Hayward to open screening process for new commercial cannabis permit applicants

HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 20, 2021— The City of Hayward will begin accepting applications starting Jan. 3 through Feb. 28 from individuals and entities interested in being screened for eligibility to potentially operate a commercial cannabis business in the city.

The screening process is a pre-requisite to being invited to apply for a commercial cannabis permit and associated land-use approvals necessary to open a commercial cannabis business in the city—and begins with submission of a Preliminary Determination of Eligibility Application to the Planning Division of the Hayward Department Development Services.

The screening process entails a criminal background check and City staff evaluation of the applicant’s proposed business location, business and operating plans, and other criteria listed here in Section 6-14.12 of the City’s Municipal Code.

At this time, the City is accepting applications for the following commercial cannabis activities:

• Cultivation
• Delivery, including non-storefront retail sales
• Distribution
• Manufacturing
• Microbusinesses
• Testing laboratory

Applications for new storefront retail dispensaries are not currently being accepted; however, non-storefront retail operations, as part of a commercial cannabis delivery operation, or ancillary storefront retail, as part of a commercial cannabis microbusiness will continue to be accepted until further notice.

For more information about administration of the City’s commercial cannabis program, including regulatory definitions of cannabis business types, go online here to the City of Hayward website.

Any questions about this process from potential applicants should be forwarded in writing to Hayward acting- Planning Manager Jeremy Lochirco at Jeremy.lochirco@hayward-ca.gov.