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Confirm your operation falls under Mendocino County's certified EIR (October 2024) or identify which CEQA document applies to your parcel
Most Mendocino cultivators in the program are covered by the county EIR — verify your APN is listed
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Obtain the CEQA clearance letter or Notice of Determination (NOD) for your operation from Mendocino County Planning
Required for Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) annual license application — cannot substitute another document
Critical
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Document all mitigation measures your operation implements per the EIR (water conservation, setbacks, lighting, security)
-
Complete Mendocino County's cultivation site plan consistent with the CEQA-approved project description
Site plan must match what was reviewed in the EIR — any expansion requires separate CEQA review
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If your operation was not included in the county EIR, prepare and file a separate CEQA document (Categorical Exemption, Negative Declaration, or full EIR)
This path adds months and significant cost — consult an environmental consultant immediately
If applicable
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State Water Resources Control Board: Obtain Cannabis Cultivation Policy (CCP) waiver or enrollment in the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board general order
North Coast Regional Water Board covers most Mendocino operations — verify which order applies
Required
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California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW): Obtain Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA) or confirm exemption if applicable
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Water diversion: Confirm water rights documentation (riparian rights claim, pre-1914 appropriation, or water board permit/license) is current and matches your operation
Critical
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Mendocino County Air Quality Management District: Confirm generator and equipment compliance if applicable
-
Cannabis Cultivation Policy: Upload all required monitoring data, annual reports, and facility certification through CalEPA/CERS if enrolled
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Compile all environmental permit numbers for DCC annual license application — they must match your provisional license records
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Verify your METRC license number(s) align with your annual license application — all licenses in METRC must match DCC records
Critical
-
Ensure all plant tags are active, assigned, and current inventory is reconciled — no untagged plants or phantom inventory
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Complete any outstanding METRC transfers — no open/unaccepted transfers on the account at time of annual license review
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Confirm all employees who access METRC are trained and have current METRC user accounts with appropriate permissions
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Review previous 12 months of METRC activity for any unresolved discrepancies, adjustments, or compliance violations
Unresolved METRC issues can delay or block annual license approval
-
Order sufficient METRC plant tags and package tags for the upcoming license year — tag shortages stop operations
-
Register with Mendocino County Tax Collector for the Cannabis Business Tax if not already registered
Tax ID from county required for local license — registration must precede license application
Required
-
File all outstanding quarterly cannabis business tax returns — delinquent returns block local license renewal
Deadline: Quarterly
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Mendocino County cultivation tax rate: confirm current rate per square foot for your cultivation type (outdoor, indoor, mixed-light)
Outdoor: $1.00–$3.00/sq ft depending on canopy tier. Verify current rates with the County Tax Collector.
-
Obtain tax clearance certificate from Mendocino County — required for local permit renewal and annual DCC license
Critical
-
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA): Confirm cannabis excise tax account is current and in good standing
-
DCC annual license application: Submit at least 60 days before provisional license expiration to maintain active status during review
60-day rule
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Mendocino County local permit renewal: File with County Planning before expiration — confirm your permit's anniversary date
Annual
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Seller's Permit (CDTFA): Confirm it remains active and business address matches current operation
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Workers' Compensation insurance: Must be current and certificate of insurance on file with DCC — policy cannot lapse between renewal periods
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Annual license fee payment: Calculate DCC licensing fee based on canopy size (square footage) — fee must be paid at application, not on approval
DCC fee schedule: fees vary by license type and canopy tier. Check DCC website for current fee schedule.
At application
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Create a renewal calendar: Set reminders 90, 60, and 30 days before each deadline — missing a deadline means starting over
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Current provisional DCC license (copy) and any previously issued annual licenses
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Premises diagram: current, accurate, to scale — reflects actual canopy boundaries, structures, and security camera locations
Must be current
-
Land ownership or lease documentation: deed, lease agreement, or landlord authorization letter — must cover the full license period
Required
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Live Scan fingerprints for all owners with 20%+ ownership interest — valid within 12 months (DCC may require fresh scans if outdated)
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California Secretary of State business entity documents: Articles of Incorporation/Organization, Operating Agreement, Statement of Information
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Security plan (updated): must reflect current camera placement, access controls, fencing, alarm system, and after-hours security protocol
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Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): cultivation, harvest, waste disposal, inventory, employee training, and visitor log
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Pesticide and nutrient program documentation: list of all products used with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) — must be compliant with DCC approved list
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Waste management plan: documentation of cannabis waste disposal method (on-site rendering, licensed hauler, or composting with required rendering)
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All environmental permit numbers compiled into a single document with expiration dates — cross-referenced against your DCC application
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Workers' Compensation policy certificate and employer liability confirmation — current policy, not expired
-
DCC application fee payment: check, money order, or electronic payment — prepare the exact amount based on current fee schedule
At submission
Need Help With Any of This?
This checklist covers the framework — but every farm has different water rights, different entity structures, and different compliance histories. Mendocino Underground Ag handles the document preparation, filing coordination, and deadline tracking so you can focus on the actual farming.
Schedule a Free Consultation