All licensees must adhere to the renewal requirements set forth within California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 15020. Additionally, provisional licensees must meet specific criteria to renew a provisional license to ensure progress is being made toward annual licensure.

A summary of criteria and timelines related to provisional licenses is outlined below and available within CCR section 15001.2.

Renewal Requirements: July 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024

All license types

Progress toward compliance with CEQA must be shown through one of the following ways:

• The Lead Agency has prepared and circulated for public review a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration.
• The Lead Agency has determined that an EIR is required and has either:
• Made substantial progress in preparing an EIR, or
• Has a contract in place for EIR preparation.
• The Lead Agency certifies that it has conducted a reasonably comprehensive site-specific review and deemed complete an initial study, addendum, or checklist.
• The Lead Agency has reviewed, prepared, and deemed complete a notice of exemption.

Applicable documentation

• Any environmental documentation, including, but not limited to, an exemption, initial study, negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, and/or environmental impact report.
  • Any staff reports and related documents prepared by the local jurisdiction.
  • Any written transcript or minutes of the proceedings of the local jurisdiction.
  • Any notice(s) issued by the local jurisdiction to comply with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines.
  • Any proposed decisions or findings considered by the local jurisdiction by its staff or the applicant.
  • Any documentation of the local jurisdiction’s final decision.

Additional requirements for cultivation license types

The licensee must provide one of the following:

• A Final Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) agreement issued by CDFW
• A Draft LSA agreement provided by CDFW that has been signed and returned to CDFW
• Written verification from CDFW that an LSA agreement is not needed

The Department cannot renew a provisional cultivation license if:

• The State Water Resources Control Board has notified the Department that the provisional licensee is not in compliance with section 26060.1(a) or (b) of the Business and Professions Code or the principles, guidelines, and requirements established pursuant to section 13149 of the Water Code.

• The Department of Fish and Wildlife has notified the Department that the provisional licensee is not in compliance with any final LSA agreement
  • After January 1, 2023, renewing the license would cause a licensee to hold multiple cultivation licenses on contiguous premises to exceed either of the following limits:
    • For Outdoor cultivation licenses: 1 acre  
    • For Indoor or Mixed-light cultivation licenses: 22,000 square feet  

Related content

Key dates for provisional licenses

State Water Resources Control Board

Department of Fish and Wildlife