Can my town ban cannabis delivery?

It depends on the province. Saskatchewan’s guide for municipalities says a municipality can ban stores but cannot ban delivery, consumption or growing at home. Check your province’s rules for other areas.

Does no store in my town mean cannabis is illegal there?

No. Store approval and possession rules are separate. Legal online sales and delivery may still be available from the authorized seller in your province or territory.

Why some towns have no cannabis store: local opt-outs and approvals

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · Based on official government sources

If our map shows no licensed store in your town, that is usually not a gap in the data. Provinces and territories license cannabis retailers, but local governments often decide whether a store can open at all, and where. Some communities voted to keep stores out. Others allow them but control zoning, business licences and spacing from schools. This guide explains the main official mechanisms in each region.

This is general information, not legal advice. Each section links to the regulator or legislation it is based on.

Ontario: a one-time opt-out

Ontario municipalities had a single chance to opt out of having private cannabis stores, by notifying the AGCO of a council resolution no later than January 22, 2019. A municipality that opted out can opt in at any time, but the AGCO notes that a decision to opt in is final. The AGCO publishes a list of municipalities that allow or prohibit stores.

Where stores are allowed, the AGCO says municipalities cannot create their own licensing system for cannabis retail or use zoning to treat cannabis stores differently from other uses. Provincial rules still apply: a store cannot be within 150 metres of a school or private school, measured as the regulation sets out.

Each new store application gets a 15-day public notice. During that period, residents of the municipality and the municipality itself can send a written objection through the AGCO’s online portal; anonymous objections are not accepted. The regulation limits the public-interest matters the Registrar considers to three: public health and safety, protecting youth and restricting their access, and preventing illicit activity. A First Nation band council can also ask that store deliveries not be made on its reserve, and the AGCO publishes a list of those reserves. See the Ontario guide.

British Columbia: no licence without a local recommendation

In B.C., the province cannot issue a store licence unless the local government or Indigenous Nation where the store would be located gives a positive recommendation. The local authority, which can be a municipality, regional district or local trust committee, may also decline to consider an application at all.

When a local authority does consider one, it must gather the views of nearby residents, for example by public notice, a public hearing or a referendum. Local governments can also restrict locations, require business licences, limit store hours and charge fees. See the British Columbia page.

Alberta: municipal approval first

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) requires municipal approval before it issues a store licence. Provincial rules keep stores at least 100 metres from a provincial health care facility, a school, or land designated as a school reserve. AGLC also states that the number of stores, their location and spacing, competition between them and concerns about community image are matters for the municipality.

Proposed stores, renewals and relocations are posted for objections, and AGLC considers objections received within seven days of posting. See the Alberta page.

Saskatchewan: municipalities and First Nations decide

Saskatchewan’s guide for municipalities explains that no retail permit will be issued in a municipality that has prohibited cannabis stores. A municipality can ban sales, but it cannot ban consumption, growing at home or delivery within its boundaries. Where stores are allowed, councils can use bylaws on matters such as location, separation distances, hours and signage. See the Saskatchewan page.

Manitoba: local plebiscites

Manitoba’s Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act lets a municipality hold a plebiscite on prohibiting the retail sale of cannabis, or on repealing an earlier prohibition. A plebiscite can start with a council resolution or with a petition signed by at least 20% of eligible voters, and it must be held on the day of general municipal elections. It passes with a majority of votes cast.

If voters approve a prohibition, no new retail cannabis licence can be issued for the area, and existing licences are cancelled six months after the vote. See the Manitoba page.

The territories

Yukon: stores must generally be at least 150 metres from an elementary or secondary school, unless a municipal bylaw or Ministerial Order allows otherwise, and municipalities can limit hours. See the Yukon page.
Northwest Territories: applicants must consult the community government and show that zoning allows the store and that a business licence will be issued where one is needed. Local governments may set their own distance rules, and mail orders are not shipped to communities where cannabis is prohibited. See the Northwest Territories page.
Nunavut: community consultation is required before a physical store is licensed. Municipal councils are asked for input, residents can send feedback, and the Minister considers the consultation report. Communities can add restrictions through zoning and business licensing. See the Nunavut page.

Where the government runs the stores

Health Canada lists Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories as having government-operated stores, so the store network there is run by or through the government retailer rather than built from private licence applications. A town without a store in these provinces generally reflects where the government retailer operates. See the Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island pages.

What this means when you search

A town with no store is not a town where cannabis is illegal. Possession and use rules are set separately, and in many places the legal online store still delivers. Our statistics page shows how store numbers vary across provinces and communities, and the map shows every licensed store we list.

Be wary of anyone selling outside the licensed system to fill the gap. How to tell a licensed cannabis store and legal delivery and online ordering explain the legal options, and how we verify listings explains why we list only licensed stores.

Frequently asked questions

Can an Ontario town still opt out of cannabis stores?: No. The opt-out deadline was January 22, 2019. A municipality that opted out can opt in at any time, but that decision is final.
Can my town ban cannabis delivery?: It depends on the province. Saskatchewan’s guide for municipalities says a municipality can ban stores but cannot ban delivery, consumption or growing at home. Check your province’s rules for other areas.
Can I object to a new cannabis store near me?: In Ontario, residents of the municipality can object in writing during the 15-day notice period. In Alberta, AGLC considers objections received within seven days of posting. In B.C., the local government or Indigenous Nation must gather residents’ views before it recommends a licence.
Does no store in my town mean cannabis is illegal there?: No. Store approval and possession rules are separate. Legal online sales and delivery may still be available from the authorized seller in your province or territory.

In our directory

Sources

Facts in this guide were taken from these official sources, checked October 27, 2026.

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