Industrial Hemp in Riverside County 

Over the last several years, California voters and the state legislature created a legal framework to enable
 
Ordinance No. 348.4931 establishes the permitting process and regulations for industrial hemp activities and became effective November 10th, 2020. However, the County is only responsible for permitting in the unincorporated County areas. Therefore, if you are located within an incorporated city, please contact that city to inquire about the city’s regulations.
 
Industrial hemp activities regulations can be found in Article XIXm of Ordinance No. 348.
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Contact Us!

For more information, please email PlanningHEMP@rivco.org.

Where Industrial Hemp is NOT allowed

All Industrial Hemp Activities are prohibited:

  1. within any structure permitted for residential occupancy,
  2. in the R-R Zone and R-A Zone on lots less than 20 gross acres,
  3. in the W-2 Zone on lots less than 5 gross acres,
  4. on lots in the R-R Zone and R-A Zone that do not receive water from an applicable water purveyor or have a permitted onsite in-ground well existing as of the effective date of Ordinance No. 348.4931,
  5. on lots located, entirely or partially, in the communities of Anza and Aguanga within the boundary of the Santa Margarita River Watershed, specifically located east of the Eastern Municipal Water District’s and Rancho California Water District’s service areas and north of Highway 79 South,
  6. on lots located, entirely or partially, in the community of Sage, specifically located east and south of the Eastern Municipal Water District’s service area and west of Bautista Road
  7. on lots located, entirely or partially, within the boundary of the Anza Borrego Watershed area within the unincorporated area of Riverside County,
  8. in the following zones: R-R-O, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R2-A, R-3, R-3A, R-T, R-T-R, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, C/V, C-C/V, WC-R, WCW, WC-WE, WC-E, R-D, N-A, W-2-M, W-1, W-E, M-R, M-R-A, and MU.
Where Industrial Hemp is allowed

OUTDOOR Industrial Hemp Cultivation

Key: CUP = Conditional Use Permit, PP = Plot Plan, Reg = By-right/no permit/Registration Certificate only, -- = Not Permitted
*See prohibited activities or situations listed in Section 19.1101 of Ordinance No. 348.


A-1, A-P, A-2, & A-D Zones

  1. Less than 10AC lot AND Adjacent to Residential Zone = Conditional Use Permit
  2. Less than 10AC lot AND NOT Adjacent to Residential Zone = Plot Plan
  3. Greater than 10AC but less than 20AC AND Adjacent to Residential Zone = Conditional Use Permit
  4. Greater than 10AC but less than 20AC AND NOT Adjacent to Residential Zone = By-Right / No Entitlement / Obtain TLMA – Planning Registration Certificate with no application
  5. Greater than 20AC but less than 160AC = By=Right / No Entitlement
  6. 160AC or greater = Conditional Use Permit


W-2 Zone

  1. Less than 5AC = Prohibited
  2. Greater than 5AC but less than 40AC = Conditional Use Permit
  3. Greater than 40AC but less than 160AC = By=Right / No Entitlement
  4. Greater than 160AC = Conditional Use Permit

R-R & R-A Zones

  1. Less than 20AC = Prohibited
  2. Greater than 20AC = Conditional Use Permit


INDOOR Industrial Hemp Cultivation

C-1/C-P, C-P-S, I-P, M-SC, M-M, M-H, A-1, A-P, A-2 and A-D Zones = Plot Plan

Applying for an Industrial Hemp Land Use Entitlements or Registration

The County of Riverside is now accepting land use entitlement applications (CUP or Plot Plan) or registration requests (by-right use) for industrial hemp cultivation activities. Filing Instructions are now available for the submittal of CUP/Plot Plan applications. Please visit the Applications webpage for applications and forms.

All industrial hemp activities certificates and permits issued by the County will require building permits (for construction) from Building and Safety, clearances from Environmental Health, and registration with the County Agricultural Commissioner.