Opening a retail cannabis store in Kelowna will cost far more than starting a standard business come Oct. 17.
On Monday, city council approved a series of fees that will apply to those opening a retail cannabis store, including a $1000 non-refundable application fee.
If the application is chosen, the prospective business owner will be required to pay $9,500, with additional annual business license fees added after that.
The Kelowna fees are higher than those proposed in Victoria ($7,500), Edmonton ($5,600), West Kelowna ($5,000) and Penticton ($2,500).
According to city planner Ryan Smith, the high fees are part of the city's goal to recoup potential future costs, and all costs to date from creating a regulatory system for cannabis, which is estimated at $116,000.
Council voted 8-1 to approve the fees, with the city planning to begin accepting applications for prospective cannabis retail outlets Oct. 1 and continue through to Nov. 30.
City planners have made it clear that Kelowna will not see retail cannabis stores until spring of 2019.
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