Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
California growers must renew the Christmas Tree Grower's License every year with the Department of Food and Agriculture. The fee is $100. Licenses expire December 31. CDFA mails renewal packets in October, so submit by early November to allow 4 to 6 weeks of processing. Selling on a lapsed license violates the state Nursery Stock Act.
Do you need a license to renew a Christmas tree farm in California?
Yes. Every Christmas tree grower in California has to hold a current Christmas Tree Grower's License from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) [1]. This is not a one-time filing. It expires every December 31 and renews annually.
The requirement comes straight from the state's Nursery Stock Act. California Food and Agricultural Code section 5006 defines nursery stock to include “Christmas trees” [2]. Section 6401 then says it's “unlawful for any person to engage in the business of selling, or to sell or distribute, any nursery stock unless he or she holds a valid license issued by the department” [3].
Run a choose-and-cut farm and you're doing both jobs at once: growing and selling nursery stock. The license is mandatory even if you only open to the public for a few weeks each winter.
Beyond the CDFA license, you need a seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) if you make retail sales [4]. That permit is free and has no annual renewal deadline the way the grower's license does. You still keep it active and file sales tax returns. There's a dedicated section on it below.
County agricultural commissioners run inspection programs too. San Diego County, for example, notes that all Christmas tree growers must be licensed and are subject to pest inspections [8]. That inspection isn't a separate license. It's enforcement of the state license, but you will hear from your county commissioner's office.
How much does Christmas tree farm license renewal cost in California?
The state renewal fee is $100 per year [1]. It's a flat rate for the Christmas Tree Grower's License, set by regulation. You pay it at every renewal, no matter your acreage or tree count.
There's no published late fee. But if your license lapses and you keep selling, you're operating unlicensed. That can trigger a misdemeanor charge under Food and Agricultural Code section 6413, with fines of $100 to $750, jail time up to six months, or both [5]. The real cost of forgetting to renew isn't a penalty on a form. It's getting shut down during the busiest sales weeks of the year.
The CDTFA seller's permit has no fee at all [4]. You apply online or by mail, and it costs $0. Change your business name, address, or ownership structure and you may need to update the permit, but there's no renewal charge.
Local business license fees vary. Some counties charge $25 to $200 a year for a general business license. Others waive it for agricultural operations. Check with your city or county clerk. That's separate from the state grower's license, so treat it as a parallel operating cost.
How long does renewal take in California?
CDFA does not publish a guaranteed processing time. Based on what growers report year to year, most renewals take about 4 to 6 weeks from the day the completed form and fee reach the Pest Exclusion Branch.
The department mails renewal packets in October [1]. Here's the rule I'd follow: get your renewal back in the mail by November 1. That gives the office a solid eight weeks before the December 31 expiration. If something goes wrong, a lost form or a payment hiccup, you've still got room to fix it.
Miss that window? Mail it anyway. But once you're into December, you're gambling. A lapsed license during your operating season means you can't legally sell trees. Even a pure choose-and-cut operation is selling at the moment customers pay. The law carves out no grace period.
New licenses sometimes take longer than renewals because staff verify a new site. Renewals are simpler since the department already holds your file. The same crew processes both, though, so heavy fall volume can slow things down.
Step-by-step renewal process for California growers
Renewal is mostly paperwork. Here's the path most farms follow.
1. Watch for the renewal packet around October. CDFA sends it to the mailing address on file [1]. If you moved and didn't update, call the Pest Exclusion Branch at (916) 654-0312.
2. Complete the renewal form. It looks a lot like the initial application: business name, address, ownership, location of growing sites, and a short declaration about nursery stock. The form number is CHRT-001 [6]. Never got the packet? Download that form from the CDFA website.
3. Include your $100 check or money order made payable to “California Department of Food and Agriculture.” Some growers now pay by credit card online, but confirm the current payment options when you get the packet. Not all license types support online payment.
4. Mail the form and payment to the address printed on the form (typically CDFA Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814).
5. Wait for the renewed license by mail. Keep a copy at your farm office. On a choose-and-cut, the public rarely asks to see it. A county inspector might.
What about the seller's permit renewal?
The CDTFA seller's permit works differently. It doesn't expire on a fixed annual calendar. Once you have it, it stays active as long as you file your sales tax returns on time and keep the account in good standing [7].
Change your business structure, say from sole proprietor to LLC, or shift your sales channels, and you might need to close the old permit and open a new one. For most Christmas tree farmers, though, the permit just sits there. You file quarterly or annual returns based on your sales volume.
CDTFA can suspend your permit if you fall behind on returns. That's the closest thing to a “renewal” problem. A suspended permit means you can't legally collect sales tax or issue a resale certificate. To reinstate, you file all missing returns, pay any tax due, and sometimes pay a small reinstatement fee. Keep the filings clean and this whole process stays invisible.
Important deadlines and late consequences
Dates matter hard with CDFA.
- December 31: license expires [1].
- October: renewal packets mailed.
- November 1: ideal mailing deadline for your renewal.
- January 1 onward: without renewal, the license is dead.
Operating after expiration puts you in violation of the Nursery Stock Act. Enforcement isn't theoretical. County agricultural inspectors run spot checks during harvest season. Find you selling without a license and they can issue stop-sale orders. The penalty authority is Food and Agricultural Code section 6413, which makes this a misdemeanor [5].
You can sometimes get a renewed license backdated if you mail late but before anyone catches you, and that's entirely at the department's discretion. No rule guarantees it. Treat the deadline as firm.
County and local requirements for Christmas tree farms
A state grower's license doesn't exempt you from local rules. Most counties require a business license for a commercial enterprise, even a seasonal one. Fees and forms vary widely. Check with your county clerk's office.
Some counties add zoning restrictions on agricultural operations that accept visitors. A choose-and-cut farm with parking, restrooms, and cash registers might trigger a conditional use permit. That's a land-use question, not a licensing one, but it can delay your season if you don't handle it before renewal.
County agricultural commissioners also run the mandatory pest inspection program. No separate permit there, but you do have to cooperate with inspections. San Diego County's page, for instance, says growers must be licensed and are subject to plant pest surveys [8]. If your trees carry a regulated pest, the county can place a hold on sales no matter what your state license says.
Common mistakes during renewal
The biggest one is not updating your mailing address. Move and forget to tell CDFA, and the renewal packet never reaches you. Then December hits and you find out your license lapsed.
Another: sending the wrong fee. A few growers pay the general nursery stock license fee instead of the Christmas tree license fee. They're separate items in the fee schedule. Read the form instructions and send exactly $100.
People also confuse the seller's permit and the grower's license. Having a seller's permit doesn't replace the CDFA license. You need both. CDTFA won't warn you about your expired grower's license. Neither agency checks up on the other.
Last one: not keeping a copy of the renewed license at the farm. Inspectors can ask to see it. Leave it at home and you might catch a citation that 30 seconds of filing would have prevented.
How California renewal stacks up against other states
California's $100 annual fee sits in the middle of the pack. Some states charge less. Arizona's nursery license runs $50 for small growers, for example. Others charge more once you add county-level requirements. The California process itself is simpler than states that require notarized applications or soil tests.
Want to compare? Our guide on Christmas tree farm renewal in Arizona breaks down their $50 fee and simpler deadlines. Colorado's renewal, covered in our Colorado guide, adds a nursery inspection fee. For growers near a state line, those differences matter if you're thinking about expanding.
What holds true everywhere? Nobody hands you a free grace period. Every state expects a current license on the day you sell. Plan your paperwork season the way you plan your planting season.
How to stay on top of renewal year after year
Set four calendar reminders. August 1 to verify your mailing address with CDFA. October 1 to watch for the packet. November 1 to mail. February 1 to check your seller's permit status.
If an accountant handles your farm taxes, loop them in on the CDTFA permit. They typically file the sales tax returns, which keeps the permit active.
Some growers tape a laminated copy of the license expiration date inside their equipment shed. Low tech. It works.
The Shear-Year + Choose-and-Cut Kit from ChooseAndCutPath includes a state-specific renewal checklist and a farm office calendar with key license deadlines for California. It's not a legal service, just a tool that lays out the year at a glance so you catch the dates before they catch you.
Who to contact if something goes wrong
CDFA Pest Exclusion Branch: (916) 654-0312 or pe@cdfa.ca.gov. They handle Christmas Tree Grower's License questions. Call if you didn't get a renewal packet or if you mailed the form and haven't heard back in six weeks.
CDTFA: Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115. This is your line for seller's permit questions, account reinstatement, and sales tax filing issues.
Your county agricultural commissioner's office is listed on your county website. They inspect your trees, so build that relationship early. A quick phone call in September to confirm you're in their system as a licensed grower heads off a lot of confusion.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Christmas tree license if I only sell pre-cut trees I bought from another grower?
If you don't grow trees but only resell pre-cut ones, you may not need a Christmas Tree Grower's License. You still need a seller's permit from CDTFA for retail sales. If you hold trees on a lot and customers cut them there, the line gets fuzzy. Contact CDFA's Pest Exclusion Branch to confirm your specific setup.
Can I renew my California Christmas tree license online?
As of 2025, the CDFA Christmas Tree Grower's License renewal is done mainly by mail using the paper renewal form. Some business license types now accept online payments through the department's portal, but confirm with your renewal packet. Don't assume you can click through without mailing a paper form.
What happens if my license expires before I renew?
Your license becomes invalid. Sell trees after expiration and you violate the California Nursery Stock Act. A county agricultural inspector can issue a stop-sale order. You risk a misdemeanor charge with fines of $100 to $750 and possible jail time. Renew late without selling in the gap and CDFA may backdate the renewal, but it's not guaranteed.
Do I need a separate license for each farm location?
One Christmas Tree Grower's License can cover multiple growing locations if they share the same ownership and are listed on your application. You must report all sites. If the farms are separate legal entities, each needs its own license.
How do I update my mailing address with CDFA?
Call the Pest Exclusion Branch at (916) 654-0312 or email pe@cdfa.ca.gov. You can also send a letter with your license number, old address, new address, and owner signature. Do this at least 60 days before October so the renewal packet reaches you.
Are there any sales limits or acreage thresholds that trigger a different license?
No. The Christmas Tree Grower's License fee is $100 regardless of how many trees you grow or sell. There is no small-grower exemption. If you're in the business of selling Christmas trees you grow, you must be licensed.
Does the seller's permit renewal cost anything?
No. The seller's permit costs $0 to obtain and maintain. There is no annual renewal fee. You just file all required sales tax returns on time. If the permit is suspended for non-filing, a reinstatement fee may apply, but that's not a regular cost.
Can I use my California license to sell trees in another state?
No. A California Christmas Tree Grower's License authorizes sales within California only. Transport trees into another state for sale and you'll need that state's license and possibly its plant health certifications. Check the agricultural department in the destination state.
Do I need a California license if I only grow trees for my own family and friends without charging money?
If you never sell a single tree, you probably don't need a license. The law targets selling or distributing nursery stock. Personal use with no commercial exchange is generally exempt. But if you give away trees as part of a promotion or other commercial activity, consult CDFA.
What if my license got revoked or suspended? How do I reinstate?
Contact CDFA directly. Reasons for suspension include uncontrolled pest infestations, fraudulent applications, or repeated violations. Reinstatement may require corrective actions, inspections, and payment of any unpaid fees before a new or renewed license is issued.
Sources
- CDFA Pest Exclusion Branch - Christmas Tree Grower Licensing: Annual renewal fee is $100, license expires December 31, renewal packets mailed in October, and application form CHRT-001 is available.
- California Food and Agricultural Code § 5006: Definition of nursery stock includes Christmas trees.
- California Food and Agricultural Code § 6401: License requirement for selling nursery stock; unlawful to engage in business of selling nursery stock without a valid license.
- CDTFA Publication 73, Your California Seller's Permit: Seller's permit required for anyone selling tangible personal property; permit is free.
- California Food and Agricultural Code § 6413: Violation of license chapter is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine of $100, $750, county jail up to 6 months, or both.
- CDFA Application for Christmas Tree Grower's License, Form CHRT-001: Official application form referenced for renewal.
- CDTFA Seller's Permit Frequently Asked Questions: Seller's permit remains active as long as returns are filed; suspension possible for non-compliance.
- San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner - Christmas Tree Inspections: County confirms that all Christmas tree growers must be licensed and are subject to pest inspections.