Can You Open a Dispensary in Culver City?
Verified from Culver City Municipal Code
Yes — but availability is extremely limited. Culver City caps retail cannabis dispensary licenses at 3 citywide, and as of early 2026, only an estimated 1–2 remain available based on California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) state records.
Quick answer
✅Dispensaries allowed in select commercial and industrial zones
⚠️Retail license cap: 3 total citywide — limited availability
🌿Delivery, distribution, and testing licenses still available
🔴Manufacturing licenses fully issued — market closed
💰First-year permit fees: $59,758 + 6% gross receipts tax
⏱CUP required — competitive application process
License caps and availability
Culver City regulates cannabis through a local licensing framework with hard caps on each license type. The city issues Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) through a competitive application process — this is not a first-come, first-served system.
| License Type | Cap | Issued (est.) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | 3 | ~1 | Limited |
| Delivery | 15 | ~5 | Available |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 8 | Closed |
| Distribution | 15 | ~4 | Available |
| Testing | 4 | 0 | Available |
Estimated counts from CA DCC state records. Local availability may differ.
If you're looking at the retail market, the window is closing. Manufacturing is already fully issued with no new licenses available. Delivery and distribution remain the most open categories.
Where cannabis businesses are allowed
Cannabis uses are only permitted in specific commercial and industrial zones. Residential zones are entirely prohibited.
| Zone | Status |
|---|---|
| MU-I (Mixed-Use Industrial) | ✅ Retail, cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing |
| MU-HD (Mixed-Use High Density) | ⚠️ Limited cannabis uses with CUP |
| Commercial zones | ⚠️ Varies — check specific parcel |
| R1, R2, RLD, RMD, RHD | ❌ Prohibited |
| OS, S, I, E | ❌ Prohibited |
Buffer zone requirements
Culver City enforces distance buffers that significantly limit which parcels are eligible. Cannabis businesses cannot operate within specified distances of sensitive uses including schools, parks, daycare centers, and youth facilities. These buffers effectively eliminate many otherwise-zoned parcels from eligibility.
Costs and fees
The financial commitment to open a dispensary in Culver City is substantial. First-year permit fees alone run $59,758 — before buildout, inventory, or operating costs.
On top of permit fees, Culver City imposes a 6% gross receipts tax on adult-use cannabis sales. CUPs are renewable every 5 years, adding ongoing compliance costs.
Cost snapshot
First-year permit fees: $59,758
Ongoing tax rate: 6% gross receipts
CUP renewal cycle: Every 5 years
State license fees: Varies by DCC license type
The application process
Culver City uses a competitive application process — not first-come, first-served. Applications are evaluated by a review committee, and approvals require a Conditional Use Permit with a public hearing before the Planning Commission. Expect the process to take 3–6 months minimum, often longer with public opposition.
Common mistakes
Before signing a lease or starting an application, make sure you've confirmed the parcel is actually zoned for cannabis, falls outside all buffer zones, and that licenses are still available in the category you're applying for. Many applicants waste months and significant money on properties that were never eligible.
Find out exactly where you can open
Zoning varies parcel by parcel. Get the full breakdown for Culver City — zones, permits, fees, and timelines.
Check license availability and zoning →