Cannabis Nurseries

Limitation on Use. Cannabis nurseries shall be limited to the Agriculture (AG), Rural Lands (RL), Residential Rural (RR), and Industrial (IND) land use categories. Cannabis nurseries in the Industrial (IND) and Residential Rural (RR) land use categories shall be limited to indoor propagation only.

Land Use Permit Required. Minor Use Permit approval required for a standalone cannabis nursery. Conditional Use Permit approval required if 75,000 square-feet or greater in the Residential Rural (RR) land use category.

Location. Cannabis nurseries shall not be located within one thousand (1,000) feet from any existing preschool, elementary school, junior high school, high school, library, park, playground, recreation or youth center, licensed drug or alcohol recovery facility, or licensed sober living facility. This requirement may be modified through Minor Use Permit approval to reduce the distance to six hundred (600) feet, or less than six hundred (600) feet from any library, park, playground, recreation center, licensed drug or alcohol recovery facility or licensed sober living facility through Conditional Use Permit approval subject to required findings.

Minimum Site Area. No minimum site area is required in the Agriculture (AG), Rural Lands (RL), and Industrial (IND) land use categories. A minimum site area of five (5) acres is required for the Residential Rural (RR) land use category.

Setbacks. The setback requirements below may be modified through Minor Use Permit approval, subject to required findings, except for setbacks required by the California Building Code or from wetland or riparian areas.

  • Indoor:
    • Within a fully enclosed building that meets required building setbacks.
    • Setback at least 100 feet from any existing offsite residence.
  • Outdoor:
    • Located at least 50 feet from riparian zones and 100 feet from wetland areas.
    • Setback at least 100 feet from any existing offsite residence.

Air Quality. Nurseries located on an unpaved road must provide a dust mitigation plan and evidence of organized maintenance.

Water. Sites in a groundwater basin at Level of Severity III shall offset water use at a 1:1 ratio. Sites in an Area of Severe Decline shall offset at a minimum 2:1 ratio. Water cannot be imported by vehicle from offsite sources.

Screening and Fencing Cannabis plants shall not be easily visible from offsite. All cannabis nursery activities shall occur within a fully enclosed fence at least six (6) feet in height, may be subject to modification in whole or in part by proof of other means or features that adequately secures and screens the operation.

Nuisance Odors. All cannabis nurseries shall be designed and operated in a manner that prevents cannabis nuisance odors from being detected offsite.