Chapter 127 — HEMP CULTIVATION

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

BOARD. The California Industrial Hemp Advisory Board.

COMMERCIAL HEMP ACTIVITY. This shall mean cultivation, possession, manufacture, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, delivery transport, distribution, or sale of hemp or a hemp product, and other similar activities defined under Business & Professions Code § 19300.5, as amended from time to time.

COMMISSIONER. The Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner.

CULTIVATION. This shall mean any activity involving the planting, growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of industrial hemp.

ESTABLISHED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTION. This shall mean any institution that is either:

(1) A public or private institution or organization that maintains land or facilities for agricultural research, including colleges, universities, agricultural research centers, and conservation research centers; or

(2) An institution of higher education (as defined in Section 1001 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) that grows, cultivates, or manufactures industrial hemp for the purposes research conducted under an agricultural pilot program or other agricultural or academic research.

INDUSTRIAL HEMP (OR HEMP). This shall have the same meaning as that term defined in § 11018.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.

OUTDOOR CULTIVATION. This shall mean cultivation of plants that are not grown within a fully enclosed and secure structure, and where such plants rely primarily on the sun for photosynthesis.

SECRETARY. The California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

SEED BREEDER. This shall mean an individual or public or private institution or organization that is registered with the Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner to develop seed cultivars intended for sale or research. SEED CULTIVAR. This shall mean a variety of industrial hemp.

SEED DEVELOPMENT PLAN. This shall mean a strategy devised by a seed breeder, or applicant seed breeder, detailing his or her planned approach to growing and developing a new seed cultivar for industrial hemp. (Ord. 2020-002, passed 2-11-20)

Outdoor cultivation of industrial hemp is expressly prohibited in all zones and planned development areas in the City of Riverbank, and no permit shall be issued therefore. No person shall establish, engage in, conduct, or allow industrial hemp to be cultivated outdoors anywhere within the city. (Ord. 2020-002, passed 2-11-20)