On April 13, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 1682 regulating the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp in unincorporated Sutter County, and the ordinance became effective on May 13, 2021.  This ordinance is Chapter 412 of the Sutter County Ordinance Code (see link below), and it regulates the indoor and outdoor cultivation of industrial hemp, and requires everyone in the unincorporated County to annually obtain a license for cultivation or processing of hemp.

A few of the key requirements of this ordinance are:

• Industrial hemp may only be cultivated on land zoned: Agriculture (AG); Food Processing, Agricultural and Recreation Combining District (FPARC); or General Industrial (M-2). The cultivation and processing of hemp is prohibited in all other zoning districts.
• The cultivation or processing of hemp shall provide and maintain the following minimum setbacks, measured from the exterior boundary of the cultivation or processing area:
  • 1,000 feet from any incorporated city limit line, church, childcare center, hospital, park, school, school evacuation site or youth-oriented facility.
  • 500 feet from any off-site dwelling unit, not owned by the licensee. 
• Any structure(s) containing facilities used for the cultivation or processing of hemp shall have all permits required under State law and Sutter County Code.
• The cultivation or processing of hemp shall comply with all provisions of State law and associated regulations, applicable to the cultivation of hemp, including but not limited to, requirements for cultivation, sampling, laboratory testing, harvesting and crop destruction.

GIS Mapping

You can use the GIS lookup application link below to determine if a property is within 1,000 feet of a city limit line or sensitive receptor, or does not have the appropriate zoning for the cultivation or processing of hemp. 

• GIS Hemp Cultivation Lookup Application

Applications

Please note that two (2) separate licenses are required, one from the Agricultural Department and one from Development Services.

• Application to Ag Department for Cultivation License
• Application to Development Services for Processing License
• Cultivation License Requirements
• Processing License Requirements

Sutter County Code of Ordinances

Please read the preface on the Code of Ordinances page before viewing the ordinances on the Municode website.

• Code of Ordinances page

Complaint Form

If you wish to file a complaint regarding a violation of the Industrial Hemp Ordinance, please use the form below:

• Code Enforcement Complaint Form

Please contact the Sutter County Agricultural Department at 530-822-7500 if you have questions regarding the licensing of industrial hemp cultivations

Please contact the Sutter County Development Services Department at 530-822-7400 if you have questions regarding the licensing of industrial hemp processing facilities.