Cannabis Cultivation Permitting

Cannabis cultivators applying for an Annual License from the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) must have a Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) Agreement or written verification that one is not needed. CDFW requires an LSA Agreement when a project activity may substantially adversely affect fish and wildlife resources. LSA Agreements provide actions to avoid and minimize adverse impacts and provide protections to California’s fish and wildlife resources.

Licensing Requirements

The following Lake or Streambed Alteration (LSA) documents will fulfill requirements for an annual cultivation license with DCC:

  • A final LSA Agreement; or
  • Written Verification that an LSA Agreement is not needed

If you have an LSA Agreement, Operation of Law (OpLaw) letter, Notification Not Required (NNR) letter, No Agreement Needed (NAN) letter, or Self-Certification letter, you need to verify that the documentation is up to date. If your LSA Agreement or OpLaw letter is expired or will expire prior to license renewal, or if your project has changed since receiving an NNR, NAN, or Self-Certification letter, please see Tips for Keeping your LSA Documentation Up to Date (PDF).

Note: All final documentation provided by CDFW will need to be uploaded to DCC’s licensing portal.

Letter of Completed Work (LCW)

If you have completed all project activities authorized in your LSA agreement, you may be eligible for a Letter of Completed Work. Please reach out to your LSA Regional Contact (PDF) for next steps.

Agreement Types

When you notify CDFW of your project, you will be asked to indicate which type of LSA Agreement you are requesting. For cannabis cultivation projects, there are three agreement types that you can select: Self-Certification, Standard Agreement, or General Agreement.

To avoid delays, it is important to provide all required information when first submitting an LSA notification and promptly responding to any incomplete letter requesting additional information.

Self-Certification

If you believe your cannabis cultivation project will not substantially modify any river, stream, or lake, you may complete the online self-certification. CDFW will review the information you submit and determine whether you need to submit a notification. If you do not need to submit a notification, CDFW will provide you with written verification that a Lake or Streambed Alteration (LSA) Agreement is not required. There is no fee for a self-certification.

Please note that if any part of your cultivation is located outdoors, you are ineligible for self-certification.

Standard Agreement

A Standard Agreement applies to any project that does not qualify for other Agreement types (i.e., gravel, rock, or sand extraction, timber harvesting, general agreement (cannabis-only), or routine maintenance). A Standard Agreement can include activities associated with cannabis cultivation.

Standard Agreements may be regular term (5 years or less) or long term (longer than 5 years).

General Agreement

The General Agreement for Cannabis Cultivation applies only to the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or repair of stream crossings (a bridge, culvert, or rock ford) and water diversions on non-finfish rivers, streams, and lakes for the purpose of cannabis cultivation.

The General Agreement for Cannabis Cultivation is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Upon receipt of the notification, certifications, and applicable fee(s), CDFW shall authorize the Covered Activity or Activities described in the Notification.

The General Agreement expires 5 years after the effective date. General Agreements cannot be amended or extended.

Before you apply, CDFW recommends you:

Need help?

New! Cannabis LSA Documentation Identification Tool. This tool will guide you through a series of yes/no questions, ending with a recommendation on how to obtain the appropriate LSA documentation for DCC licensing purposes. It is not intended for those who have already received written verification (Self-Certification, No Agreement Needed, Notification Not Required, or OpLaw letters). 

Environmental Permit Information Management System (EPIMS)

To receive appropriate LSA documentation for DCC's licensing requirements, you will need to first submit one of CDFW's cannabis-related applications (Self-Certification, Standard Agreement, or General Agreement) through our Environmental Permit Information Management System (EPIMS).

Need EPIMS Help? Visit our EPIMS overview page or call 1 (833) 303-7467

EPIMS Questions? EPIMSHELP@wildlife.ca.gov
Project Specific Questions? CDFW Regional Office (PDF)
Cannabis Questions? AskCannabis@wildlife.ca.gov
LSA Questions? LSA@wildlife.ca.gov

Helpful Tips

CDFW Cannabis Program
P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244
AskCannabis@wildlife.ca.gov