San Diego, CA Cannabis Regulations: Home Cultivation (2026)
Key Facts
- Outdoor Growing
- Prohibited in City of San Diego
- Indoor Limit
- 6 plants per household (adults 21+)
- Medical Patients
- 6 mature + 12 immature plants
- Requirements
- Indoors, locked area, not visible from public
- State Law
- CA HSC §11362.2 (Prop 64)
Summary
San Diego prohibits outdoor growing of personal cannabis. Adults 21+ may cultivate up to six plants indoors per household under California Proposition 64 (HSC §11362.2). Medical cannabis patients may cultivate up to 6 mature and 12 immature plants at home. All home cultivation must be indoors, in a locked area not visible from public spaces. Local regulations are implemented through SDMC Chapter 4, Article 2, Division 15.
11362.2. (a) Personal cultivation of cannabis under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 11362.1 is subject to the following restrictions: (1) A person shall plant, cultivate, harvest, dry, or process plants in accordance with local ordinances, if any, adopted in accordance with subdivision (b). (2) The living plants and any cannabis produced by the plants in excess of 28.5 grams are kept within the person’s private residence, or upon the grounds of that private residence (e.g., in an outdoor garden area), are in a locked space, and are not visible by normal unaided vision from a public place.
Full Breakdown
Under Proposition 64, adults 21 and older may cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants per residence in the City of San Diego. Cultivation must occur indoors or in a fully enclosed, locked structure not visible from public right-of-way. San Diego has one of California's largest regulated cannabis markets with a well-established licensing framework. Home cultivation is separate from commercial operations and requires no city permit, but odor must not create a public nuisance. Volatile solvents for extraction are prohibited. Plants must not be accessible to minors.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding plant limits: citation and removal. Public visibility: code enforcement. Volatile extraction: criminal charges. Nuisance odor: neighbor complaint investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow cannabis in my backyard?
How many cannabis plants can I grow at home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
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Home Cultivation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle home cultivation.