A. General information. Unless otherwise defined, the County accepts the State definitions of various terms related to cannabis and cannabis activities as used in this article. Other applicable definitions shall be as provided in State law and other sections of County code, as amended. Changes to applicable definitions in State law shall take effect locally 90 days after the change takes effect at the State level.
B. Buffer easements. Executed agreements between willing neighbors to accept smaller buffer distances, subject to oversight and acceptance by the County.
C. Buffer exemptions. Automatic approval of existing buffers (“grandfathering”). Buffer exemptions are not allowed under this Article.
D. Buffer exceptions. Discretionary reduction of greater than ten percent for buffers based on the specific conditions at the site.
E. Buffer reductions. Discretionary reduction of up to ten percent for buffers based on the specific conditions at the site.
F. Canopy. See Section 12-04.03(I) of the Yolo County Code. With the exception of co-location, the maximum cultivation canopy at any site shall not exceed two-acres. Cultivation in the Capay Valley is limited to the canopy approved for each licensee as of the effective date of this article.
G. Capay Valley. This area shall be defined as the Capay Valley General Plan Study Area (not including the “Common Overlapping Area”) as established in the Capay Valley Area Plan.
H. CESA/ESA. California Endangered Species Act and federal Endangered Species Act, respectively.
I. Clarksburg. This area shall be defined as the growth boundary for the town of Clarksburg as established in the General Plan.
J. Co-Location. The issuance of more than one cannabis license to different ownerships or business entities on the same or contiguous parcels.
K. Cultivation site. Area approved for cultivation and related activities.
L. Early development agreements. As described in Final Policy adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 6, 2018. For the purposes of this article this term shall also include Cannabis Nursery/Processing Request For Proposal (RFP) applications that execute Development Agreements in advance of the adoption of this article.
M. Edible. Manufactured cannabis that is intended to be used, in whole or in part, for human consumption, including but not limited to chewing gum.
N. Existing licensees. Holders of a validly issued license on June 29, 2021, and license applications received as of June 29, 2021 for which all fees have been paid.
O. Farm dwelling. Pursuant to General Plan Policy LU-3.1, any residence located on land zoned and/or designated for agricultural use.
P. Greenhouse. A structure or thermally isolated area of a building that maintains a specialized sunlit environment used for and essential to the cultivation, protection, or maintenance of plants. For the purposes of this article, cultivation in a greenhouse (including mixed light) is considered an indoor use.
Q. Hoop house. A shade cloth structure that is readily removable and temporary in nature, without any equipment or utilities. The ends may be covered or left open and the material covering the structural members is readily removable and is typically removed and re-affixed frequently. For the purposes of this article, cultivation in a hoop house is considered an outdoor use.
R. Indoor(s). Within a fully enclosed and secure structure that complies with the California Building Code (CBC), as adopted by the County, that has a complete roof enclosure supported by connecting walls extending from the ground to the roof, and a foundation, slab, or equivalent base to which the floor is securely attached. The structure must be secure against unauthorized entry, accessible only through one or more lockable doors, and constructed of solid materials that cannot easily be broken through, such as 2” x 4” or thicker studs overlain with 3/8” or thicker plywood or equivalent materials. Plastic sheeting, regardless of gauge, or similar products do not satisfy this requirement. For the purposes of this article, cultivation in greenhouses and enclosed nurseries are considered indoor operations.
S. Mixed light cultivation. Cultivation of cannabis using light deprivation and/or artificial or controlled lighting. For the purposes of this article, mixed light cultivation occurs in a greenhouse, is considered an indoor use.
U. Permittee. The individual or entity operating pursuant to the Cannabis Use Permit.
V. Outdoor(s). Any location that is not "indoor(s)". For the purposes of this article, cultivation in fields and in hoop houses is considered outdoor operations.
X. Public park. An area of land used for community recreation with accommodations for children such as playground equipment and/or swimming facilities or that is regularly used by children, that is owned or operated by a public entity, County-owned campgrounds, and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area headquarters. Natural and/or open space areas, including State or Federal designated parks and forestlands as recognized within the Yolo County General Plan, are not included within this definition.
Y. Qualified odor professional. An individual or firm accepted by the Director as having expert qualifications in the analysis and control of odor, particularly cannabis odor. Expertise should include knowledge of the science of odors and odor control/abatement, experience with odor control technologies, and experience monitoring, modeling, and/or regulating odor.
AA. Shipping container. See Section 8-2.1408(QQ), Trailers and Shipping Containers, of this article.
CC. Vertical integration. Operations under the same ownership that hold more than one category of license use type.
DD. YCC. Yolo County Code of Ordinances.
EE. Yolo HCP/NCCP. Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan implemented by the Yolo Habitat Conservancy.
FF. Youth Center. See Section 11353.1 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(Ord. 1541, eff. October 14, 2021; as amended by § 2, Ord. 1564, eff. December 21, 2023)