Your State-by-State Guide to Hemp Cultivation and Processing License Fees

Despite hemp's legalization on a federal level, states are still operating under a patchwork of regulations, including the fees necessary to obtain a hemp license.

From having no cultivation or processing fees in place to creating a tiered structure based on what industry members are producing, states have taken a wide variety of approaches to implementing hemp license costs.

Here, Hemp Grower has compiled cultivation fees, processing fees and other information you need to know to obtain a hemp license in every state across the U.S. You can either view the info on the interactive map below or in a list format beneath the map.

We will update this post regularly. Please let us know what additional application and licensing information you'd like to see on this post by emailing HG Editor Theresa Bennett at tbennett@gie.net.

Alabama

Cultivator Fees

• Initial fee: $200
• License fee per grow site: $1,000 (Includes one sample and analysis of one plot. The fee for sampling and analysis of additional harvests, varieties, and plots will be billed to the licensed grower. The fee for additional analyses is $250 each.)

Processor Fees

• Initial fee: $200
• License fee per processing site: $1,000   

Other Info

• $50 discount on applicants applying through Kelly Registration Solutions (the state department of agriculture’s online application processor)
• $1,000 change fee for any changes made after receipt of hemp license
• Annual seed dealer permit fees range from $15 to $700 depending on total gross receipt amount.

Alaska

Cultivator Fees

• Initial fee: $100
• Annual registration cost: $200
• Annual registration renewal: $50 (If an applicant files for renewal, a separate application and all required fees must be submitted for each class of registration, according to the department of agriculture.)

Processor Fees

• Initial fee: $100
• Annual registration for product not intended for human or animal consumption: $250
• Annual processor registration for product intended for human or animal consumption: $750
• Annual registration renewal: $50 (If an applicant files for renewal, a separate application and all required fees must be submitted for each class of registration, according to the department of agriculture.)     

Other Info

• Annual retailer registration: $300
• Product endorsement: $100 (Prior to being transported in the state or offered with or without compensation to the consumer, any hemp processed beyond its raw form and intended for human or animal consumption must be endorsed, according to the state department of agriculture.)
• Modification of product endorsement: $100
• Modification of registration: $50
• Pre-harvest collection for sampling: $250
• Transportation permit: $50
• Cost to use a wild, landrace, or seed of unknown origin: $1,200 (The department uses the fee to grow and test these seeds itself.)

Arizona

Cultivator Fees

• Annual grower fee: $1,000
• Annual nursery fee: $650
• Annual harvester fee: $100

Processor Fees

• Annual processing fee: $2,000

Other Info

• Annual transporter fee: $100
• A person, company, college or university conducting not-for-profit research may be exempted from the licensing fee(s).

Arkansas

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $50
• License fee: $200
• Site modification fee: $200
• Applied acreage fee: $50-$1,000
• Each applied greenhouse fee: $100
• Each GPS verification fee: $100
• Each harvest/sampling compliance fee: $100

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $50
• License fee: $200
• Site modification fee: $200
• Each GPS verification fee: $100
• Applied processor/handler fee: $500-$1,500

Other Info

• Seed dealer/labeler license: $250* *0.10 per 100 lb if sold under tonnage reporting system on all seed sold non-certified
• More information about seed fees is available here.

California

Cultivator Fees

• Annual registration fee: $900     

Processor Fees

• The state does not currently have registration or licensing requirements for processors (or transporters or labs.) Assembly Bill 45 and Senate Bill 235 would establish registration and fees for hemp manufacturers, according to a department of agriculture spokesperson.

Other Info

• Seed seller license: $40 registration fee plus assessment, which is $0.30/$100 sales                          

Colorado

Cultivator Fees

• Annual grower fees: $500 application fee, plus $5 per acre and/or $0.003 per square foot of indoor square footage
• Registrants selected for inspection and sampling shall pay a fee of $125 per inspection plus all laboratory costs. Registrants selected for inspection and sampling shall reimburse the Department of Agriculture for both fees and costs incurred by the department within 30 days of the date of the invoice.

Processor Fees

• Hempseed processor license: $150 (Those purchasing hempseeds for either resale or processing fall under Commodity Handler Program.)
• Hemp biomass/flower processor license: $275 (Those purchasing biomass and flower fall under Farm Products Program)
• Farm Products Dealers License: $275
• Agent License: $10
• Small Volume Dealers License: $25
• Cash Buyers License: $25

Other Info

• Annual registration fee for hemp production for R&D is the same as for commercial production

Connecticut      

Cultivator Fees

• License application fee: $50
• Licensing fee: $450 for first acre of land or greenhouse, $30 for each additional acre; max license fee is $3,000 (license expires after three years)
• Post-harvest inspection per sample: $50
• Per acre site modification fee: $30 per added acre (above the first acre)

Processor Fees

• License application fee for processor of hemp consumables: $50
• License renewal for processor of hemp consumables: $250 (License expires biennially on June 30^th)

Other Info

• Academia, state agencies and department research projects are exempt from license application fees and licensing fees
• Seed labeler registration: $100

Delaware

Cultivator Fees

• License fees: $300 (due at initial application and every three years)
• Growing site registration fee for each growing site: $500 (due annually)
• Growing site modification fee per site: $100

Processor Fees

• License fees: $300 (due at initial application and every three years)
• Facility registration fee: $1,000 (due annually)

Other Info

• Handler fee: $100 (due at time of application)

Florida

Cultivator Fees

• No fees (beyond required fingerprint and background check costs)

Processor Fees

• Permit to retail, wholesale, distribute, manufacture, store or process hemp extract for human ingestion: $650 (annual fee)
• Permit to wholesale, distribute, manufacture, store or process dairy products with hemp: $200 for initial cost, $100 for annual renewal

Other Info

• Retail permit: $650 (annual fee)
• Permit to distribute pet food in Florida: $40 to $3,500 (annual fee)
• Seed dealer permit: $10 to $4,600 (annual fee)
• No labs required for transportation or labs. Labs must have an ISO certification, DEA permit and sign the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry Hemp Lab agreements.                                               

Georgia

Cultivator Fees

• Annual license fees: $50 per acre intended to be cultivated, up to a max fee of $5,000

Processor Fees

• Annual license fee: $25,000 (Processors must also have a copy of a surety bond in an amount between $300,000 and $1 million.)

Hawaii

Cultivator Fees

• No application or license fees—state operates under a USDA license

Processor Fees

• Annual $500 fee for certificate of registration

Idaho

Cultivator Fees

• Temporary, proposed rules:
  • $100 annual application fee
  • $500 annual registration fee
  • Pre-harvest inspection fee: $200 per lot, plus $35 per hour of travel to the site

Processor Fees

• Temporary, proposed rules:
  • $100 annual application fee
• $1,000 annual inspection per site, plus $35 per hour of travel to the site

Illinois 

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $100 (nonrefundable)
• License fees: $375 for 1 year, $700 for 2 years, $1,000 for 3 years

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $100 (nonrefundable)
• License fees: $375 for 1 year, $700 for 2 years, $1,000 for 3 years

Indiana

Cultivator Fees

• Growing license: $750

Processor Fees

• Handler license: $750

Other Info

• Combination grower/handler license: $1,500                                      

Iowa

Cultivator Fees

• License fee for 0-5 acres: $500 plus $5 per acre and a base inspection fee of $1,000
• License fee for 5.1-10 acres: $750 plus $5 per acre and a base inspection fee of $1,000
• License fee for 10.1-40 acres: $1,000 plus $5 per acre and a base inspection fee of $1,000

Processor Fees

• Annual registration fee: $475

Other Info

• Deadline for 2021 outdoor planting was May 1
• Processing annual registrations due at least 30 days prior to expiration

Kansas

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $100
• License fee: $1,200
• Modification fee: $50    

Processor Fees

• Proposed fee for chemical extraction processors: $1,000
• Proposed fee for agricultural drying/plant separation processors: $500
• NOTE: All processor fees are proposed and not yet finalized.

Kentucky

Cultivator Fees

• Licensing fee per growing address: $400 (due before license is awarded)
• Cost for each new growing site: $750 (due with submission of any site modification request)
• Cost to process paper applications: $200 (no service charge for online applications)

Processor Fees

• Annual license for handlers (such as private labs, brokers or seed cleaners): $500
• Annual license for grain/fiber processor: $500
• Annual license for flower material processor: $3,000
• Site modification charge: $750
• Cost to process paper applications: $200 (no service charge for online applications)          

Other Info

• Grower application and license renewal deadline was March 15.
• Processor applications accepted year-round but renewals are due Dec. 31 of previous year

Louisiana

Cultivator Fees

• Grower license fee: $500 (due upon notification of application approval)

Processor Fees

• Processor license fee: $500 (due upon notification of application approval)

Other Info

• Contract carriers and seed producers also cost $500 each.
• Licenses are valid through end of each calendar year

Maine

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $100
• License fee: $500
• Outdoor growing fee: $50 per acre
• Indoor growing fee: $0.25 per square foot

Processor Fees

• No processor licensing program or processor fees

Maryland

Cultivator Fees

• Growing fee: $550 per site
• Research growing fee: $250 per site

Processor Fees

• N/A                       

Massachusetts

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $100 (non-refundable)
• License fee: $300 (annual)

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $100 (non-refundable)
• License fee: $300 (annual)

Other Info

• A dual grower/processor license application costs $100 (non-refundable); licenses cost $500 (annual)
• The deadline to apply for a hemp license was April 30, 2021. To be notified when the 2022 hemp license applications are available, email mahemp@mass.gov to be added to a mailing list.
• To maintain your license, you must apply for renewal between October 1 and December 1.

Michigan

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $1,350
• Renewal fee: $1,250
• Site modification fee: $50

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $1,350

Other Info

• License year for processors/handlers runs from Dec. 1 to Nov. 30

Minnesota

Cultivator Fees

• Annual grower license fee: $150
• Annual cost for each grow location: $250
• License change fee: $50 Annual fee

Processor Fees

• Annual processor license fee: $250          

Other Info

• The application period for 2022 will open on Nov. 1                                         

Mississippi

Cultivator Fees

• No application or license fees—state operates under a USDA license

Processor Fees

• N/A

Missouri

Cultivator Fees

• Annual registration costs: $750

Processor Fees

• No fee specific for hemp processing

Other Info

• Annual cost for hemp propagule and seed permit: $750
• Annual cost for certified industrial hemp sampler: $50    

Montana

Cultivator Fees

• NOTE: Costs are broken down by the type of hemp cultivar being grown
• Licensees who plant a Category C cultivar (a variety/seed not approved by the state department of agriculture): $1,100
  • This fee includes the initial inspection and testing of the first Category C sample. An additional $250 testing fee will be required for each additional sample and an additional $250 inspection/sampling fee will be required for each additional inspection.
• Licensees who plant a Category B cultivar (a variety/seed certified to AOSCA/OECD standards): $850
• Licensees who plant a Category B cultivar (a variety/seed previously grown in Montana): $850
• Regardless of category planted, cost of sampling request (e.g., for an insurance claim): $250 inspection fee plus the standard $250 testing fee. (The initial inspection fee and first sample testing fee is waived under Montana’s Pilot Program.)
• Fee for license modification after application is processed: $50 per charge

Processor Fees

• Annual fee for grain/seed/seed oil/fiber processors: $1,000
• Annual fee for floral/root extract processors: $2,500 (this fee also covers the fee for grain/seed/seed oil/fiber processing if a processor is working under both categories.)

Other Info

• Montana seed dealer fee: $75
• Non-resident seed dealer fee: $130
• Fee for Montana or non-resident labeler whose company name and address appears on the seed label: $75
• Fee for a facility (permanent or portable) that conditions seed for sale: $75
• Fee for a Montana producer selling more than $5,000 worth of seed he/she produced on his/her farm: $75
• Per the state department of agriculture website: “The department issues hemp licenses in (2) two progressive stages.  Upon approval of the initial application, eligible applicants will be issued a Planting Permit so they may purchase seed or live plants, and seed or transplant hemp. To receive full licensure, the applicant must submit a Planting Report confirming information about the crop(s) that was planted. Successful candidates will be issued the second stage Production license. The Production license allows for the production and harvest of compliant hemp. Any applicant that does not meet the conditions of the Production License will forfeit their Planting Permit and the crop(s) will require destruction."                                     

Nebraska            

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $150 (nonrefundable, due at time of application)
• Cultivator site registration fee: $600 per site (due at time of application)
• Site modification fee: $75 (due upon approval of site modification)
• Delinquent fees for renewals: Assessed at 25% of the base fee rate per month on or after:
  • February 1, delinquent fee is $187.50
  • March 1, delinquent fee is $375
  • April 1, delinquent fee is $562.50
  • May 1, delinquent fee is $750     

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $150 (nonrefundable, due at time of application)
• Processor-handler site registration fee: $1,200 per site (due at time of application)
• Site modification fee: $75 (due upon approval of site modification)
• Delinquent fees for renewals: Assessed at 25% of the base fee rate per month on or after:
  • February 1, delinquent fee is $337.50
  • March 1, delinquent fee is $675
  • April 1; delinquent fee is $1,012.50
  • May 1; delinquent fee is $1,350.00

Broker Fees

• Application fee: $150 (nonrefundable, due at time of application)
• Delinquent fees for renewals: Assessed at 25% of the base fee rate per month on or after:
  • February 1, delinquent fee is $37.50
  • March 1, delinquent fee is $75
  • April 1, delinquent fee is $112.50
  • May 1, delinquent fee is $150

Nevada

Cultivation Fees

• Application fee: $900 application fee plus $5 per acre or $0.33 per 1,000 square feet

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $1,000

Other Info

• Seed producer certificate costs: $100 application fee plus $5 per acre or $0.33 per 1,000 square feet. The applicant is also responsible for inspection costs at $60/hour/inspector for drive time, inspections, and sampling.
• Laboratory Processing Fee: $40. These fees are expected to increase to better reflect laboratory analysis cost.

New Hampshire              

Cultivator Fees

• No application or license fees—state operates under a USDA license

Processor Fees

• N/A

New Jersey

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $50 (nonrefundable)
• $300 license fee plus $15 per acre
• Secondary Pre-Harvest Sample Fee for additional site visits mandated by premature Harvest Reports, or Post-Harvest Retest Fee for THC compliance testing conducted by NJDA: $150 per variety, location, instance.
• Site Modification Surcharge: $300 plus $15 per acre for each new growing site, due with submission of any Site Modification Request.

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $50 (nonrefundable)
• Participation fees for each component being processed:

• Handlers: $450 annual fee
• Fiber Processor: $450 annual fee
• Grain Processor: $450 annual fee
• Floral, Oil or CBD Processor Extraction: $1,000 annual fee
• Floral Processor: $1,000 annual fee
• Hemp Seed Oil Processor: $1,000 annual fee
  • Site Modification Fee: $300 for each new processing site, due with submission of any site
  • Product THC Test Fee: $150 per instance, due within 30 days of invoice by NJDA if a product is selected for THC testing.

New Mexico

Cultivator Fees

• Annual outdoor fees: $650 base registration fee, plus $10 per variety grown, plus $6 per acre of production.
• Annual indoor fees: $750 base registration/inspection fee, plus $10 per variety grown, plus $0.75 per 1,000 square feet of production.

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $1,000 (nonrefundable) 

New York           

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $500 (nonrefundable)

Processor Fees

• Cannabinoid Hemp Processors Extracting and Manufacturing
  • $1,000 application fee
  • $3,500 license fee
• Cannabinoid Hemp Processors Manufacturing Only
  • $500 application fee
  • $1,000 license fee

Other Info

• $300 Cannabinoid Hemp Retail License fee
• $300 Distributor Permit fee

North Carolina

Cultivator Fees

• No application fee
• $250 initial license fee (Licenses need renewed every three years.)
• Annual fees:
  • $250 for operations with 49 acres or fewer
  • $500 for operations with 50 acres or more
  • Additional $2 per acre or $2 per 1,000 square feet of greenhouse

Processor Fees

• No processor fees  

Other Info

• Annual seed dealer fees
  • Wholesale or combined wholesale and retail seed dealer: $125
  • Retail seed dealer: $30

North Dakota

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $41.25 (nonrefundable)
• Annual fees charged by number of lots
  • $100 for one lot
  • $200 for two lots
  • $300 for three lots
  • $350 for four or more lots           

Processor Fees

• $200 annual license fee

Other Info

• Businesses can be charged up to $125 for hemp inspection, sampling and testing.

Ohio

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $100
• Growing Location: $500 (annual fee per location)
• Site Modification Fee: $250 for each GPS coordinate location change for each growing location.
• All additional samples taken due to the licensed cultivator having multiple fields, greenhouses, buildings, sites, or additional varieties grown on the growing location shall be subject to an additional $150 pre-harvest sample fee per sample taken.

Processor Fees

• Application fee: $100
• Annual license fees for each processing site:
  • $500 for processing raw grain
  • $500 for processing raw fiber
  • $3,000 for processing the raw floral component. This includes extraction facilities and the processing and packaging of smokable hemp.
  • Annual license fees for processing cannabinoids in human and animal food, dietary supplements, cosmetics and personal care products for each processing site:
    • $500 for wholesale production
    • $250 for retail production.          

Oklahoma

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $500 plus additional $5 per acre and/or $0.33 per square foot of greenhouse (annual costs)

Processor Fees

• Annual fees:

• $1,000 for processors with annual sales less than $50,000
• $2,500 for processors with annual sales between $50,001-$250,000
• $5,000 for sales more than $250,000 annually (annual license)                                           

Oregon

Cultivator Fees

• $250 nonrefundable application fee
• $1,000 certificate fee

Processor Fees

• $250 nonrefundable application fee
• $1,000 certificate fee

Pennsylvania

Cultivator Fees

• $150 for new permits
• $50 for annual renewals

Processor Fees

• $150 for new permits
• $50 for annual renewals
• No separate processing permit is required if hemp grown on the property is also processed on the property, and no other hemp is moved onto the property.

Rhode Island

Cultivator Fees

• Nonrefundable application fee of $250
• $2,500 due upon approval (annual)

Processor Fees

• Nonrefundable application fee of $250
• $2,500 due upon approval (annual)

South Carolina

Cultivator Fees

• $100 nonrefundable application fee
• $1,000

Processor Fees

• $100 nonrefundable application fee
• $3,000 per location

South Dakota

Cultivator Fees

• Nonrefundable $50 application fee
• $500 license fee (annual)

Processor Fees

• Nonrefundable $50 application fee
• $2,000 license fee
• $500 for inspection and records review (annual)

Tennessee

Cultivator Fees

• Less than 5 Acres: $250
• 5-20 Acres: $300
• Greater than 20 Acres: $350
• University: Cost waived

Processor Fees

• Processors are not required to be licensed or registered with TDA for processing hemp; only those processing consumable goods must register as a food manufacturing business. These licenses range from $50 to $750 depending on size and "risk level."

Other Info

• If your name is on the seed label, you are required to obtain a TN Seed Sellers License.
• Samples cost $150 each.

Texas

Cultivator Fees

• $100 application fee
• $100 registration fee per facility

Processor Fees

• $100 per application
• $258 per facility producing consumable hemp products

Other Info

• Retailers selling consumable hemp products much register each location where the products will be sold; cost is $155 per location.
• Handler fees: $100 application fee plus $100 per facility

Utah

Cultivator Fees

• $18 application fee
• $500 licensing fee

Processor Fees

• $18 application fee
• $2,000 licensing fee

Other Info

• Hemp retail permits: $50 per calendar year

Vermont

Cultivator Fees

• Hemp for personal use: $25
• Less than 0.5 acres/less than 500 lbs: $100
• 0.5 to 9.9 acres/less than 10,000 lbs: $500
• 10 to 50 acres/less than 50,000 lbs: $1,000
• More than 50 acres/50,000 lbs.: $3,000
• Indoor:
  • 500 sq ft or less: $1,000
  • More than 500 sq ft: $2,000

Processor Fees

• Tiered based on amount/type of processing:
• Grain/fiber – flat fee
• Floral, viable seed, or cannabinoid production – tiered fee based on whichever is greater, the number of acres planted or the weight of hemp or viable seed processed
• Indoor cultivation and processing of floral, viable seed, or cannabinoids – tiered fee based on size of cultivation area
• Calculator: http://cloud.agriculture.vermont.gov/HempCalculator/Calculator.aspx

Virginia

Cultivator Fees

• $150 application fee

Processor Fees

• $200 application fee

Other Info

• "Hemp dealer" license fee (for anyone who wants to temporarily possess industrial hemp grown in compliance with state or federal law that (i) has not been processed and (ii) was not grown and will not be processed by the person temporarily possessing it): $250

Washington

Cultivator Fees

• Annual license fee: $1,200
• License modification fee: $200
• Late licensing fee (after March 31): $200
• Inspection fees:
  • $200 per inspection
  • $40 per hour (including travel time – one way)
  • Mileage will be charged at the rate established by the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
  • When delta-9 THC concentration testing is performed at department-approved laboratories, testing fees will be subject to actual laboratory costs, including sample transportation.

Processor Fees

• Processor fees have not yet been established.

West Virginia

Cultivator Fees

• Application fee: $100 X the number of non-contiguous locations
• License fee: $100.00 + $5 per acre/$3 per 1,000 square foot of all properties applied
• Alteration fee: $50.00 + $100.00 + $5.00 per acreage of all properties non-contiguous

Processor Fees

• Annual registration fee of $200 per product.
• The annual fee for hemp product registrations shall be capped at $1,000 per manufacturer for products that are manufactured and sold in West Virginia.
• Hemp fiber products, such as rope, fiber, hempcrete, paper, and other industrial uses, are exempt from the $200.00 annual fee and certificate of analysis but are subject to all other registration requirements.
• Hemp products that are not consumed, inhaled, ingested, absorbed, come in contact with the skin, or otherwise have an effect on the health of humans or animals are exempt from the $200.00 annual fee and certificate of analysis but are subject to all other registration requirements.        

Wisconsin

Cultivator Fees

• Annual grower registration fee: $350
• One-time grower license fees:
  • $150 (0-30 acres)
  • $5/acre (31-199 acres)
  • $1,000 (200 acres or more)
• $250 per sample and test. Each lot needs at least one sample and test.
• $50 per license modification change (plus one-time fees for additional acreage)

Processor Fees                                                

• Annual processor registration fee (waived for first year): $100
• One-time processor license fee: $150

Wyoming           

Cultivator Fees

• $500 for each annual license or renewal application

Processor Fees

• $500 for each annual license or renewal application

Other Info

• $200 per sample conducted
• $200 per analysis conducted
• $250 for verification of effective disposal of cannabis or cannabis products that are in violation