Commercial Cannabis Portal

Welcome to the City of Corona’s Commercial Cannabis Portal.  This portal is intended to provide information related to the Commercial Cannabis Permit program.

In November 2016 California voters passed Proposition 64, known as the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA).  The law provided the state of California a framework for issuing commercial cannabis licenses by January 1, 2018.  It also clarified that cities and counties could prohibit cannabis businesses; or establish regulations that are more restrictive than state law.

In February 2018, in response to Proposition 64, the City Council of Corona considered lifting an existing prohibition on cannabis businesses.  The Council chose to take a “wait and see” approach.  In April 2019 the Council reconsidered, and directed staff to research and develop regulations for the issuance of commercial cannabis permits within the City.

In October 2020 the Corona City Council adopted Ordinance 3321, creating regulations for the issuance of Commercial Cannabis Permits (CCP).  The Council also adopted Resolution 2020-126 as a guide for the creation and review of Commercial Cannabis Permits (CCP) applications.

A few important facts related to the City’s CCP Program, as set forth by the current Corona Municipal Code:

• Commercial cannabis cultivation is prohibited in the city. The city’s cannabis program allows permits for all other commercial cannabis activities, including retail sales, manufacturing, distribution, and testing laboratories.
• The number of storefront cannabis businesses within the city is limited to a total of twelve (12).  This includes storefront retail cannabis businesses and storefront cannabis “microbusiness”.
• Storefront cannabis businesses are subject to a merit-based review process to determine which twelve (12) storefront cannabis businesses will be granted a permit.
• There are no limits on the number of non-storefront cannabis businesses.  This includes non-storefront retail, non-storefront microbusiness, manufacturing, distribution, and testing laboratories.
• All cannabis businesses must be separated from sensitive land uses.  The City’s separation requirements are more restrictive than state law.  All retail cannabis businesses (storefront and non-storefront), as well as storefront microbusinesses, are subject to a 1,000 feet separation.  Non-storefront microbusinesses, manufactures, distributors and testing laboratories have a 600 feet separation.  Unlike the state, the City also requires separations from parks and residential zones.

On March 17, 2021 the City Council directed staff to make revisions to the CCP Program.  Key program revisions include:

• Revise the definition of “Youth Center” to exclude certain private businesses and administrative offices/facilities related to youth organizations.
• Revise the definition of cannabis business “Owner” to be consistent with California Business and Professional Code Section 26001.
• Reduce the separation requirement from Youth Centers from 1,000 feet to 600 feet.
• Reduce separation requirements for Non-Storefront Retailers (i.e., Retail Delivery) from 1,000 feet to 600 feet.
• Adopted Resolution 2021-015 to require an independent consultant to hire experienced professional “scorers” to rank storefront cannabis applications.
• Directed staff to include amend parts of the Birtcher Business Center Specific Plan (SP82-2) to allow cannabis uses.

Council’s March 17, 2021 directive requires staff to return to Council with a formal specific plan amendment and ordinances to amend the Municipal Code.  These amendments will be heard at public hearings in April and May, 2021, as required by law.  The City Council has directed staff to move forward with application review prior to the formal adoption.

On April 21, 2021 the City Council adopted Ordinance 3327, which formalized revisions to CMC Chapter 5.36 regarding the definition of “Youth Center” and “Owner”, and revised separation requirements from sensitive land uses.  At this meeting the Council also adopted Resolution 2021-022, which clarify the application process for commercial cannabis permits, principally as it relates to storefront cannabis businesses.

On September 4, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-092, which (1) retroactively extended the storefront retail merit-based final ranking list until terminated by the City Council; and (2) maintain the formula for the maximum number of commercial cannabis permits available for storefront retailers and storefront retail microbusinesses at 1 per 15,000 residents. Note that since the Department of Finance's 2024 population estimate for Corona is 156,615, the maximum number of commercial cannabis permits available for storefront retailers and/or storefront retail microbusinesses is now eleven (11), not twelve (12).

If you have questions that are not answered with the information contained on this web page, contact the Planning Division at (951) 736-2262 or e-mail CannabisInfo@CoronaCA.gov. Please include your name, phone number and e-mail address.

To view approved City Council documents related to the Commercial Cannabis Permit program, click here.

To view prior City Council presentations related to the Commercial Cannabis Permit program, click here.

To view the status of the Commercial Cannabis Permit application process, click here.

To view maps, graphics, flowcharts, and other useful information related to the Commercial Cannabis Permit program, click here.

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