Industrial hemp means a crop that is limited to types of the plant Cannabis sativa L. having no more than three-tenths of 1 percent (0.3) tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contained in the dried flowering tops, whether growing or not; the seeds of the plant; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin produced therefrom. (California Health and Safety Code Section 11018.5)

Kings County allows the cultivation of industrial hemp in the unincorporated areas of the county as allowed by the California Food and Agricultural Code, the California Code of Regulations, and Kings County Hemp Ordinance NO. 696.  General information, including registration packets and Frequently Asked Questions, can be found on the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s website.

On October 20, 2020, Kings County enacted Ordinance NO. 696 setting limitations on the cultivation of industrial hemp in the unincorporated areas of the county. The ordinance replaced the previous urgency ordnance and puts into place requirements for Hemp cultivation.  Refer to the Ordinance for these requirements; a few of the more notable requirements are as follows,

• Cultivation restricted to General Agricultural Zone Districts (AG-20, AG-40)
• Setback of ½ mile from Sensitive Receptors, which includes schools, daycare facilities, and residential zoned areas.
• Minimum set back of two hundred feet (200’) from the property boundary of any parcel containing non-Hemp, agricultural cultivation not owned by the Applicant.
• Minimum setback of seven hundred feet (700’) from the property boundary of any parcel containing a residence not owned by the Applicant.
• The Applicant shall submit a destruction plan that addresses the destruction, removal and abatement of a non-compliant crop, an abandoned crop, and all Regrowth as part as the initial application for registration and permit.
• The applicant shall submit a bond or other form of security for one hundred percent (100%) of the estimated cost ($200 per acre) to fully abate a crop of hemp that was abandoned or does not meet the requirements for legal harvest.
• No cultivation is allowed on unincorporated land within the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) boundaries. 
• Limits hemp cultivation for research or educational purposes to 1 acre.

To help determine if your land may be eligible to grow industrial hemp, click on the link below to utilize the Kings County Development Agency’s GIS Tool to see the Agricultural Zone Districts, as well as the city and LAFCO boundaries.   

       Instructions for using the GIS Tool

1. Click the “GIS Viewer” link.

2. When you get to the county map, click on the Layer List button in the top right corner.

3. Click the arrow to the left of “Kings” to drop down the layer list.

4. Scroll down and check the “2008 Primary Sphere of Influence” box (This will appear as a blue line around the cities and represents the LAFCO Sphere of Influence).

5. Locate the field in question, as it relates to residential areas, schools, and the LAFCO Boundaries.

6. Check the “Kings Co General Plan 2035” box.  The green shaded areas will note the AG-20 and AG-40 zones.  Turning on this layer will obscure the satellite layer, so track where your site is while the layer loads.

Please contact our office for additional help using the tool if needed.

 
HEMP GROWER FORMS - Print out application forms for Growers and Breeders on the CDFA website.