Your LCRB Inspection Survival Kit: A Checklist for BC Cannabis Retailers Running Delivery

The single most effective thing a BC cannabis retailer can do to prepare for an LCRB inspection is to conduct their own internal review before an inspector ever arrives. Not a one-time review before an expected inspection, but a standing operational practice that keeps the checklist items current as a matter of routine.

What follows is a practical checklist covering both the standard in-store requirements and the delivery-specific documentation the LCRB reviews. It is designed to be worked through by an owner, GM, or compliance-responsible manager on a regular basis.

In-Store Requirements

These items apply to every licensed BC cannabis retail store regardless of whether delivery is offered.

Licence and signage

• Cannabis retail licence is posted visibly on the premises
• All required health warning signage is displayed in the correct locations
• Age restriction notices are posted and clearly visible from the entrance
• No promotions, signage, or displays that contravene LCRB advertising restrictions

Staff certifications

• Every staff member who serves customers holds a valid, current Selling It Right certification
• Certification expiry dates are tracked and renewals are scheduled in advance
• Records of all current certifications are organized and accessible for inspection
• New staff certifications are verified before the employee begins serving customers

Cannabis register

• Cannabis register is current and up to date
• Register entries match current inventory levels
• Any discrepancies between recorded and actual inventory are investigated and documented
• Register is accessible for inspector review

Premises and floor plan

• Store layout matches the approved floor plan on file with the LCRB
• Any physical changes since original licence approval have been reviewed for LCRB notification or approval requirements
• Access controls to restricted areas are functioning and enforced
• The premises is maintained in a condition consistent with the approved licence conditions

Delivery-Specific Requirements

These items apply to any licensed BC cannabis retailer operating a delivery service.

Driver records

• Every driver is confirmed as an employee of the licensed retailer, not a contractor
• Every driver holds a valid, current Selling It Right certification
• Driver certification expiry dates are tracked and renewals are scheduled
• Driver records are organized and accessible for inspector review

Delivery records

• A complete delivery log exists for every delivery completed in the past six years
• Each delivery record includes: driver identity, delivery address, date and time, items delivered, age verification confirmation, and delivery outcome
• Delivery records are stored in a system that can produce them quickly, not assembled across multiple informal sources
• Records for the current and previous month can be produced within five minutes

Age verification records

• Age verification at the point of handover is documented for every completed delivery
• Records capture what type of ID was presented, not just that verification occurred
• The age verification step is built into the driver workflow and cannot be bypassed or skipped
• Drivers are trained on the Selling It Right age verification requirements specific to delivery

Failed delivery records

• Every failed delivery attempt is documented with a reason code and timestamp
• A clear process exists for handling and recording failed deliveries
• Products that could not be delivered are returned to the store and the return is documented
• Drivers know and consistently follow the failed delivery protocol

Delivery manifests

• A delivery manifest is generated for every completed driver run
• Each manifest includes: driver information, vehicle information, run date and time, all stops with outcomes, and dispatcher information
• Manifests are stored and organized by date and accessible for inspection
• Manifests can be produced for any run in the past six years, per LCRB record-keeping requirements

Dispatch documentation

• Every delivery run has a documented dispatch record showing who assigned the run and when
• Driver assignments are recorded in a system that creates structured records, not informal messages
• Dispatch records are consistent with delivery records for the same period

How to Use This Checklist

The value of this checklist is not in completing it once and filing it away. It is in building the review into your regular operational rhythm.

A monthly review of the in-store items and a weekly review of the delivery-specific items keeps the checklist current without requiring a dedicated compliance project each time an inspection occurs.

The items that are easiest to stay current on are the ones managed by systems rather than by individual memory. A delivery dispatch system that generates records automatically means the delivery log, age verification records, failed delivery documentation, and manifests stay current without anyone needing to remember to create them. The checklist items that require active management are the ones that depend on a person doing something consistently: certification renewals, register reconciliation, and premises compliance.

What to Do If You Find a Gap

If working through this checklist reveals a gap in your current records or processes, the response depends on the nature of the gap.

For gaps in current records going forward, the solution is to implement the process or the system that will generate those records automatically from today onward. You cannot retroactively create records for the past, but you can close the gap immediately for future deliveries.

For gaps in historical records, the approach is to document what you know, implement the correct process going forward, and be prepared to explain the gap if it comes up in an inspection context. Inspectors distinguish between retailers who were unaware of a requirement and are now addressing it, and retailers who were aware and chose not to comply. The former situation is meaningfully different from the latter.

If there are significant gaps in your historical records that create material enforcement risk, a conversation with a legal advisor who is familiar with LCRB compliance is worth having before an inspection occurs.

The Goal: Readiness as a Baseline

The most sustainable compliance posture is one where inspection readiness is not a project you prepare for, but a state your operation maintains continuously. Every delivery generates the required records. Every driver run produces a manifest. Every age verification is documented. The log is always current and always accessible.

That is the operational standard this checklist is designed to help you reach and maintain. Reaching it may require changes to your current delivery workflow. Maintaining it, once those changes are in place, should require very little additional effort.

This checklist is based on publicly available LCRB documentation and inspection requirements current as of December 2026. Cannabis regulations change and individual licence conditions may vary. Always verify current requirements with the LCRB directly at gov.bc.ca/lcrb and consult a qualified compliance advisor for guidance specific to your operation.

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