The following licences/authorizations are required for the operation of a cannabis retail store(s) in Ontario:
To operate a retail store and sell recreational cannabis, you must apply for a Retail Operator Licence. To get this licence, you must meet all of the eligibility criteria set out in the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations.
For full details on the eligibility requirements for a Retail Operator Licence, please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards.
Additionally, a person is not eligible for Retail Operator Licence:
All applicants and interested parties are subject to background checks as part of the eligibility review process.
For more information about Retail Operator Licence fees, see the Fees and Payment section of this guide.
Once approved, you will receive a Retail Operator Licence, which will contain your licence number, expiry date and any conditions on the licence.
To operate a cannabis retail store, you must have a Retail Store Authorization.
The submission of a Retail Store Authorization (RSA) application does not guarantee its approval. The determination that an RSA application satisfies requirements is made based on all information available at the time of issuance of the RSA.
The Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations require that each store meet certain requirements. Requirements relate to such matters as the store layout and location.
The regulations also give residents of the municipality in which the proposed store would be located the opportunity to provide their input.
Before applying for a Retail Store Authorization, you must have submitted an application for a Retail Operator Licence or hold a Retail Operator Licence issued by the AGCO.
A proposed Retail Store:
Must be located in a municipality that permits cannabis retail stores.
The distance between a proposed retail store and a school or private school is measured by a straight line from the closest point of the school property or boundary as described above to the closest point of the proposed retail store.
If either the store and/or the school is located on a floor other than the ground floor or main level in its respective building, the measure of the 150 metre distance may take into account the vertical distance in assessing compliance with this requirement.
The above rules do not apply if the private school is located on a reserve or if the private school only offers classes through the Internet.
All retail store locations will be required to undergo a 15-day public notice process. For more information, see the Public Notice for a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization section of this guide. The Public Notice process is not required for stores on First Nations reserves. The location of the store is approved by the Band Council.
For more information, see the Retail Store Location section of this guide.
Please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations for a list of full requirements.
For full details on the eligibility requirements for a Retail Store Authorization, please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards.
Some of the requirements for an applicant to be eligible for a Retail Store Authorization include:
the applicant must not have made a false statement or provided false information in the application.
A Licensed Producer and its affiliates are eligible to apply for a single RSA. The proposed cannabis retail store must be located on or within the site set out in the federally issued production licence.
For more information, see the Retail Store Authorization section of this guide.
For more information about Retail Store Authorization fees, see the Licence and Authorization Fees section of this guide.
Prior to starting a Retail Store Authorization application, we recommend that you:
A Cannabis Retail Manager licence is required by any individual of each retail store location and/or anyone who wish to perform one or more of the following functions in a cannabis retail store:
For more information, visit the Cannabis Retail Manager Licence section of this guide.
For full details on the eligibility requirements for a Cannabis Retail Store Manager Licence, please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations.
Some of the eligibility requirements that an applicant must meet include:
All applicants are subject to background checks as part of the eligibility review process.
For more information about Cannabis Retail Manager licence fees, see the Fees and Payment section of this guide.
To submit your online application, the following information will be required:
Cannabis Retail Operators must keep an up-to-date record of each location for which their RMLs are accountable. The record must be made readily available for review upon the request of AGCO Inspectors.