Commercial cannabis activity has historically been prohibited in unincorporated LA County under Title 22.140.220, but Title 22 amendments adopted alongside the 2022 Equity Program will allow retail, cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution in select industrial zones (M-1, M-1.5, M-2) once licensing rolls out.
LA County Code Title 22.140.220 historically barred all commercial cannabis uses in unincorporated areas, leaving only state-licensed delivery into those areas. Following Ordinance 2022-0023 and the Equity Program rollout, the Department of Regional Planning advanced Title 22 amendments permitting retail in limited commercial zones and cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and testing in industrial M-1, M-1.5, and M-2 zones, subject to sensitive-use buffers and conditional use permits. Each unincorporated planning area has caps on the number of retail premises. Existing illegal operations are not grandfathered. Both a county DCBA license and state Department of Cannabis Control license are required before opening.
Operating in a prohibited zone or without a county license is a public nuisance under Title 22, subject to daily fines, utility shut-off, civil injunction, and abatement. Unlicensed sales are also state misdemeanors prosecuted by the District Attorney.
See how El Monte's commercial cannabis zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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