Apply for a Producer Retail Store licence

For cannabis producers that want to sell cannabis at their production site

Eligibility

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:

  • Micro Cultivators
  • Standard Cultivators
  • Nursery sub-classes
  • Cultivators that also hold a processing licence

Federal licensees that only hold a cannabis processing licence are not eligible to apply.  

Other application requirements include, you:

  • Must be at least 19 years old
  • Must be a standalone business, such as
  • Do not have to be a citizen or resident of B.C. or Canada

Local Government or Indigenous Nation recommendation

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.

Licensee handbook and operational requirements

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. 

Overview

This application requires the following:

  • Your business number (9-digit number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency)
  • Your federal cultivation licence number issued by Health Canada
  • Business BCeID to log into the liquor and cannabis licensing portal
  • Your store name (see store name in step 4)
  • Your store location
  • Parcel Identifier (PID) of your property
  • Information about the applicant and associates including, but not limited to:
    • Directors,
    • Shareholders (direct and indirect)
    • Partners
  • Information about other liquor or cannabis licences you have or are applying for
  • Information about other liquor or cannabis licences your associates have or are applying for
  • Consent for security screening and financial integrity checks
  • Identify any financial, business, or family connections to:
    • other federally licensed cannabis producers
    • cannabis store licence holders or applicants

Fees

  • Application fee: $7,500
  • First-year licensing fee: $1,500
  • Annual renewal fee: $1,500

The application fee for a Producer Retail Store licence is generally non-refundable.

The LCRB may consider a refund if:

  • An application was submitted in error, or
  • there are exceptional circumstances beyond the applicant’s control
    • A local government or Indigenous Nation rejecting a cannabis store location is not grounds for a refund

To request a refund, email LCRBCannabis@gov.bc.ca with reasons for the refund. 

Benefits

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. 

Products

Producer Retail Stores may sell:

  • Any cannabis available through BC Cannabis Wholesale, including authorized direct delivery products
  • Cannabis they’ve grown without needing to stock other brands
  • Cannabis accessories
  • Cannabis-related items
  • Gift cards
  • Shopping bags
  • Delivery services

Apply

1

Check your local government or Indigenous Nation requirements

Check requirements for the application and fees, including:

  • Development permit
  • Business licensing
  • Zoning

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.

2

Store location requirements

In relation to the cannabis cultivation site, the location of the producer retail store must:

Provide the following information about the store location:

Expand All | Collapse All
 

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

  • Suite or apartment numbers (if applicable)
  • Postal code

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

  • Proximity to other cannabis stores
  • Proximity to areas where young people may gather
    • For example, schools, playgrounds, daycares, recreation centres

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:

  • Own the property
  • Lease the property
  • Have an agreement to purchase or lease the property
  • Have a different property arrangement in place, such as a sublease

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.

 

3

Complete the Business Financial Integrity form

Complete the Business Financial Integrity form (PDF, 177 KB).

To complete the form, you will need

  • Names of shares and shareholders
  • Financial information
  • Tax information
  • Funding and debt information
4

Gather physical store details

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:

  • Store name
  • Branding
  • Signage

The store must be a self-contained business. This means: 

  • The store must be in a permanent building or structure
  • No other business can operate in the store 

Your application must include:

  • Storage
  • Floor plan
  • Site plan
  • Photos of store exterior
  • Proposed store name
  • Proposed signage

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.

5

Gather required documents and business information

Depending on your business classification, you'll need to submit different documentation.

The business types include:

  • Private corporation
  • Public corporation
  • Sole proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Society or non-profit corporation
  • Indigenous Nations
6

Review and prepare required documents for associates

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:

  • Personal information
  • The application "job" number from the LCRB
  • Address of proposed store
  • Current mailing address
  • The city, province/state, country and year for each place you resided outside of B.C. at any point in the last five years

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.

7

Upload documents online and pay fee

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.

Apply online.

8

Approval in principle is granted if

  • You meet the requirements outlined above
  • Your application is supported by your local government or Indigenous Nation
  • You paid the licence fee

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

  • Buy, lease or finalize your interest in the store location
  • Make renovations to ensure the store's layout and exterior matches the information in the description

Your next steps

Review store security requirements

You must have:

  • An audible intruder alarm system
  • An audible fire alarm
  • Locked retail product display cases
  • Locked cannabis storage room
  • Secure perimeter door locks
  • Security cameras with full unobstructed view of:
    • The retail sales area
    • Any product storage area
    • Both the interior and exterior of all store entrances/exits

Schedule and pass an inspection

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:

  • Ensure floor plan and licensed area align with your application
  • Confirm the store's address
  • Signage meets requirements
  • Take pictures of the store
  • Review terms and conditions with you
  • Provide an overview of the inspection and compliance process

Complete mandatory worker training

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.

Order cannabis products

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: 

Register your products for direct delivery

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:

  • Plants
  • Seeds 

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. 

Other licensed cannabis producers

Licensees and their employees must not

  • Arrange to exclusively sell cannabis from another federally licensed producer
  • Request or accept money, gifts, reward or remuneration from another federally licensed producer, for the promotion or inducement of a particular brand of cannabis, such as preferential shelf space

Report your sales to the LCRB

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. 

Contact information

Contact our client support team.

In Victoria Phone
250-952-5787
In Canada Toll Free
1-866-209-2111
Cannabis licences
LCRBCannabis@gov.bc.ca