Establishing a cannabis business in Boston

You need to provide a number of details, including what type of license you are applying for. We will also need to know:

• what types of extractions you will be performing (if any), and
• all of the owners of the business.

You can’t take part in a cannabis business seeking approval — or planning to seek approval — from the City of Boston if you are an employee, or an immediate family member of an employee, of the:

• City of Boston
• Zoning Board of Appeal
• Boston Licensing Board
• Boston Public Health Commission
• Boston Zoning Commission, or 
• Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a the Boston Planning and Development Agency.

Cannabis online application

To apply for the permit, visit the City’s Inspectional Services Department:

1010 Massachusetts Avenue
5th floor, Counter #1
Boston, MA 02118

For many reasons, Inspectional Services may deny your permit. If your permit is denied, you must file an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeal.

Neighborhood Services and the Office of Emerging Industries will work with you to begin the community review process. This process includes:

• providing you with a list of abutters near your potential business
• scheduling a public meeting date in an accessible location, and
• informing you of the mandatory public notice requirements involved.

A Neighborhood Services representative will attend the public meeting. They are there to make sure you comply with City and state cannabis public meeting requirements. After the meeting, the Boston Cannabis Board will review and approve or deny your application.

If you are approved by the Boston Cannabis Board, you will work with the Office of Emerging Industries to negotiate a Host Community Agreement. Once an agreement is executed, the City can schedule a Zoning Board of Appeal date to hear your case.

If the Zoning Board of Appeal approves your conditional use permit, you will then have to go through the state application process with the Cannabis Control Commission. The City of Boston will provide the commission a document that shows you have executed a Host Community Agreement.

If the Cannabis Control Commission approves your establishment, it will notify the City of Boston.

After receiving final approval from the state, all licensed cannabis businesses in Boston must register as a business with the City Clerk's Office. The filing fee is $65. We have more information on how to apply for a business certificate.