Cannabis store construction in Calgary is a short build that can only happen in the right location. Before any design, the site has to pass the City's separation distances, and before opening, the store has to pass the AGLC's licensing and security review. The fit-out itself is ordinary retail work with an unusual amount of security built in. The real risk is signing a lease on a unit that cannot be licensed.
Check the separation distances first
Calgary's Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, section 160.3, sets how close a cannabis store can be to other uses. A cannabis store must be at least:
- 300 metres from another cannabis store.
- 150 metres from a school or an emergency shelter.
- 100 metres from a municipal or school reserve.
It also must not share a wall with a liquor store. Those distances are measured by the City under the bylaw's rules, and a site that misses by a few metres fails. Check the current bylaw and confirm with the City before committing, because bylaws are amended from time to time and another store may have opened nearby since the listing was written.
A cannabis store also needs a development permit for the use, so even a unit that meets the distances goes through the City's approval before the building permit.
AGLC licensing and fees
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis licenses cannabis retail stores. The application fee is $400, the annual licence fee is $700, and there is a $3,000 deposit for background checks. The AGLC reviews the applicants and the store itself, including the security plan, and inspects the store before it can open.
Security built into the store
The AGLC's security standards shape the fit-out. A cannabis store needs:
- A monitored intrusion alarm covering the store and the storage room.
- Video surveillance covering the entrances, the sales floor, the point of sale and the storage area, with recordings kept for the required period.
- Secure storage for product when the store is closed, typically a locked room with a reinforced door, or a safe.
- Locked display cases, so product on the sales floor cannot be reached by customers.
We plan the security with the operator's security provider before framing starts, so the conduit, power and back boxes for cameras, sensors and card readers are in the walls and ceilings before they close. Display cabinets with locks are coordinated with the millwork shop.
Storefront and visibility
Product must not be visible from outside the store. Most Calgary cannabis stores handle that with frosted or patterned window film on the storefront glazing, or with display walls set back from the windows. Done well, the storefront still looks inviting while the inside stays hidden. The signage follows the City's sign rules and the AGLC's advertising rules, so check both before ordering a sign.
The rest of the fit-out
Beyond security, a cannabis store is standard retail: lighting that shows the product well, a sales counter with point-of-sale equipment, a staff area, a washroom and storage. Because many stores open in older retail plazas, the existing HVAC, electrical and washrooms often need upgrading for the new use. Our retail store construction page covers that side of the work.
What a cannabis store costs
| Project | Planning range (as of 2026, varies by scope) |
|---|---|
| Cannabis store build-out | $100,000–600,000 |
The range moves with the size of the store, the starting condition of the unit, the security system and the millwork. Licensing fees and inventory are separate.
Leasing a unit for a cannabis store
Many landlords have their own rules about cannabis tenants, and some leases or plaza covenants exclude them entirely. Before you negotiate rent, confirm three things in writing: that the landlord allows the use, that no other tenant has an exclusive that blocks it, and who pays for the security work if you leave.
Make the lease conditional on the development permit and the AGLC licence where you can. A store that cannot be licensed is a lease you are paying for with no income, and the approvals take time. We help tenants by checking the unit before the offer, so the conditions in the lease match what the space actually needs.
Layout and customer flow
Most cannabis stores in Calgary follow a similar layout. Customers enter a reception or ID check area near the door, then move onto a sales floor with locked displays and staff at a service counter. Behind the counter is the secure storage room, ideally with no direct access from the sales floor except through staff areas. Receiving is through a back door where possible, so product never crosses the sales floor in boxes.
Good stores still feel like good retail. Warm lighting, quality millwork and clear sightlines make a store comfortable for customers and easier for staff to supervise. The security features are built in so they are not the first thing a customer notices.
How long a cannabis store build-out takes
The construction itself is short, typically a matter of weeks once the building permit is issued, because the work is mostly interior finishes, millwork and security. The development permit and the AGLC licensing process take longer and run in sequence. The millwork shop's lead time for locked display cases and the security integrator's schedule are the other items to book early.
We schedule the build so the store is complete, the alarm is monitored and the cameras are recording before the AGLC inspection, with the final finishing work done around it.
What cannabis retailers ask us
How do I know if a site meets the separation distances?
Check the current Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 distances to other cannabis stores, schools, emergency shelters and reserves, and confirm with the City before signing. Another store opening nearby can change the answer.
What does the AGLC look at?
The applicants, through background checks, and the store, including its alarm, cameras, secure storage and locked displays. The store is inspected before it opens.
Can product be visible from the street?
No. Most stores use window film or set displays back from the glass so the inside is not visible from outside.
How long does a cannabis store take to open?
The development permit and AGLC licensing usually take longer than construction. We plan the build so the store is ready for the AGLC inspection as soon as the licence process allows.