Santee opens applications for cannabis retail permits

SANTEE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — After Santee City Council approved cannabis manufacturing and distribution earlier this year, the city has officially opened applications for individuals to apply to open a cannabis dispensary.

The City of Santee cannabis retail permit application opened Thursday, Sept. 10 and will remain open for over a month until Thursday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. The application fee is $25,711, according to the City of Santee.

The city said only four cannabis retail permits will be approved by city council with this round of applications.

Also, any retail cannabis businesses have to be within the General Commercial (GC), Light Industrial (IL), and General Industrial (IG) zone districts, and cannot be near any sensitive use areas like schools, daycares, churches, arcades, amusement parks and more.

Applicants must submit an application through the Santee Permitting & Licensing Portal, pay the application fee, and submit a Zoning Verification Letter Request Form, along with evidence of legal parcel documentation, according to the the City of Santee.

The city says the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will conduct the background checks through appointments by calling 858-974-2222.

Santee City Council approved cannabis manufacturing, cultivation, processing, testing, sale, delivery and distribution in certain zones in the City of Santee earlier in 2024 after years of community workshops, public meetings and more.

View the full list of cannabis business laws in the City of Santee online . The Department of Cannabis Control in California has a list of requirements for cannabis retailers you can also find online .

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