Santa Ana Phase II Cannabis Licensing Updates - Here's What You Need to Know

Soon, the popular city of Santa Ana, California will be opening up Phase II of the regulatory safety permit process. The city’s population of 350,000 residents makes Santa Ana a prime market for cannabis businesses. On November 9, 2017, the City Council approved an ordinance allowing for adult-use commercial cannabis retail businesses.  The new ordinance went into effect on Monday, December 11, 2017.

The new ordinance allowed for up to 30 adult-use commercial cannabis retail locations; co-location with medicinal licenses is permitted. No other type of commercial cannabis business activity is permitted, including manufacturing, distribution, cultivation, testing, or microbusiness. It’s important to note Phase I ended on March 1, but good news: Phase II is opening soon.

Phase I Applications

Santa Ana closed Phase I (Registration Application) on Thursday, March 1, 2018. The city held an information session for "newcomer" applicants on January 17, 2018 to discuss the new ordinance, the Phase I application process, and to answer questions from attendees. If you want to see what went on, check out the PowerPoint presentation from the information session.

How were commercial cannabis businesses selected?

Click through for details on the selection process and the applications requirements found in the new adult-use commercial cannabis ordinance.

Distance Clarifications

While meeting to discuss updates to the application process, the Santa Ana city council updated zoning regulations for cannabis businesses. If you’re looking to start a commercial cannabis retail store, please note the following ordinances related to the location of your business. The following buffer distance measurements must be met in Santa Ana:

• The entire building in which the commercial cannabis retail store is/will be located must be outside of the 1,000-foot buffer zones from schools, parks and existing residential zones.
• The 1,000-foot distance is not measured from the property line of the sensitive land use to the property line of the building in which the commercial cannabis retail store is proposed.
• The 500-foot distance requirement between commercial cannabis retail stores is measured between main entrances of the commercial cannabis retail stores. 

Click through for a detailed map of commercial cannabis zoning here.

What’s next for cannabis businesses in Santa Ana?

All applicants who submitted within the the 30-day “Phase I” will be notified of their outcome soon. Eligible applicants will be invited to apply for Phase II, the Regulatory Safety Permit.  When further updates are available, California Cannabis CPA will be sure to notify you.

Missed the first deadline? Santa Ana will accept new each year between April 1 and April 30. If you submit during this period, you will be placed on the waitlist and reviewed as further licenses become available. To apply, make sure to download the application form and review all necessary materials provided by Santa Ana.

It’s important to understand that the City will not be holding a new lottery, so even when you submit an application, you will still wait to receive permission to move on to the next phase. This approval process can be lengthy and expensive: we suggest that you consult with one of our experts before beginning the application process in Santa Ana. Likewise, if you want to begin preparing for Phase II of the regulatory permit process, please contact California Cannabis CPAs.   

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