Industrial Hemp Program

Anyone wishing to cultivate industrial hemp in Sonoma County must register with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) through the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (AWM).  In addition to state registration requirements, there are also local Sonoma County registration requirements.  Registration must be completed and approved before cultivation.

Those wishing to cultivate industrial hemp shall register as a grower, a seed breeder, or both.  Those wishing to produce and sell industrial hemp nursery stock for planting or cultivating must also possess a nursery license issued by CDFA, and may be required to register as a grower, a seed breeder, or both.  Nursery stock means any plant for planting or for propagation.

Do not plant or cultivate industrial hemp until registration has been approved.  Any planting or cultivation before registration is approved may result in crop destruction and violations for unpermitted cannabis cultivation.

The following links below will help you prepare your registration paperwork for submission to AWM:

• CDFA Industrial Hemp Program
• California Industrial Hemp Laws and Regulations (PDF: 1.09 MB)
• CDFA Industrial Hemp Registration Packet for Growers (PDF: 3.34 MB)
• CDFA Industrial Hemp Registration Packet for Seed Breeders (PDF: 3.27 MB)
• CDFA Nursery License Application (PDF: 84.54 kB)

  Forms and Reference Materials

• Sonoma County Industrial Hemp Ordinance (Chapter 37, Sonoma County Code) (PDF: 230 kB)
• AWM Industrial Hemp Registration Application (PDF: 285 kB)
• Sonoma County Industrial Hemp Best Management Practices (BMPs) (PDF: 233 kB)
• Industrial Hemp Registration Checklist (PDF: 256 kB)
• Industrial Hemp Registration Checklist Guidelines (PDF: 341 kB)
• AWM Site Suitability Mapping Application: http://sonomacounty.gov/AWM-map