Council recently approved proposed bylaw changes to allow for the retail sale and consumption of cannabis in Calgary when it becomes a legalized substance.
Cannabis will continue to be illegal until the government confirms the legalization date. The City will process applications for cannabis stores but will only begin to make decisions once the date of legalization is known and the federal and provincial laws are in force.
The City started accepting applications for Cannabis Stores on April 24, 2018. Applications will be circulated to Community Associations and they can expect to start seeing these applications soon. Click here to see the applications near you.
Important information about cannabis businesses for Community Associations:
What Should I know about Cannabis Stores?
Council has approved a new definition for cannabis retailing in the Land Use Bylaw. This new use is called “Cannabis Store” and uses a similar approach to that of liquor stores however, has its own unique rules and guidelines:
- A cannabis store business displays and sells cannabis, and must have a provincial retail cannabis licence
- A cannabis store must be a stand-alone use, which means it cannot be combined with another use, such as a convenience store. However, cannabis stores can occur in a multi-tenant building or as part of a mixed-use development
- Cannabis consumption in the store is not allowed. Cannabis Stores allow for cannabis counselling and the secondary retail sale or rental of cannabis merchandise
- Cannabis stores are not the only new use related to cannabis however, Community Associations can expect to see higher numbers of this use being requested. You can read about the other uses, cannabis facility and cannabis counselling, here
What permits do cannabis stores need? What role do community associations play?
- A Development Permit, Building Permit and a Business Licence are required to start a Cannabis Store in Calgary
- Cannabis Stores are a discretionary use and are subject to:
- Circulation to your Community Association and adjacent neighbours,
- A review by the Development Authority
- Notice posting and advertisement
- Applications can be appealed to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
What are the separation distances between cannabis stores and other uses?
- There is a 300 metre separation distance between cannabis stores, except in C-R2, C-R3, and CR20/C20/R20 (commercial residential) land uses
- There is a 150 m separation from the property line of schools, and from emergency shelters
- Cannabis stores cannot be within 10 m of a childcare service or be located beside a liquor store
- The province requires a 100 m separation distance from the property line of School Reserves, Municipal and School Reserve Parcels and provincial health care facilities (as defined by the province). If Municipal and School Reserve or School Reserve parcel is vacant, a cannabis store may be allowed within the 100 m however, would be granted a time limited development permit
- Administration was also asked to look into adding setback distances for payday loans, pawn shops and places of worship. The City will report back to Council through the Standing Policy Committee on Planning and Urban Development on June 14, 2018. As a result of Council’s decision additional setback rules may be added. You can learn more about separation distances here
What should I consider when reviewing cannabis store files?
- The Development Authority has created Cannabis Store Guidelines to help make decisions on requests for reducing separation distances. We encourage you to view the document to understand the Development Authority’s intent and to help make decisions
- The separation distances to other cannabis stores and to Municipal and School Reserve Parcels can be reduced at the Development Authority’s discretion, but the distance to schools and emergency shelters can only by 10%
- The Federation encourages communities to engage with impacted residents, and respond to applications in a way that reflects the community residents. In addition, we encourage communities to use good planning rationale and focus on the intended use, rather than user, when forming a response
Please contact Brandy MacInnis at Brandy.MacInnis@calgary.ca 403-268-5446 if you require further information on the applications or have questions about the project.