Orange County Codified Ordinances Title 7 prohibits all commercial cannabis activity in unincorporated areas, including cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing, and retail storefronts under both state Prop 64 and county zoning authority.
Following Proposition 64 in 2016, the OC Board of Supervisors adopted ordinances banning commercial cannabis in all unincorporated areas, including Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, North Tustin, Rossmoor, and the canyon communities. The ban covers all six state license types: cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, retail, microbusiness, and testing labs. Personal use under Prop 64 (up to one ounce, six plants indoors) remains legal for adults 21+. Most OC cities followed suit; only Santa Ana licenses retail storefronts. Costa Mesa allows non-retail manufacturing and distribution in industrial zones. Stanton and a few others permit limited delivery hubs.
Operating an unlicensed cannabis business violates state and local law: civil penalties up to $30,000 per day, immediate closure, and potential criminal charges for unlicensed cultivation or sales.
See how other cities in Orange County handle commercial cannabis zoning.
See how Costa Mesa's commercial cannabis zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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