Cannabis stores are no longer required to be enclosed by non-transparent walls. However, cannabis products, accessories, packages, and labels must not be seen from outside the store. Learn more.
A Producer Retail Store licence allows federally-licensed cannabis producers in British Columbia to sell cannabis products and accessories at a store located at their cultivation site.
There's a limit of one Producer Retail Store licence per federal cultivator licence you hold.
The following federal cannabis licensees are eligible to apply:
Federal licensees that only hold a cannabis processing licence are not eligible to apply.
Other application requirements include, you:
The general manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) may consider issuing a retail store licence after the local government or Indigenous Nation recommends licence approval. The general manager is not bound by the recommendation.
The LCRB will contact the local government or Indigenous Nation for their recommendation as part of the application process.
Learn more about the role of local governments and Indigenous Nations in cannabis retail licensing.
The rules for operating a Producer Retail Store licence are in the Producer Retail Store Licensee Handbook (PDF,606KB). If you have any questions about the handbook, please email cannabisregs@gov.bc.ca.
A Producer Retail Store licence holder is both a cannabis supplier and retailer. There are different requirements for each role. Learn more at the bottom of the page in Your next steps.
Learn more about the requirements of being a licensed cannabis producer in B.C.
This application requires the following:
The application fee for a Producer Retail Store licence is generally non-refundable.
The LCRB may consider a refund if:
To request a refund, email LCRBCannabis@gov.bc.ca with reasons for the refund.
The Producer Retail Store licence class gives cannabis producers in B.C. greater access to local retailers and consumers. This licence class supports the development of a robust, diverse and sustainable legal cannabis economy in B.C., inclusive of rural and Indigenous communities.
Check requirements for the application and fees, including:
Local governments and Indigenous Nations have jurisdiction over distance restrictions of cannabis stores in their communities (i.e., proximity to schools).
Start early and understand the process. Depending on your local government or Indigenous Nation's requirements, this step can add processing time.
The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) Use Regulation limits the activities that can occur on ALR land, including cannabis production and sales. To learn more, please refer to:
If you have questions, contact the Agricultural Land Commission.
In relation to the cannabis cultivation site, the location of the producer retail store must:
Provide the following information about the store location:
Parcel identifier (PID)
A PID identifies the parcel of real property where a store is located. It is either a nine-digit number or a legal description of the property.
Property in the area of an Indigenous Nation may not have a PID. In this case, you must provide information identifying the parcel from the registry used for that land by the Indigenous Nation.
You can find the property's PID
Full street address
The address must include the
You can’t change the address of the proposed cannabis store after submitting your application.
Local governments or Indigenous nations may have requirements about your proposed store location, including its
Learn more about local government and Indigenous Nation roles in cannabis retail licensing.
Property ownership or lease
Before a licence can be issued, you must meet certain ownership or control requirements of the property for the proposed store location.
This means your application must demonstrate that you, either:
If you have an agreement to purchase or lease the property, the property must be purchased or leased before a licence can be issued. Leases or other property arrangements must be in place for at least 12 months from the time you receive your licence.
Complete the Business Financial Integrity form (PDF, 177 KB).
To complete the form, you will need
You are responsible for all matters related to the suitability of your store’s name and branding. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) doesn’t consider or grant any intellectual property rights for:
The store must be a self-contained business. This means:
Your application must include:
Expand the menu below to learn more.
Review the document checklist for your business type for more information. The plans must be in high quality PDF format that is readable when zoomed in.
Show 6 itemsDepending on your business classification, you'll need to submit different documentation.
The business types include:
Both you and any associates will need to complete a Consent for Cannabis Security Screening Form. Applicants do this as part of the online application process in step 7.
This form requires:
Associates (directors, shareholders, partners, etc.) of applicants are required to submit documentation for security screenings and/or financial integrity checks.
Learn about the associate forms you must submit with your retail store licence application.
You can now apply online for the Producer Retail Store licence.
A Business BCeID is required to log into the liquor and cannabis licensing portal and apply. A Business BCeID can take several weeks to set up.
After submission, you will receive an application job number.
Through the portal, you can invite your associates to complete and upload their forms.
Approval in principle indicates you are eligible to receive a licence if you pass a final inspection. Once approval in principle is granted, you may decide to
You must have:
After you have approval in principle, the LCRB must conduct an inspection before you receive your licence and open to the public.
When you believe you are ready to open, contact the LCRB to schedule an inspection.
There cannot be any cannabis products in the store during this inspection.
During the inspection, the inspector will:
As a licensee, you must have your Selling It Right certification. Workers who sell or supervise the sale of non-medical cannabis must also complete Selling It Right.
Local governments may have additional business licence requirements for workers.
You must register as a retailer with the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) to order wholesale cannabis.
All the cannabis sold in your store must be purchased through the LDB from the:
Cultivators who do not have a processing licence must partner with a licensed processor to package their product. The licensed processor must:
If your products are registered for direct delivery, you may complete direct delivery transactions for the registered products.
Cultivators may register the following products without a processing licence:
It is your responsibility to ensure your products are approved and registered through the LDB. Learn more about the Direct Delivery Program or email directdelivery@bcldb.com.
Licensees and their employees must not
Cannabis stores must submit monthly sales reports to the LCRB. The LCRB submits these reports to Health Canada for the federal Cannabis Tracking System (CTS).
Reporting can be done through the liquor and cannabis licensing portal. Learn more about your reporting requirements.
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