Cannabis Information

On November 8, 2016, California voters adopted Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act ("AUMA"), legalizing recreational cannabis use for persons over 21 years of age. The City of Ojai retains its authority to regulate or ban commercial cannabis activities and retains some power to regulate medical cannabis activities and personal recreational cannabis activities in the City.

On November 15, 2016, Ojai City Council approved an urgent ordinance regulating the use and cultivation of cannabis and adding a new Chapter 26 to Title 4 of the Ojai Municipal Code.

View the Ordinance Number 867 U Cannabis (PDF).

General Information

No person may engage in any commercial cannabis business within the City of Ojai including but not limited to cultivation, manufacturing, laboratory testing, transporting, dispensing, hosting special events, distribution, or sale of cannabis or cannabis products unless the person:

  • Has a valid Commercial Cannabis Business Permit from the City of Ojai.
  • Has a valid State Seller's Permit.
  • Is currently in compliance with all applicable state and local laws and regulations pertaining to the commercial cannabis business and the commercial cannabis activities, including the duty to obtain a City business registration certificate and any required state licenses. Engaging in a commercial cannabis business or in any commercial cannabis activity includes establishing, owning, managing, conducting, leasing to, operating, causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing the fact of such an act.

Information relating to the Ojai Cannabis General Tax Measure may be found by viewing Ordinance 912 Adding Article 7 to Title 8 Chapter 1 of the Ojai Municipal Code (PDF).

Cannabis Delivery & Dispensary Applications

Currently, all available permits for these services have been issued. The City of Ojai is not accepting applications at this time.

Cannabis Testing Laboratory Application

An application for these services may be obtained by viewing the Cannabis Testing Laboratory Application and Regulations (PDF), or by visiting Ojai City Hall, 401 S Ventura Street. Applications must be submitted to Ojai City Hall.

Cannabis Manufacturing & Distribution Applications & Regulations

Currently, all available permits for these services have been issued. The City of Ojai is not accepting applications at this time.

Cannabis Cultivation

Outdoor cultivation is prohibited. No person may cultivate cannabis or industrial hemp outdoors in any zoning district of the City. No conditional use permit, building permit, variance, or any other permit or entitlement, whether ministerial or discretionary, shall be approved or issued for any such use or activity.

Commercial indoor cannabis or industrial hemp cultivation is prohibited. No person may cultivate cannabis or industrial hemp for any commercial purposes indoors or within a building, structure, shed, or other enclosure anywhere in any zoning district of the City. No conditional use permit, building permit, variance, or any other permit or entitlement, whether ministerial or discretionary, shall be approved or issued for any such use or activity. (§ 2, Ord. 867, eff. November 15, 2016; as amended by § 2, Ord. 879, eff. December 28, 2017, § 2, Ord. 884, eff. June 21, 2018, § 3, Ord. 898, eff. June 27, 2019, and § 2, Ord. 903, eff. October 10, 2019)

Commercial cannabis cultivation for any purpose is prohibited in any zoning district in the City, even if permissible under a State-issued Type 12 Microbusiness license

Prohibited Cannabis Activities

Except as specifically allowed by Sections 4-26.04 and 4-26.06 of the City's Municipal code and applicable State law, all cannabis activity, cultivation, and businesses shall be prohibited within the City of Ojai, regardless of any licenses issued under State law. This prohibition shall not prevent indoor cultivation of cannabis for personal use by a person over twenty-one (21) years of age, conducted in accord with applicable State law and inside a private residence or inside an accessory structure to a private residence located upon the grounds of the private residence.

Outdoor cultivation is prohibited. No person may cultivate cannabis outdoors in any zoning district of the City. No conditional use permit, building permit, variance, or any other permit or entitlement, whether ministerial or discretionary, shall be approved or issued for any such use or activity.

Smoking or consumption of cannabis is prohibited in public places. Within the City's limits, no person may smoke or ingest cannabis or cannabinoid preparations in any public place or in any location where smoking tobacco is prohibited.

To view the City of Ojai municipal code of prohibited cannabis activities, please view the Section 4-26.03 Municipal Code website.