HEMPHQ GETTING STARTED · CALIFORNIA
Learn the questions to ask, the official starting points to consult, and what to investigate before buying seed or planting.
STEP 1 · BEFORE YOU SPEND A DOLLAR
Identify your proposed location, whether you intend to grow fiber or grain, and who may buy your crop. Before committing funds, verify the licensing program that applies to your location and planting year.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service — Domestic Hemp Production Program
Find state and tribal plan information ↗USDA hemp program ↗See the USDA-sourced state program contacts below. Check which authority licenses your proposed operation.STATE-SPECIFIC RESEARCH · EARLIER SOURCE REVIEW OCTOBER 10, 2026
industrialhemp@cdfa.ca.gov · (916) 518-3283
California requires industrial hemp growers to register with the county agricultural commissioner before cultivation; confirm local restrictions and approved sites/cultivars with that office.
Find your county agricultural commissioner and submit the appropriate grower registration before planting.
CDFA currently lists a $900 annual grower registration fee; a county may assess additional local fees. Confirm current amounts with the county commissioner.
This is a source-reviewed starting point, not an exhaustive list of requirements. Confirm current rules with the licensing authority for your crop year.
USDA NATIONAL DIRECTORY · VERIFIED SOURCE
USDA plan listing: USDA-approved state plan (USDA list updated February 17, 2026).
Program contact published by USDA: industrialhemp@cdfa.ca.gov · 916-518-3283
USDA lists a state hemp production plan for California. Start with the state program, but verify the responsible licensing authority for your specific parcel, particularly on tribal land.
Contact details were published in USDA's March 2025 directory and have not been re-confirmed directly with the state for 2026. Check the linked agency page for changes.
Scope: The plan designation and directory contact are supported by USDA listings; they do not verify application forms, fees, deadlines, county zoning, or the latest agency personnel. Those items remain subject to direct confirmation.
YOUR LOCATION
Local zoning, land use, and municipal requirements can depend on your specific parcel. HempHQ has not verified county ordinances for this state. Enter a county to see a research reminder, not a zoning determination.
STATE REQUIREMENTS · ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONFIRM
Use USDA's state and tribal plan directory to determine the relevant licensing program, then confirm directly with the agency that handles your location.
USDA plan directory ↗Ask the licensing authority about application requirements, deadlines, eligibility, background checks, growing-site registration, and approvals needed before planting. Confirm the latest California requirements directly with the licensing authority; this checklist does not cover every rule.
Confirm which varieties and seed records are required, how lots and growing locations are reported, and any applicable USDA Farm Service Agency reporting obligations.
Federal program information ↗Ask the applicable licensing authority how pre-harvest sampling, laboratory testing, harvest windows, handling, and recordkeeping work for your planting year.
FEES · SEE SOURCE-REVIEWED DETAILS ABOVE
Some published fees are summarized in the state-specific section above. Other costs remain unverified. Obtain the current fee schedule directly from the responsible authority. Also budget for land, seed, labor, equipment, testing, storage, transport, and a realistic buyer or processor.
We do not publish estimated government fee totals without a dated official source; see the source-reviewed section where available.
YOUR FIRST ACTIONS
Your selections are saved in this browser on this device. They are personal planning notes, not evidence of legal compliance.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Verification status: Selected official state pages reviewed October 10, 2026. This is a partial review; local requirements and remaining program details have not been individually verified.