The application period for commercial cannabis retail and manufacturing permits is now closed and no additional applications will be accepted at this time. The City is still accepting applications for commercial cannabis testing labs.
The City has adopted the “Application Procedures and Guidelines for a Commercial Cannabis Business Permit.” The guidelines establish the application submittal requirements, application review, scoring, and selection process, and review criteria upon which an application will be evaluated. The application review, scoring, and selection process is comprised of multiple phases and is anticipated to take 4 months to complete. Please review the guidelines and the F.A.Q. located below prior to contacting the City with questions about the application process.
Background Check
Each owner listed on the application is required to undergo a mandatory background check to demonstrate that they do not provide “good cause” for denial per Fairfield Municipal Code Sections 10E.7 and 10E.21. Each owner must submit their information for a preliminary background check using the link below. There is a fee of $300.00 per owner. Proof of submission (email verification, receipt) must be submitted with the commercial cannabis business permit application.
Submit for Mandatory Preliminary Background Check
“Owner" means any of the following:
- Each person identified as an " owner" of the commercial cannabis business on any permit, license, or other authorization issued by the State or the City.
- Each person having an ownership interest in the commercial cannabis business, unless the interest is solely a security, lien, or encumbrance on the property that will be used by the commercial cannabis business.
- If the commercial cannabis business is a publicly traded company, the chief executive officer, or any person with an aggregate ownership interest of 5 percent or more.
- Each person who participates in the direction, control, or management of the commercial cannabis business.
- Any person designated by an owner as responsible for the day- to- day operations of the commercial cannabis business.
Business Location
Chapter 10E of the Fairfield Municipal Code and the Zoning Ordinance establish the zones where commercial cannabis business may be located. Retail cannabis businesses may not be located within the area bounded by Pennsylvania Ave., Travis Blvd., and Gateway Blvd. All commercial cannabis businesses must be located a minimum of 600-ft from sensitive uses including public or private k-12 schools, commercial day care centers, and youth centers.
When searching for a potential cannabis business location, City staff can answer general zoning questions by email, phone, or in person at City Hall. However, City staff cannot verify if a potential location meets all sensitive use distance requirements until such time as the ZVL is issued. The City has created a preliminary list of locations of sensitive uses requiring a 600-foot buffer, located below. This list is current as of October 15, 2020. Note that there may be additional sensitive uses not listed.
Zoning Verification Letter
A request for a Zoning Verification Letter may take up to 5 business days to complete.
Prior to submitting an application for a commercial cannabis business permit, an applicant must obtain a Zoning Verification Letter (ZVL) from the Community Development Department, confirming that the proposed business location meets City zoning requirements. To secure this letter, an applicant must make a written request specifying the proposed building location and intended use of the building (cannabis retail, manufacturing, or testing lab). The fee for a ZVL is $218.00 and is due to the Community Development Department when the request is made.
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