Berkeley permits adult-use and medicinal cannabis dispensaries in specific commercial zones under BMC Chapter 12.27 and Title 23, with buffer distances from schools and a capped number of storefront licenses.
Berkeley was one of California's first cities to license medical cannabis dispensaries and has extended permits to adult-use retail under Proposition 64. Regulations appear in BMC Chapter 12.27 (Cannabis Businesses) and Title 23 zoning. Retail dispensaries are permitted as conditional or use-permitted businesses in specified commercial and manufacturing zones and must maintain a minimum 600-foot buffer from K-12 schools, day care centers, and youth centers as required by state law (Business and Professions Code 26054(b)). Operators need a City commercial cannabis license in addition to a state license from DCC, plus security, odor control, and employee-training plans. Berkeley caps the total number of storefront retailers, though delivery-only and equity operator pathways expand access. Cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and distribution licenses are also available in appropriate zones.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle dispensary zoning.
See how Berkeley's dispensary zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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