The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has finalized the Rules and Regulations for Cannabis Consumption Permits. These Rules and Regulations govern the process for requesting a permit and the operating standards associated with the permit. To obtain a permit, applicants must:

submit the Cannabis Consumption Permit Application and comply with either:

Structural Requirements for Type A facilities (facilities with no on-site product preparation) or

Structural Requirements for Type B facilities (facilities with limited on-site product preparation).

Section 23 of the Rules was amended in December 2022 to allow sale of non-cannabis products. Establishments that wish to sell such products should submit a Food_Facility_Permit_Exemption request.

Prior to finalizing the rules, SFDPH considered public comments that were submitted during the comment period that ended October 21, 2018.

Cannabis Smoking Room Ventilation Requirements

The Rules and Regulations for Article 8A of the San Francisco Health Code require the approval of a Cannabis Smoking Room Ventilation Proposal before the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection will issue a mechanical permit for facilities that have smoking rooms. The Requirements for Ventilation in Cannabis Smoking Rooms govern the review and compliance assessment.

Medical Cannabis Dispensary Permits

On January 5, 2018, Article 16 of the San Francisco Police Code went into effect in the City and County of San Francisco. Article 16 establishes a regulatory and permitting scheme for cannabis businesses. Also on January 5, 2018, amendments to Article 33 of San Francisco's Health Code went into effect. Article 33 regulates medical cannabis dispensaries.

The following changes were made to Article 33:

Starting January 1, 2018, a person may not file and the Department of Public Health may not accept an application for a medical cannabis dispensary permit.
A cooperative or collective that distributes cannabis to more than 10 persons during any consecutive 30-day period will be presumed to have 10 or more members, and will require a permit under Article 33.
A medical cannabis dispensary must be operated from a fixed place of business. It may not be operated out of a bus, truck, car, van, or any other mobile location or location that is capable of being mobile.
Starting January 5, 2018, a medical cannabis dispensary that meets the eligibility criteria in Section 3322 of the San Francisco Health Code and receives authorization from the City and County of San Francisco and the State of California may Sell Adult Use Cannabis and Cannabis Products for a period of 120 days.
Starting April 1, 2018, medical cannabis dispensaries in San Francisco were no longer authorized by Article 33 to engage in the cultivation of cannabis.

The Department of Public Health will continue processing permits for businesses who submitted their applications prior to January 5, 2018. If you have any questions, please send an email to Douglas.Obana@sfdph.org.

For more information about changes to San Francisco's cannabis laws, please visit the San Francisco Office of Cannabis.

Making a Complaint

If you would like to make a complaint regarding MCD permits, you may call 311.

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Helpful Links

San Francisco Laws and Links:

Rules, Forms and Guidance:

Related documents:

California State Agencies:

Program Contact

Cannabis Consumption Permits

Cannabis Smoking Room Ventilation Requirements

Medical Cannabis Dispensary Permits

The following changes were made to Article 33:

Making a Complaint