Ventura, CA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail
- Only in retail-permitting zones
- Testing labs
- Research/laboratory zones only
- Manufacturing
- Light or general industrial zones
- Outdoor cultivation
- Banned citywide
- Required
- City permit under Ch. 6.420 plus state license
- Certification
- Community development director sign-off
Summary
The City of Ventura allows licensed cannabis businesses only in zoning districts that already permit the underlying use by right, under San Buenaventura Municipal Code Sections 6.420.370 and 24.105.200(B). A retailer must sit in a zone that permits retail sales without a use permit, a testing lab in a research/laboratory zone, a distributor in a wholesaling zone, and a manufacturer in a light- or general-industrial zone, on top of the siting rules in 6.420.370.
Commercial cannabis businesses are subject to the zoning requirements laid out in Section 24.105.200 as well as the following location restrictions and requirements: ... B. All activities for which a state license under the MAUCRSA are required are expressly prohibited, except for the following activities, which are permitted if the business has applied for and been granted a permit pursuant to Chapter 6.420: ... 2. Retailers when said business is located in a zoning district that permits, without a use permit, Retail Sales uses.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
3210 and sit in a district permitting that use without a use permit; and microbusinesses must be in a district that by right permits every component activity they combine. 370 layers additional siting and design conditions on top of the zoning test: the business must conform to the general plan and any applicable specific or master plan, comply with all zoning and development standards, be built to minimize odors and fit the character of surrounding properties, be sized to accommodate required parking, loading and landscaping, and be served by adequate roads, utilities, sewer, water, fire protection and drainage; a business in the coastal zone must also maintain public beach access and avoid harming coastal resources. 200(C)).
Violations & Fines
Operating a cannabis business in a Ventura zoning district that does not permit the underlying use by right, or without the community development director's certification under Section 6.420.350, violates Sections 24.105.200(B) and 6.420.370. The city attorney or city prosecutor may bring a civil action for injunctive relief and civil penalties, and a court may award attorneys' fees and costs to the prevailing party, though Section 24.105.200(D) bars using this section to authorize any criminal prosecution or penalty inconsistent with state cannabis law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a cannabis retail store anywhere in Ventura?
Is outdoor cannabis growing allowed in Ventura?
What extra siting rules apply to a Ventura cannabis business beyond zoning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
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Dispensary Zoning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle dispensary zoning.