Farmington adopts local ordinance to register cannabis and hemp retailers; limits set by state formula

On July 21 the Farmington City Council passed Ordinance 2025‑TAG‑004 to add Chapter 27 (cannabis and hemp retail registration) to city code, delete Chapter 20 (drug‑related devices), and amend the fee schedule for retail registration. The ordinance implements the local portion of a two‑step registration process established by the Minnesota legislature and the Office of Cannabis Management. City staff explained that cannabis businesses must first receive state approval from the Office of Cannabis Management and then obtain a local registration. "The registration process is a 2 part process for cannabis businesses," the presenter said, explaining the state‑then‑local workflow. The ordinance follows the state model ordinance and contains operational restrictions, including hours of retail sale (8 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Saturday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday for retail cannabis and hemp products) and a requirement that no odor from a registered business be detectable at the exterior property line by a person with a normal sense of smell. The ordinance also implements the population‑based limit on local retail registrations established by state law: one license per 12,500 residents (0–12,500 = 1; 12,501–25,000 = 2; 25,001+ = 3, etc.). Staff said the city will use the annual population estimate from the state demographer’s office to determine the cap; Farmington is just under the 25,000 threshold and therefore is set for two licenses once that threshold is met. Registrations will be processed on a first‑come, first‑served basis and must be renewed annually; staff reported no active local applications at the time of the meeting. Council discussion clarified the odor rule applies to odors generated by the business at its property line, not to a person using a product in public. Council member Steve asked for confirmation that the ordinance is based on the state model; staff confirmed, saying it "is using the model ordinance that was created by the Office of Cannabis Management, which has been pretty much what most municipalities across the state have been using." The ordinance also amends the fee schedule to add city registration fees and deletes the older drug‑related devices provisions as recommended by the police chief. Council members noted the ordinance is not final in the sense that real‑world experience may prompt future adjustments, but several members said they favored adopting the city’s local registration process now to be prepared for state approvals. Following motion and second, the council approved the ordinance by roll‑call vote.