Marijuana Facility Registration Process

Overview

Each medical marijuana dispensary, dual licensee facility, marijuana cultivation facility, and marijuana infusion facility desiring to operate in Mesa must register with Mesa’s Planning Division.

The main steps in the process are:

1

Verify Eligibility
Review the Marijuana Facilities Ordinance and Marijuana Facility Map to verify eligibility.

2

Application Submittal
Prepare and submit all necessary documents for registration online.

3

Staff Review
Receive and review comments and revise and resubmit documents online.

4

Registration Approval or Denial
Receive approval or denial of the registration application.

 

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

Medical marijuana dispensaries, dual licensee facilities, marijuana cultivation facilities, and marijuana infusion facilities are permitted within Light Industrial and General Industrial zoning districts subject to the regulations found in Section 11-31-34 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Review the spacing requirements in Section 11-31-34 of the Zoning Ordinance and the Marijuana Facility map(PDF, 1021KB)  to ensure that the proposed site is eligible for registration.

 

Step 2: Application Submittal

Marijuana Facilities Registration applications must be submitted electronically via the DIMES portal. Select an Administrative Review application type and Marijuana Facility Registration as the sub-type.

Complete applications and fees are due each Monday by the end of the business day. The applicant is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information submitted to the City. Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted.

Required Documents:

  • Application - submitted through the DIMES portal
  • Property Owner Authorization(PDF, 162KB)
  • Marijuana Facility Registration Application Form(PDF, 226KB)
  • Project Narrative - describing how the proposed facility complies with the Mesa Zoning Ordinance including:
    • Operational characteristics such as operating hours, outdoor seating, drive-thru or delivery service, and If applicable, the name(s) and location(s) of any off-site marijuana cultivation facility or marijuana infusion facility, or both, associated with the marijuana dispensary or dual licensee facility, and its operations.
    • Written acknowledgement a security plan has been filed with the State and will operate in compliance with A.R.S. §36-2804(B)(1)(C) 
    • A table showing compliance with separation requirements of Section 11-31-34 (link)  in the Mesa Zoning Ordinance providing addresses with facility names and associated map detailing distances to nearest:
      • Marijuana facility (identify type)
      • Community Residence
      • Correctional Transitional Housing Facility
      • Social Service Facility
      • Public park
      • School (grades: K-12)
      • Public library
      • Church or place of worship
      • Day care/preschool
      • HOA open space
  • Floor Plan - showing the location of any dispensary, cultivation, infusion, storage, or customer waiting areas, their square feet, and their percentage of the building’s gross floor area
  • Site Plan - showing the location of parking and building entries
  • ADHS dispensary registration certificate and ATO or ADHS dispensary registration certificate, license, and ATO
  • Vicinity Map (note major cross streets)

 

Step 3: Staff Review

Staff will review the Marijuana Facility Registration application(PDF, 226KB)  for compliance with all appropriate standards, codes, specifications, and requirements and if deemed eligible for registration will place a temporary hold on the proposed location on the Marijuana Facility map(PDF, 1021KB) .

Staff will provide written comments within 16 working days identifying any requirements that need to be resolved before the registration can be approved.

The applicant will revise pertinent documents to address review comments and provide a written comment response letter stating how each review comment was addressed.

This process repeats until all requirements are met.

 

Step 4: Registration Approval or Denial

If all requirements of Section 11-31-34 of the Zoning Ordinance are met, the Planning Director will sign the Marijuana Facility’s Registration Certificate and staff will place a permeant place marker of the facility’s location on the Marijuana Facility map.  

If all requirements of Section 11-31-34 of the Zoning Ordinance cannot be met, the application will be denied, and staff will remove the proposed location from the Marijuana Facility map.