Cannabis Cultivation Regulatory Program

Welcome to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board’s cannabis cultivation regulatory program website. We regulate water quality impacts from cannabis grows in the hydrologic region of the San Francisco Bay Area, which approximately corresponds to the nine counties of the Bay Area (map of Regional Water Boards).

In October 2017, the State Water Board adopted requirements for cannabis cultivation to reduce impacts from discharges of waste and water diversions associated with cannabis cultivation activities. Cannabis cultivators are now required to obtain licenses and meet all state and local environmental regulations including the California Water Code and Basin Plan, as well as the new Cannabis Policy and Cannabis General Order. Cannabis cultivation can cause significant environmental damage, including discharges of polluted wastes to surface water and groundwater, erosion and sedimentation of surface water bodies, and illegal diversions of surface water.

Visit the Cannabis Cultivation Programs Registration Portal to enroll for coverage under the Cannabis General Order or to file for a cannabis Small Irrigation Use Registration water right.

State Water Board Cannabis Cultivation Homepage

For information about the Cannabis Policy and Cannabis General Order, trainings around the State, and enforcement for cannabis cultivators discharging waste to waters of the State without a permit or diverting water without an appropriate water right, see the State Water Board’s Cannabis Cultivation Programs homepage.

State Water Board's Cannabis Cultivation Policy

For information on the Cannabis Policy, which establishes principles and guidelines for the diversion and use of water, land disturbances, and the activities related to cannabis cultivation to protect water quantity and quality, see the State Water Board’s Cannabis Cultivation Policy homepage.

State Water Board's Cannabis Cultivation Water Quality

For information on cannabis cultivation water quality programs to address water quality impacts from cannabis cultivation and associated activities on private property, see the State Water Board’s Cannabis Cultivation Water Quality homepage.

State Water Board's Cannabis Cultivation Water Rights

For information on the development of principles and guidelines for diversion and use of water for cannabis cultivation and water rights information related to cannabis cultivation, see the State Water Board’s Cannabis Cultivation Water Rights homepage.

Other State and Regional Water Board Permits That May Apply

This list is not exhaustive. Please contact the Regional Water Board for assistance if you have questions about whether an activity impacts water quality and needs a permit.