- California grow guide · Updated November 12, 2026
Marijuana Seeds in California
Adults 21 and over in California can grow up to 6 cannabis plants per residence, however many adults live there. Plants must be in a locked space, inside the home or on its grounds, and not visible from a public place. No state permit is needed, but some cities and counties require a local permit or ban outdoor grows.
- Legal age
- 21+
- Plants per home
- 6 in total
- Permit needed
- No state permit
- Where
- Locked, out of public view
- Possession
- 28.5 g plus 8 g concentrate
- Plant out
- February to June, by region
- USDA zones
- 5a–11a
California home-grow rules
What adults 21 and over may grow and keep under Proposition 64 (Health and Safety Code §§ 11362.1–11362.45). These rules haven’t changed in 2025 or 2026.
| Who can grow | Adults 21 and over. |
|---|---|
| Plants per home | No more than 6 living plants per private residence and its grounds, however many adults live there. Every plant counts, including seedlings. |
| Where plants must be kept | Inside your residence or on its grounds, such as a garden, in a locked space that can’t be seen from a public place with normal, unaided vision. |
| Local rules | Cities and counties may regulate home grows, require a permit or ban outdoor growing completely, but may not ban growing inside a home or inside a fully enclosed, secure structure on its grounds. |
| Permit or registration | No state license or registration. Check whether your city or county requires a local permit. |
| What you can keep | Up to 28.5 grams of cannabis and 8 grams of concentrate in public. You may keep everything your legal plants produce, but anything over 28.5 grams must stay at home, locked and out of public view. |
| Extraction | No butane, propane or other volatile-solvent extraction at home. |
| Gifting | You may give up to 28.5 grams of cannabis and 8 grams of concentrate to another adult 21+ for free. |
| Landlords and property owners | May ban or restrict growing and use on their property. |
| Penalty | Breaking the home-grow rules is an infraction with a fine of up to $250. |
| Medical patients | Qualified patients (18+ with a physician’s recommendation) or their caregivers may keep up to 6 mature or 12 immature plants per patient, or more if a physician recommends it. |
| Regulator | Department of Cannabis Control |
Growing cannabis outdoors in California
California has some of the longest growing seasons in the country, but the coast, the Central Valley, the North Coast and the mountains each set different limits.
Plant out
After your local last frost: about February to March in the Central Valley, Bay Area and coastal valleys, late March to early May in the Sierra foothills and inland North Coast, and late May to June in the mountains and northeast. Frost is rare on the Southern California coast.
Flowering
Photoperiod plants start flowering as days shorten in mid to late summer, whatever the planting date, according to University of California hemp trials.
Harvest
Most photoperiod plants finish from late September to October. Mountain and northeast growers race a first frost from mid-September, North Coast growers race the October rains, and the Central Valley and south usually have until mid-November.
What to watch for in California
- Fall rain and bud rot in the north. Eureka averages 2.3 inches of rain in October and 4.9 in November, against under 0.2 inches in July and August.
- Extreme inland heat. July highs average about 98°F in Fresno, 100°F in Redding and 108°F in Palm Springs.
- A short mountain season. Alturas has a median frost-free period of about 97 days, and Truckee and South Lake Tahoe can freeze in any month.
- Dry summers. Most of the state gets almost no rain from June to September, so plants rely on watering.
- Mildew and pests. In a University of California survey of growers, powdery mildew was the most common disease and mites, thrips and aphids the most common pests.
How California’s regions differ
The Southern California coast is nearly frost-free with mild summers, while the low deserts are very hot. The Central Valley and inland valleys are hot and dry with long seasons. The immediate North Coast is cool and turns wet in October, and the Sierra and the northeast plateau have the shortest seasons, with frost into late May or June and again from mid-September.
Strains that suit California
Chosen by how long each strain takes, using Beaver Seeds’ researched strain data: feminized strains for California’s long seasons and an autoflower for the mountains.
- Strawberry Diesel: flowers in about 9–10 weeks, a fit for the long Central Valley and Southern California seasons.
- Headband: flowers in about 8–10 weeks, finishing in October across most of the state.
- Candy Jack: flowers in about 8–9 weeks, helping North Coast growers harvest before the heaviest November rain.
- Wedding Cake Auto: seed to harvest in about 10–11 weeks, for the mountains and northeast, where the season can be under 100 days.
Buying marijuana seeds in California
How Beaver Seeds orders reach California, and what state law says about buying seeds there.
Shipped from our US warehouse
US orders ship by USPS in plain, unbranded packaging. Priority Mail usually arrives in 3–7 days and Ground Advantage in 3–14 days. Shipping is free over $200.
Buy 1, get 1 free
Buy a 10 or 25 seed pack and get a second pack of the same size free, in any strain. 5-seed packs come with 1 extra seed.
80% germination guarantee
Every pack is covered. If your seeds don’t sprout as they should, contact our support team with your order number and we’ll help.
Licensed California retailers may sell seeds and live immature plants (under 18 inches and not flowering) that come from a licensed nursery, with up to 6 immature plants per adult customer per day. California hasn’t published rules on buying seeds online or from out-of-state seed banks.
California grow FAQ
Short answers to the questions California growers ask most.
Is it legal to grow marijuana at home in California?
Yes. Since November 9, 2016, adults 21 and over may grow up to 6 plants per residence, in a locked space that can’t be seen from a public place. No state permit is needed, but check your local rules.
How many plants can I grow in California?
6 living plants per residence in total, however many adults live there. Medical patients have separate limits.
Can I grow cannabis outside in California?
State law allows it on your home’s grounds in a locked space out of public view, but cities and counties may ban outdoor grows, so check your local ordinance.
When should I plant cannabis outdoors in California?
After your last frost: February to March in the Central Valley and coastal valleys, late March to early May in the foothills and inland North Coast, and late May to June in the mountains.
Can my landlord stop me from growing in California?
Yes. Landlords and other property owners may ban or restrict growing on their property.
Sources
- Health and Safety Code § 11362.1 (California Legislative Information)
- Health and Safety Code § 11362.2 (California Legislative Information)
- Health and Safety Code § 11362.45 (California Legislative Information)
- Health and Safety Code § 11362.77 (California Legislative Information)
- What’s legal (Department of Cannabis Control)
- Text of regulations (4 CCR Division 19) (Department of Cannabis Control)
- UCCE survey results on cannabis cultivation (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources)
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information)
- Hemp bud rot (Utah State University Extension)
Checked November 12, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary of California law, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official sources before you grow.