For years, some cannabis businesses in Los Angeles have operated with active city and state cannabis licenses without ever completing the full building permit process for their facilities.

That gap is becoming much harder to ignore.

As part of the 2027 cannabis license renewal cycle, the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) has established a milestone designed to move existing operators toward completing the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) permitting process.

For operators who have been running their businesses for years but never submitted architectural plans or completed plan check, this creates a path to finally bring the facility up to current requirements.

What LA Cannabis Operators Need for 2027 Renewal

The 2027 DCR renewal cycle runs from September 1 through November 2, 2026.

During the renewal process, licensees must submit the required DCR form and attest that they have either:

• Retained a licensed architect or engineer to prepare building plans;

• Already obtained a building permit application number from LADBS; or

• Requested DCR’s one-time hardship extension if they have not yet completed either step.

The hardship extension only applies to the current milestone. It does not delay the requirements operators will face during future renewal cycles.

For many established operators, the first option is where the process begins: bringing in a licensed design professional to document the existing facility and prepare the plans necessary to move through LADBS review.

Why This Matters Even If You’re Already Operating

Holding a cannabis license and having a fully permitted facility are not necessarily the same thing.

An operator may have been conducting business from the same location for years, but if the facility never went through the appropriate building permit and plan-check process, there can still be substantial work required.

The first step is understanding what LADBS currently has on record for the property. DCR specifically recommends obtaining historical records such as existing building permits, plot plans and the property’s most recent Certificate of Occupancy.

From there, the design team can compare the existing conditions against the approved building record and determine what needs to be documented, corrected or permitted.

Depending on the facility, that process can involve architectural plans as well as coordination around occupancy, egress, accessibility, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire and life-safety requirements.

2028 Is the Next Milestone

The 2027 requirement is only one step in DCR’s larger process.

DCR has made clear that retaining an architect or engineer now is necessary to prepare for the 2028 renewal cycle, when operators will need an LADBS Clearance Summary Worksheet.

That makes 2027 an important opportunity for operators to address outstanding permitting issues rather than waiting until the next renewal deadline is approaching.

How Studio Bliss Can Help

Studio Bliss works with cannabis operators in Los Angeles to navigate facility design, permitting and compliance requirements.

For existing operators who never completed the building permit process, we can help assess the current facility, review available building records, document existing conditions, prepare the required plans and coordinate the project through the LADBS permitting process.

If your cannabis business is already operating but you’re unsure whether your facility is current with DCR and LADBS requirements, now is the time to figure out where you stand.

Contact Studio Bliss to discuss your facility and the path toward meeting Los Angeles’ upcoming renewal requirements.