Sonoma County Cannabis Program
Cannabis Program Update: Planning Commission Hearing - August 7, 2025 at or after 1:00 p.m.
On August 7, 2025, at or after 1:00 p.m., in the Board of Supervisors Chambers located at 575 Administration Drive, Room 102A in Santa Rosa, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Cannabis Program Update.
Proposed Action: Staff recommends the Planning Commission deliberate and provide direction to staff on the Cannabis Program Update. Final action on recommending the Cannabis Program Update and certification of the Final EIR will be considered at a later hearing, which will be noticed in advance.
Link to Planning Commission Meeting Information
Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance Update
On May 6, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 6515 amending the Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance (Chapter 35 of the Sonoma County Code). This ordinance amended the cannabis cultivation tax rates; other cannabis business tax rates remain the same.
- New tax rates effective July 1, 2025:
- Cultivation:
- Outdoor: $0.36 per square foot
- Mixed-light: $1.15 per square foot
- Indoor: $3.00 per square foot
- Cultivation:
Multi-Tenant Ordinance Update
On June 6, 2023 the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 6436 amending the Cannabis Land Use Ordinance. The ordinance permanently amends the multi-tenant provision in Section 26-88-250(f)(2) to only allow ministerial review of smaller-scale multi-tenant cannabis cultivation permits.
Section 26-88-254(f)(2) has been amended to read as follows:
Multi-Tenant Operations. Multiple zoning permits may be issued on a single parcel provided that the aggregate cultivation area does not require a use permit per Table 1 A-D Allowed Cannabis Uses and Permit Requirements.
This change was previously established by Urgency Ordinance 6354 on September 21, 2021 and extended by Urgency Ordinance 6356 on October 26, 2021, until September 10, 2023.
Revised Department of Cannabis Control Regulations
On November 10, 2022, the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced the adoption of new regulations. Among the changes is a revised definition of outdoor cultivation to include light deprivation as an allowable activity.
Although the definition of outdoor cultivation has changed at the state level, the County's definitions remain unchanged and in effect. As such, conducting light deprivation continues to require a local permit for mixed-light cultivation. The County cannot pursue any interim ordinance updates (including changes to definitions) related to the current comprehensive program update while that process is ongoing.
Below are the current County of Sonoma definitions of outdoor and mixed-light cultivation per Sec. 26-04-020:
- Cannabis Cultivation - Mixed-Light. Cannabis cultivation in a greenhouse or other similar structure using natural light, light deprivation, and/or any combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting.
- Cannabis Cultivation - Outdoor. Cannabis cultivation using no artificial lighting conducted in the ground or in containers outdoors.
Read the new DCC regulations on the DCC website.
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