Small Cannabis Grows Promised Quick Permits in Humboldt County This Year
Press release from the County of Humboldt:
Important decisions are made at this time of year. If you are considering cultivating cannabis this season without an approved permit and state license, please consider applying for an expedited permit for a small cultivation area of 2,000 square feet or less. These small cultivation permits can be completed within 30 days of application submittal. You have time to obtain a permit to cultivate this year and can find details for this new option on the Small Cultivation Ordinance web page.
Applications Assistance meetings can be scheduled by calling 707-445-7541 to help with your eligibility and application submission. The Planning and Building Department has assigned staff to the counter who are ready to process these applications specifically.
It is not legal to cultivate cannabis without a county permit and a state license, except for personal use. Details for this option are detailed in the Personal Use Ordinance.
Code Enforcement will again be actively surveying for unpermitted cultivations of all sizes. Whether you received a warning letter at the end of 2019 or not, if you are cultivating without a permit in 2021 you are likely to receive a Notice to Abate Nuisance and Notice of Violation. The Planning and Building Department would much rather work with you and issue you a permit.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
“The ordinance facilitates permitting of small new and pre-existing cannabis farms adjacent to homes that existed prior to January 1 2016 by establishing a streamlined permitting pathway.”
Not a path forward unless you have been breaking the law since January 1 2016. Also require that you own at least 5 acres.
Neither of your opinions are supported by your quote.
It says “small new” farms and “pre-existing” farms.
This is another money grab there only doing this to open an avenue to get more money since most the bigger grows are already setup and they squeezed them dry already. I dont believe that it will be a quick process either. They can get away with promising a quick process and not actually delivering it because there’s no way to hold them accountable, even after you give them a bunch of money. The county is the new corporation of extortion from its own residents. And theres no way to hold them accountable.
What about tenants in common? Can a “land partner” get a legal permit for their homestead if their co owner wants no part of it at all? The previous permits went with the land so all owners had to be on the permit application. The wording sounds like the permit goes with the “homestead” and not the deed. Any wise consultants out there have info?
All owners must be in the agreement.
We’re from the government and we’re here to help?
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/2-investigates/family-says-county-kicked-them-off-their-own-land-living-rv/5UIFW7X64BCKJAFANPKYWBZFCU/
What makes a homestead?
Water source for Irrigation is permitted and non-diversionary;
So easy. To stay black market.
Until hcso and planning see you from the satellites.
Sees what? My personal use hemp crop? I have the receipt for the seeds and everything! If this stuff has THC in it I’m gonna be pissed!
Too bad hemp was just banned in Humboldt
Not for personal use.
The 200k satellite program is dead. These are idle threats.
And putting onerous restrictions like zero diversion even for flow into storage during the wet season, while in the same breath promising lightening fast permitting, is riDICKulous, and cruel.
Humboldt planning, ESTELLE, and the rest of the pencil-pushing scribes, and self-declared “weed experts” in the brick house up north, clearly do not have the small guy in mind.
They are out of their minds.
It’s not dead but it’s not what people think it is. The county isn’t zooming around in real time, they’re overlaying pictures and comparing.
The satellite images are still happening- trust me. I was in there the other day, they pulled me right up. 😵
Estelle is no longer on the BOS. The new “boss” for SoHum is Michelle Bushnell.
Same as the old boss?
We should all know soon.
True. But it was Estelle who signed off on the docs in October 2020.
Unless you have a well it’s water diversion. Irrigation for something not pot won’t fly. If there’s pot there , you better have a deep well or it’s a felony. Period..
Not so fast ‘A’! I have a ‘horizontal, groundwater well’, where the source is only about 8-10 feet deep. A Hydrogeologist inspected it and wrote a report to certify the above, which is, by it’s nature, non-jurisdictional.
Good luck if you get busted. Their scientist are the end all be all. California a joke. If your not on a stream , we talking different story
“’I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
“I’m from the government, bend over” 😂
Is everybody feeling “safe” and “free” yet?
Is it still a month and easy if you are in an impacted watershed?
Crooks ! All of em !
Soo.. Rain catchment. Could that be permitted and non diversionary?
Yes it is possible not diversionary but very costly to permit and build with grading, engineer, equipment operator costs etc…and you have to drain completely at end of season to avoid potential invasive species.
You need about 100k gallon rain catchment storage to serve 2000sqft for the ENTIRE SEASON.
That’s big $. And another huge hassle to either permit and install that giant rain catchment tank, or fiddling around with scores of equally costly, smaller, no permit needed tanks.
And what if there isn’t enough rainfall?
It’s set up to fail the little guy. We’re talking about multiple strict rules for a puny ass 2000sqft grow. STFU.
While every single permit holder has FLOODED the black market with their the kiss-county-butt crop.
Can a spring/pond on a property that dosent flow to other properties and far from and any connecting streams get permitted and not be considered diversionary. Spring box?
To my understanding, if a pond overflows into a Class 1, 2 or 3 waterway, it is hydrologically connected, which makes it ‘arguably’ jurisdictional. But. People are fighting that. ‘(Springs)’ that surface and don’t flow off the property are non-jurisdictonal.
Research California’s Porter Collogne (sp) Act from the 1960’s, which has long governed water rights in CA. That is foundational information that CDFW is now disregarding.
Yes! Don’t roll over just to get your permit! People / neighbors should band together. Push for your rights!! CDFW and the Water Board are trying to usurp all water as ‘property of the state’.
Thank you… This is the info I though ive heard and need to look more into. I got springs that hold water year round that naturally dont flow over are far other then during the heaviest of winter rains but even then it’s not any where near off the property or connected
They’re unloading their smoke/ash fire weed on the black market.
The county/state will never have growers in full compliance, legal or illegal.
It is in Eastern Colorado.
Yeah come into the light , theres no reason to hide in the shadows anymore.the planning department,fish and game, and sheriff’s department is here for you !!!!! Were on your side, WE REPRESENT YOU !!!!
I find these PR stunts by the county so disingenuous for starters let’s say you get the 2000 or less square foot permit from the county you still have to apply with the state for a state license which requires you to deal with all the same state water board fish and game and ceqa requirements that the 23-acre grow in arcata has to abide by. The fact is that grows under 2,000 ft², hell grows under 10,000 ft² are not economically viable and don’t make sense when you have to factor in all the outrageous requirements to receive a license mainly dealing with water issues and bringing your property into compliance.
So has anyone read or understand the “Personal Use Ordinance?”
I hadn’t, I’d heard rumor of a new 400 square-foot allowance but thought that was just the canopy of a person’s 6 personal, upon reading it’s 400sqft for “medical” (no plant count specified.)
So does that mean we can have 6 personal. Plus 400 sqft medical? No problems??
Or just 6 personal/medical occupying no more than 400sqft?
And will the waterboard decide to independently come down on that 400sqft medical?
Because one waterboard cop told me the state of California allows you to cultivate medical marijuana, but the waterboard won’t allow you to irrigate it.
Same guy tried to tell us that according to Waterboard POV it was 6 plants “per parcel,” not
“per household.”
Imo, there’s too many rulemakers conposing too many rules, and not enough co-communication.
Raising the question whose rules trump the others?
// “Same guy tried to tell us that according to Waterboard POV it was 6 plants “per parcel,” not
“per household.”//
It’s not a Water Boards requirement, it’s 64. Under Prop. 64, Californians can grow up to 6 plants for their personal, recreational use (per parcel, not per person).
Here is the Water Boards requirement for small personal grows:
// “The Cannabis Cultivation General Order allows for an exemption for personal use so long as the cannabis cultivator disturbs less than 1,000 square feet of land, complies with the requirements of the Cannabis Policy, and cultivates on slopes of less than 20 percent (coalitions and cooperatives cannot claim this exemption). If you are diverting surface water for any purpose, including personal or commercial cannabis cultivation, you must have a legal water right.”//
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/cannabis/faqs.html
And Humboldt county sheriff /planning said 6 *per residence.*
Make sure those residences are permitted.
I would suggest consulting a cannabis attorney as your first interaction before applying for a permit or growing personal.
No one is consulting a cannabis lawyer for 6 personal . You have been reading way too many regulations. Just ignore them, like we have for years. If you actually believe all the permittees suddenly became i-dotting, T-crossing, toe liners I have a beachfront acreage in Colorado to sell you. The black market is swimming in “legal” herb. And those same farms routinely push the sqft boundaries and slap in patches that aren’t mapped or tracked. It’s a compost show.
“4. Cultivation is outdoor within permitted or ag exempted hoophouses or greenhouses without the use of lights or fans or other components which would otherwise require the use of electrical power; and…”
What about folks who live on the grid? No electricity in a GH? No lights in a hoop?
From what I understand, Humboldt County allows for lights / electricity to be used in the initial growing stages, before they are transplanted into a hoop house. After then, it’s sunlight and tarps that make it work.
Oh sure :/ SMALL CANNABIS GROWS PROMISED QUICK (DEATH) PERMIT IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY THIS YEAR ;/. Step right up.. and fork over all that chedda before we completely tank your industry approving excessive grows that didn’t even HAVE to comply with CEQA.. AND don’t worry folks.. no small Indy power generators FOR YOU.. only massive diesel scenes need apply.. Just remember if that this is a dry farm permit ONLY! And you can give all your permaculture more water than u give your cannabis ‘cause we know what’s best for YOU..
Is it profitable? Who Cares.. as long as our department gets paid to push papers it’s FINE..
// “…approving excessive grows that didn’t even HAVE to comply with CEQA”//
I’d be interested to know what you mean by this. CEQA is pretty airtight — that’s why close to 90% of growers across the State have not made it through to Annual status.
Where have growers of any size been able to get around CEQA and get an annual?
He meant that they were given an interim or provisional. He didn’t mention annual anywhere in his post.
I find your next post very interesting. Do you think the state will just extend the deadline? I don’t think they will cut 90% of their revenue.
// “He meant that they were given an interim or provisional.”//
Not sure I agree that’s what he meant, but perhaps you’re correct. He seemed to imply that there were bigger grows that got special CEQA treatment but I could be wrong.
// “Do you think the state will just extend the deadline?”//
This last extension (more than two full years) was the fourth in a series for temp/interim/provisional extensions. We were told it was the last one. Who knows what the Legislature will do.
At the end of the year when all the Provisionals expire, it will have been 4 full years that licensees have been given to become fully CEQA compliant. At some point all involved have to face the reality that attempting to CEQA a new ag industry on non-ag lands is a daunting and expensive task. (yes, I know the industry isn’t exactly ‘new’, but it’s new in that it’s facing CEQA for the first time). It will be hard to argue that 4 years isn’t long enough.
Look at Mendocino County — they have next to given up and have basically admitted that they are going to fail in the ENTIRE county to get their many applications through CEQA in time. They know there’s just not much hope.
At this point, it’s not longer a time issue, but basically a funds issue — if you had enough money and your site is able to pass CEQA at all, then you likely made it through. If not, more time isn’t your biggest need. CEQA is brutal and has been state law since the 70s. The chatter around here that big ag (wineries, etc.) gets a pass is mostly nonsense – big ag simply has the money to hire the specialists to get them through the mire. They can afford to buy the land that will pass and fund the associated improvements (road, deep wells, etc.).
If not on a parcel with an existing EIR to piggyback onto (and that’s the massive majority of those 8,000+ Provisionals), it’s a very hard row to hoe for the little guy – getting clear of the weeds is damn near impossible.
// “I don’t think they will cut 90% of their revenue.”//
I suspect it won’t cut their revenue by more than 10-20% and that will be quickly made up. The small, in the hills outfits will make up the vast majority of expired licenses, but they don’t add up to a hill of beans revenue wise compared to a couple million sq ft grows. Big grows on Ag land pump in the tax money in volume mom/pop can hardly imagine. The triangle is an efficiency nightmare for everyone — State included.
I certainly can’t predict the future, but in a way I have – I moved. Getting ag land which already operates under an existing AG EIR (Environmental Impact Report) through the process, while still expensive for the small guy, is doable. I’ve been involved several times, done it once for my own site, and am in the process of the second round on a new parcel just purchased. Daunting, but doable.
I wish I had better news, but I’ll end with one of my favorite statements which only needs a small bit of modification to fit the circumstances … “If someone shows you who they are, believe them.” In this case, 4 years is plenty enough to know how it goes for the small licensed grower in the Triangle. Believe it.
Thanks for the insight.
From my understanding and referencing multiple emails from the PD in Humboldt. Once a applicant passes the planning commission they are given the CEQA documentation which has already been prepared.
Re Examination of the article put out by LOCO..
‘In approving the proposal, the Humboldt County Planning Commission found that a full environmental impact report isn’t necessary. Instead it accepted a less-stringent environmental review document called a mitigated negative declaration, or MND.’
Soo.. how is it they can clear the red tape hurdles for Giant operations.. but somehow not for small Farmers?
CEQA requirements can be good and bad. Often in the case of Cannabis, it seems to me that in some cases it is miss applied. The State Cannabis board even requires CEQA for a dispensary with no “Environmental” effects generally what so ever..
It seems insane to require CEQA for essentially a small cannabis victory garden. Under a certain sq ft.. CEQA.. as I understand is generally meant for large projects.. I could see a CEQA report in application to larger projects… or even cumulative impact studies..
“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
‘But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.’
Wish u had better news also JB.. but thanks again for your clarification and insights..
See California senate bill SB 59.
If passed would lengthen the CEQA deadline to 2028
Cam a guy get a permit for an outdoor grow in a residential neighborhood? Asking for a friend
Btw, it a court battle between the State and Harrens Labs, it was today revealed that of the 9,950 State licenses issued in total, 8,280 of them are Provisionals and only 1,670 are Annuals.
That’s 83% of the licenses in the State that will be gone at the end of the year if they don’t manage to get the rest of the way through CEQA (which is the big holdup).
Those numbers are pretty accurate
What a mess
You can pull the figures from Cdfa website
Only the cultivation related licenses. The BCC hasn’t allowed the same sort of bulk downloads for their licenses for almost a year now. I thought the total was interesting.
They are definitely going to extend provisional licenses again. If CEQA is so powerful, as JB claims, then why can Gavin Newsom keep extending it whenever he wants. Most small licensed farms in my neighborhood have completed the necessary requirements laid out by the county to pass CEQA and are waiting on the inept county to give them an annual permit so they can get an annual license. It’s the big new farms that still haven’t passed CEQA and Gavin will wait till they do to drop the hammer.
Seriously though don’t fall for the humboldt county planning departments scams. The HCPD along with the sheriffs department are a gang of thieves.
This saves my whole life. I cried while getting the OK from Mary Jane, the small time cannabis fairy god mother
Can anyone elaborate on the precise rules set in place for these rural residential permits? Does your parcel have to be a certain size? Do you need variance permits from neighbors? If your on city water can you circumvent the a lot of the state bullshit? Asking for a friend lol