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Ventura County, CA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Allowed zones
AE, M2, M3 only
License required
County + State
Adopted
Voter Initiative Measure O, 11/3/2020

Summary

Commercial cannabis activity in unincorporated Ventura County is confined to just three zoning districts, AE, M2 and M3, and requires a County cannabis business license.

City-specific rules exist: Simi Valley, Moorpark, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Fillmore have their own dispensary zoning rules that differ from Ventura County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

2700 - Purpose and applicability.

(b) Applicability. The standards of this Chapter shall apply to all commercial cannabis activities in unincorporated portions of the County of Ventura, in the AE, M2 and M3 zoning districts in compliance with Division 8 (Planning and Development) of the Ventura County Code of Ordinances.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).

Full Breakdown

Ordinance Code § 2700(b) restricts every commercial cannabis activity to the unincorporated area's AE, M2 and M3 zoning districts, in compliance with the County's Division 8 planning and development rules. Section 2704 further requires a separate County cannabis business license for cultivation, nursery cultivation, processing or distribution, in addition to the mandatory state license: operators cannot locate or open anywhere else in the unincorporated county.

Violations & Fines

Conducting commercial cannabis activity outside the AE, M2 or M3 zones, or without both a state license and a County cannabis business license, is unlawful under § 2702(a)(4) and subject to enforcement under the County Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can a cannabis business locate in unincorporated Ventura County?
Only in the AE, M2 or M3 zoning districts, per Ordinance Code § 2700(b).
Can I open a cannabis business anywhere zoned commercial in the county?
No: only AE, M2 and M3 zones qualify; all other commercial and residential zones are off-limits under § 2700(b).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ventura County

All Ventura County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview

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