Inspections & Enforcement

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) enforces fire safety rules for all retail businesses in NYC, including cannabis dispensaries. These rules apply regardless of store size, layout, or building type, and inspections can occur at any time.Fire safety violations are common, costly, and can result in immediate enforcement action.

This page answers, "Where Can I Legally Open a Dispensary, and What Do I Have to Do to Notify the City or Town?"

This section covers the core compliance requirements every dispensary must follow after opening. These are the rules that keep your license active, your records accurate, and your store inspection-ready at all times. OCM can review your store at any time through inspections, audits, complaints, or renewal. This section covers the ongoing requirements that decide whether you stay open and renew clean.

New York dispensaries may only sell cannabis products that are approved by OCM, fully tested by a licensed laboratory, and properly packaged and labeled. Retailers are responsible for confirming compliance before any product reaches the sales floor. If you sell a noncompliant product, liability falls on the retailer, not just the distributor.

Before you can open a New York cannabis dispensary, your location, construction, storage, and security systems must comply with state and local law. If the address is wrong, the buildout is not permitted, or the security infrastructure is incomplete, OCM can deny approval to open even if your license was granted. This section explains the physical and structural rules that apply before and after opening.

During an audit, the IRS can review bank statements, deposits, and transfers. This page explains how bank records are examined and why deposit accuracy matters for dispensaries.

This page answers: "What layout, safety, and accessibility rules does my dispensary have to meet before I build?"

Your storefront and website must meet federal accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These requirements apply before opening and throughout operations and are actively enforced through lawsuits and regulatory action. Both physical access and digital access are required.