Sonoma County Cannabis Program

Cannabis Ordinance Multi-Tenant Urgency Moratorium - Scheduled for September 21, 2021 at or after 1:30 PM

The County of Sonoma Cannabis Program is proposing an interim moratorium on multi-tenant cannabis cultivation permits.

The Sonoma County Zoning Code Section 26-88-254(f)(2) currently authorizes the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures and the Permit and Resource Management Department to issue multiple zoning permits to different applicants on the same property when a grow of the same size would require a use permit if proposed by one applicant (“multi-tenant permits”). The proposed urgency ordinance would establish an interim moratorium on multi-tenant permits by removing County Code Section 26-88-254(f)(2). The ordinance would thus require co-locating cannabis applicants to obtain a use permit if required based on the total cultivation area on the parcel. Current multi-tenant permittees would need to renew authorization with a use permit.

Summary Report (PDF: 399 KB)
Interim Urgency Ordinance (PDF: 168 KB)

Link to Item Materials on Board of Supervisors Agenda Website

Public Hearing Notice (PDF: 195 KB)

Cannabis Program Update & Environmental Impact Report

For more information on the Cannabis Program Update & EIR, click here.

Cannabis Program Update

Published 06-11-2021

On May 18, 2021, the Board voted 5-0 to reject the Planning Commission’s recommendation to adopt the Commercial Cannabis Cultivation in Agricultural and Resource Areas Ordinance, also known as Chapter 38, which would have streamlined permitting for cannabis cultivation within Agricultural and Resource zoned parcels in Sonoma County. Read the Board Summary Report and Attachments here.

The Board of Supervisors directed staff to complete a comprehensive update of the cannabis program, which includes review and potential update to the County Code, as well as conducting an Environmental Impact Report, as expeditiously as possible.

The project launching phase focuses on collecting stakeholders' interests and concerns, which will assist in developing materials to conduct a Board Workshop on September 28, 2021, resulting in the identification of the Board's cannabis policy goals that will be the basis for the scope of the environmental impact report.

Staff anticipates the following dates as key milestones: