background Check (per Responsible Person) 

Fee Description                       Fee
Manufacturing, Cultivation, Delivery-only retail, Distribution, Laboratory Testing $317.30
Storefront Retail $317.30
Step 1(a) Fee:(Applicable to Storefront Retail only) $3,906.24
Step 1(b) Fee:(Applicable to Storefront Retail only) $5,374.01

 

Step 2 Fee (Not applicable to Storefront Retail)

Fee Description                   Fee
First permit category applied for: $317.03
for each additional permit category applied for simultaneously, add: $158.51

 

Step 3 Fee

Fee Description                    Fee
First permit category applied for:             $1,743.78
Each additional permit category applied for simultaneously, add:                $626.13

 

Annual Fee

Fee Description                                          Fee
First permit category permitted:                               $10,013.07
For each additional permit category permitted, add:                                 $1,617.68

 

Miscellaneous Fees

Fee Description                                        Fee
Amendment and Reissuance of Permit for Change in Form of Ownership                                   $317.03
Name Change                                     $79.25
Large Cash Payment Surcharge (applied to any cash payment over $1,000)                                   $356.93

 

Notes

  • The above fees do not include development related fees regularly charged by the City, such as for a conditional use permit, sign permit, building permit, business license, Live Scan, etc. 
  • Fees are non-refundable.
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