What Minnesota licenses and local approvals must I secure before October 31?

To open a Minnesota cannabis retail dispensary by October 15, the following licenses and approvals are required before making any sales:

State Licenses From the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM)

• Cannabis Retailer License: Apply and gain approval from the OCM through the Accela Citizen Portal. This involves:

  • Passing a third-party background check for all true parties of interest.OCM_Qualified_Applicant_Guide_tcm1202-669481.pdf

  • Submitting an attestation of a labor peace agreement signed by a bona fide labor organization (required for most business types).OCM_Qualified_Applicant_Guide_tcm1202-669481.pdf

  • Uploading all required business, security, training, and standard operating procedure documents as required by OCM.OCM-Cannabis-Overview-Application.pdf+1

  • Paying the $2,500 application/license fee.OCM_Citizen_Portal_Application_Creation_User_Guide_tcm1202-669479.pdf

• Endorsements: Some businesses (like microbusiness or mezzobusiness) may require a retail operations endorsement to be eligible for retail activity.1738942860939.pdf+1

• Receive OCM Preliminary Approval, you must review and grant preliminary application approval based on background and labor peace documentation before you can proceed further.OCM_Qualified_Applicant_Guide_tcm1202-669481.pdf

Local Government Approvals

• Local Zoning Compliance Certification preliminary approval, you must secure your proposed storefront premises and submit final site details to OCM. OCM will then forward your updated application to the city, town, or county for certification of compliance with all local zoning laws, building code, and (as applicable) fire code.OCM_Qualified_Applicant_Guide_tcm1202-669481.pdf

• Local Retail Registration After your premises pass inspection and once OCM issues your state license, you must obtain a local retail registration from your city, town, or county before retail sales are allowed.pdf.pdf+1

  • The local unit of government may charge a registration fee (typically up to $500 initially).pdf.pdf

  • Some local governments have limited the number of retail registrations based on population, so timing and early engagement are critical.pdf.pdf

  • Separate from zoning compliance and required for each retail location.OCM_Qualified_Applicant_Guide_tcm1202-669481.pdf

Final State Authorization

• Final OCM Site Inspection OCM will perform a physical site inspection to ensure the location, operations, and security meet all requirements.

• Payment of State License Fee: After passing your inspection, pay the final license fee (if not already paid at application submission).

Summary Table

Approval/licensing step	Issuer	Required before sales?
Cannabis Retailer License	MN Office of Cannabis Mgmt	Yes
OCM preliminary approval	MN Office of Cannabis Mgmt	Yes (to proceed)
Zoning compliance certification	Local city/town/county	Yes
OCM final site inspection	MN Office of Cannabis Mgmt	Yes
Local retail registration	Local city/town/county	Yes

No cannabis may be sold or transferred to customers until BOTH the state license (with all required endorsements) and local retail registration are issued and valid. Entering a lease or preparing a retail space before securing these approvals is done at your own risk.PitfallType-Description.csv+2

For further support, review the detailed workflows and checklists in the OCM applicant guides and confirm any local requirements directly with your city or county.OCM_Citizen_Portal_Application_Creation_User_Guide_tcm1202-669479.pdf+2