Cannabis cultivation sites include locations where cannabis is planted, grown, harvested, dried, cured, or trimmed. 

Land Use Permits

Zoning Permits for Indoor Cultivation up to 500 square feet and Mixed-Light Cultivation up to 2,500 square feet (ZPC)

• Permit Sonoma issues zoning permits for indoor cultivation up to 500 square feet for and mixed-light cultivation up to 2,500 square feet. Zoning permits are ministerial and will be issued once it can be verified that the operation meets all the standards within the ordinance.
  
  Application: Cannabis Cultivation Permit Application PJR-123

Zoning Permits for Outdoor Cultivation up to 10,000 square feet (APC)

• The Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures issues zoning permits for outdoor cultivation up to 10,000 square feet in Land Intensive Agriculture (LIA), Land Extensive Agriculture (LEA), and Diverse Agriculture (DA) zones only. Zoning permits are ministerial and will be issued once it can be verified that the operation meets all the standards within the ordinance.
  
  To apply: Cannabis Permits from Agriculture, Weights & Measures

Use Permits for Indoor Culivation over 500 square feet, Mixed-Light Cultivation over 2,500 square feet, and Outdoor Cultivation over 10,000 square feet (UPC)

• Permit Sonoma reviews use (discretionary) permits. Each application is reviewed and conditioned on a case-by-case basis. Each permit is subject to public notification and environmental review. A minor use permit may be approved administratively without a public hearing if one is not requested by the public.

Application: Cannabis Cultivation Permit Application PJR-123

Applicable Permits

Building, Well and Septic Permits

As applicable, from Permit Sonoma

• Instructions for completing Groundwater Well Monitoring Covenant and Easement Form (PDF: 51 kb)
• Groundwater Well Monitoring Covenant and Easement - Fillable Form (PDF: 77 kb)

Trip Generation Form

As applicable, from Permit Sonoma

• PJR-127 Cannabis Trip Generation Form (PDF: 118 kb)

Fire Prevention Permits, Review, and Inspection 

As applicable, from Permit Sonoma

Fire Prevention will review all Cannabis Cultivation applications with structures meeting certain criteria and be responsible for inspecting and monitoring for compliance. This includes Hoop House Permits. 

Hoop House Permits, Review, and Inspection 

A Cannabis Hoop House or temporary membrane structure permit is required for all hoop house permits associated with Cannabis Use Permits and agricultural permits. 

• Hoop House Membrane Structures for Cannabis Cultivation (Bulletin B-45)

To apply: Temporary Hoophouse Permit Application

Cultivation Inspections and Canopy Verifications

The Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures is responsible for inspecting all cultivation sites and for conducting canopy verifications for tax purposes. For indoor and mixed-light cultivation, a canopy verification should be conducted quarterly. For outdoor cultivation, a canopy verification should be conducted in the fall before harvest. 

 The following is true for all cannabis permits:

1. Operators and employees must be at least 21 years of age
2. Operators shall be subject to background searches
3. Local hiring preference for business
4. Compliance with occupational safety requirements (Cal/OSHA, wage and hour laws, etc)

Site Development Criteria

1. Required adherence to Building Code and Grading Ordinance
2. Property Setbacks (outdoor and mixed light) - 100 feet from property lines, 300 feet from occupied residences and business on adjacent properties, 1,000 feet from a school providing education to K-12 grades, a public park, childcare centers, or an alcohol or drug treatment facility (park setback may be reduced with a use permit when a physical equivalent separation exists.)
3. Property Setbacks (indoor) - setback 600 feet from a school providing education to K-12 grades
4. Biotic Assessment required for sensitive habitat areas
5. Cultivation shall not be located on slopes that exceed 15%
6. No tree removal (unless subject to a use permit)
7. Protection of prime farmlands- no conversion of agricultural land unless mitigated
8. Cultural and historic resource protection- avoid or mitigate impacts to resources
9. Vegetation and fencing required for screening

1. Site Security Plan required
2. Odor filtration systems required (indoor/mixed light)
3. All lighting shall be fully contained and not visible from neighboring properties
4. Stormwater Management Plan and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan required
5. All scales must be registered by the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures
6. Fire Prevention Plan required
7. Waste Management Plan required
8. Waste Water Discharge Management Plan required
9. Renewable Energy requirements- must be 100% renewable (via power company or on site) or carbon offsets purchased (generators are prohibited)
10. Water Supply- on site water provided by municipal, surface, or well water. Within zone 4 there shall be no net increase in water use through implementation of conservation methods

1. Annual permit requirement
2. Annual inspections required
3. Groundwater monitoring required
4. Noise Limits - must not exceed noise limits within the General Plan

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has guidelines for the use of pesticides in the cultivation of cannabis. The  guidelines provide criteria for: (1) pesticides that cannot be used in cannabis cultivation, and; (2) pesticides that are legal to use on cannabis under state law. For more information, visit DPR Cannabis Cultivation webpage.

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

The Deparement of Agriculture/Weights & Measures has Best Management Practices (BMPs) for cannabis cultivation. 

Read the Best Management Practices for Cannabis Cultivation