Mendocino County’s Board of Supervisors recently addressed a long-standing confusion regarding the county’s cannabis ordinance. During their meeting on April 8, 2025, the board voted to maintain the current ordinance, which permits cultivators to grow up to 20,000 square feet of commercial cannabis on a single parcel if they hold two different cannabis cultivation business licenses (CCBLs).
The confusion arose because the county’s ordinance limits growers to 10,000 square feet of commercial cultivation per parcel with a single CCBL. However, cultivators can possess two types of CCBLs and may trade one license for another by submitting a completed application and paying the necessary fees. This led some growers to believe that they could exchange a nursery license for a cultivation license, effectively allowing them to cultivate an area totaling 20,000 square feet. The recent vote supports this interpretation of the ordinance.
Supervisor Madeline Cline expressed concern that allowing more commercial cannabis cultivation could adversely affect residential areas. She noted that her preference would have been to adhere to the original interpretation of the ordinance, which limited cultivation to 10,000 square feet per parcel. Cline stated, “The conflicts that exist at this point lead me to go back to what the original intent was. I hope the board can consider what is happening to some of the neighborhoods and homes, not just about the (cannabis) industry and the economic impact.”
The decision by the Board could lead to significant changes in how cannabis is cultivated in Mendocino County, balancing the needs of the industry with the concerns of local residents.
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