Cannabis store location requirements

Last updated on November 30, 2022

Producer retail store locations near the cultivation site

producer retail store licence (PRS) application must:

  • Be adjacent to the federal area, or
  • Be sufficiently proximate to the federal area, and
  • Not overlap with the federal area

An adjacent PRS means it is near or adjoining the federal area with no buildings or structures between them.

If a PRS cannot be located adjacent to the associated production facility, the general manager may consider a PRS location that is sufficiently proximate to the production facility.

Sufficiently proximate (nearby) locations are those that can reasonably be considered to be connected the federal area.

For example:

  • Locations separated by a driveway, parking lot, or other space on the same legal property, or a location on an adjacent property.

When reviewing your proposed location, the general manager may consider any relevant criteria, such as:

  • The distance from the proposed PRS establishment to the federal area in relation to the size of the property in general.
  • The number of buildings in between the PRS establishment and the federal area.
  • Different uses of the property and whether the use of the surrounding property has a farm gate connection.

Overlap with the federal area:

A producer retail store may be in the same building as the cannabis cultivation facility. The store must not occupy any area where federally licensed cannabis activities occur or are intended to occur.

If any changes to a federal licence are required to accommodate a cannabis store, applicants are responsible for requesting approval from Health Canada.

To learn more about cannabis store location requirements, read your licensee handbook.