Planning Commission Hearing - Socially Equitable Cannabis Program

The County of San Diego’s (County) Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing as follows:

Project Name: Socially Equitable Cannabis Program

Date: April 10, 2026

Description: This is a request for the Planning Commission to provide a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors (Board) on the proposed Socially Equitable Cannabis Program (SECP) including draft Zoning Ordinance amendments and the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). The SECP also includes amendments to the Regulatory Code and the Social Equity Program, which fall outside of the scope of the Commission’s purview, however any input from the Commission will be shared with the Board.

The SECP would allow for new cannabis facilities in the unincorporated areas of the county, including cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, microbusiness, retail, onsite consumption lounges, temporary cannabis events, and testing laboratories. The SECP was prepared in response to the Board's January 27, 2021 (4) direction to develop amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and County Regulatory Code to allow for permitting and licensing of new commercial cannabis uses.

On January 14, 2026 (3), staff presented program options to the Board based on stakeholder feedback. These options included proceeding with a program aligned with State standards (Program Option A) in addition to other options that would expand regulations to incorporate local requirements for buffers, sensitive uses, allowed facility types, and separation requirements. At that hearing, the Board directed staff to pursue Program Option A, which aligns local standards with state standards for buffers from sensitive uses and is consistent with the Board’s original January 2021 direction. Under State standards, cannabis facilities would be required to be located at least 600-feet from schools, daycares, and youth centers.

The SECP includes four components:

1) Regulatory requirements, including amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance and the Regulatory Code,

2) a licensing and permitting structure and procedures,

3) a PEIR to analyze potential environmental impacts from the program, and

4) a Social Equity Program promoting fair access to the cannabis industry for those who have been impacted by cannabis-related criminalization and the War on Drugs.

Hearing Information

• Date: April 10, 2026
• Time: 9:00 a.m.
• Location: County Operations Center (COC) Hearing Room, 5520 Overland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123

Public Participation

Those wishing to participate in the meeting and/or comment should visit the Planning Commission website.

If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Commission Secretary at PDS.PlanningCommission@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities or Requesting Interpretation

Agendas and records are available in alternative formats upon request. Contact the Planning and Development Services office at (858) 694-3003 with questions or to request a disability-related accommodation. Individuals requiring sign language interpreters should contact the Countywide ADA Title II Coordinator at (619) 531-4908. To the extent reasonably possible, requests for accommodation or assistance should be submitted at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting so that arrangements may be made. An area in the front of the room can be designated for individuals requiring the use of wheelchair or other accessible devices. Please visit the Planning Commission website for more details.