Memorandum
Date: July 15, 2025
To: The Honorable Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Helen Owen, District One Supervisor
Subject: 1:00 P.M. - Consideration of an Interim Urgency Ordinance placing a Moratorium on the Issuance of Use Permits for Commercial Cultivation of Cannabis within the Unincorporated area of the County of Lake
Executive Summary:
As you will be aware, our predecessor Board of Supervisors directed staff work with a Task Force to develop recommended changes to portions of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance that comprise the “Cannabis Ordinance.” That Task Force provided preliminary advice to the Community Development Department (CDD) and was disbanded by our Board on March 18, 2025. CDD staff are now drafting a new Article 73 to Chapter 21 of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance.
However, I have significant concern moving forward with additional permitting of Cannabis operations in the absence of appropriate regulation is not in the interest of our County and the residents we were elected to serve. For our legal industry to thrive, and for permitted businesses to be viable, regulations need to be clear and well understood. Pausing permit issuance and taking reasonable time to amend and adopt zoning regulations, as needed, make good sense.
Therefore, I recommend our Board make necessary Findings and Adopt an Interim Urgency Ordinance placing a Moratorium on issuance of Use Permits for commercial cannabis cultivation, in the interest of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of Lake County.
Staff has advised, Pursuant to Section 65858 of the California Government Code, a four-fifths (4/5) vote is necessary to Adopt this Interim Urgency Ordinance. Thank you all for considering this urgent action.
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Recommended Action: Adopt the Interim Urgency Ordinance placing a Moratorium on the Issuance of Use Permits for Commercial Cultivation of Cannabis within the Unincorporated area of the County of Lake.