The announcement by Francisco Carrasquero, president of the National Electoral Council, came after Venezuela's opposition accused officials of dragging their feet in setting a date.
Officials rejected an earlier petition for technical reasons.
The opposition must gather more than 2.4 million signatures to request the recall against Chavez.
Venezuela's Constitution allows recall referendums after the midpoint of a president's six-year term - which was Aug. 19 for Chavez.
According to the National Electoral Council, the earliest the presidential recall could be held would be March 2004.
The Organization of American States has endorsed the presidential recall as a peaceful and democratic means of ending tensions that triggered a failed 2002 coup and two-month strike earlier this year.
The opposition accuses Chavez of accumulating power, ignoring rampant graft in public administration and dividing Venezuelans along class lines.
Chavez, who survived a brief 2002 coup, claims a corrupt political elite is conspiring against his leftist government. [End]