Anyone interested in applying for a retail marijuana establishment license must schedule a pre-licensing meeting. This is a chance for the applicant to share information regarding the size, scope and feasibility of the proposed establishment and for the city to provide a more complete understanding of the licensing process. All information discussed is confidential. For more information on what will be discussed at this meeting, view this document (Pulled for revision). To schedule a pre-licensing meeting, contact AMED at 303.739.7833 or marijuana@auroragov.org.

Confirm the zoning of the property under consideration prior to signing a lease or purchasing the property. Each address in the city is located in a particular zone district that carries with it certain allowed uses and some prohibited uses. In addition, marijuana establishments must meet certain requirements (which vary depending on the type of establishment) regarding minimum distances from other kinds of land and/or building uses. To determine if the building in question meets the necessary zoning and buffering requirements, contact AMED or view the maps for stores or for all other establishments.

Each building address has an approved occupancy issued by the city’s Building Division that is described on a document called the Certificate of Occupancy, or C.O. As with zoning, the approved occupancy of a space governs what uses are allowed in the building, but it is more specific in nature and relates solely to the individual building.

Sometimes the zoning may be approved but not the C.O., or vice versa, so it is critical to contact the Building Division to ensure everything meets city requirements. If changes to the existing occupancy or any part of the building itself are necessary, a meeting with a plans examiner and your licensed contractor is highly recommended.

• Familiarize yourself with the city of Aurora's Code of Ordinances, regulations, and industry-specific building requirements.

• Consult the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division regarding state requirements and the process of acquiring a key/owner badge, which all owners will need to provide to AMED prior to opening.

• Contact AMED at at 303.739.7833 or marijuana@auroragov.org to set up an appointment for fingerprinting for all owners.

Prepare the AMED application packet, including all included forms and any supplementary documentation requested. Use this packet to apply for a retail store, and this packet for all other establishments.

While some operational details may still be unclear at the application stage, it is to your advantage to include as much detail about the proposed operation as possible. This is especially the case for proposed stores, given the fact that store licenses are highly competitive. Any operational details not thoroughly covered at the application stage will need to be accounted for before the license is granted.

Once you have completed the application packet for your establishment, contact AMED to schedule an application-intake meeting. At this meeting, AMED staff will ensure that the $15,000 license fee and all needed documents are included with the application packet.

A building permit issued from the Building Division is required before any work, including demolition, can begin at your establishment. Construction work will require that construction drawings be submitted for a plan review to ensure that all new work meets the current building codes. After approval of your construction plans, a building permit will be issued. Only an Aurora-licensed contractor can be issued the permit. For a list of licensed contractors, visit the Contractor Lookup page.

For questions about building permits, including fees and identifying the current C.O. for your building, contact the Building Division. They also have plan-review submittal checklists with the minimum information needed to review and approve any construction work that needs to occur. A pre-submittal meeting also should be scheduled with the Building Division.

Prepare and submit to AMED updated details for any relevant operational processes, including, where applicable:

• Security plan

• Extraction plan (including specs for any extraction equipment)

• Infusion plan

• Ventilation plan

• Mold plan

• Hazardous-materials checklist

• Industrial-hygienist or professional-engineer report

As construction occurs on your project, the Building Division requires that inspections of the work be performed to ensure compliance with the approved plans. To ensure the fastest completion of your project, a pre-construction meeting will be scheduled, the inspection process will be explained, and key staff will be introduced to the contractor’s personnel.

The Building Division offers free on-site inspection consultations that provide an opportunity to ask questions and obtain information about inspection requirements directly from the building inspectors. After all work has been completed and passed inspection, the Building Division will issue a C.O. The use or occupancy of the building is not permitted until all work is inspected and approved, and a C.O. is issued. Contact the Building Division for more information.