Boulder County planning commission backs code change to allow mobile farm stands, asks clearer electrical language

The Boulder County Planning Commission voted unanimously on March 19 to recommend approval of docket DC 25-001, a text amendment to the county land use code to add a mobile farm stand option for accessory agricultural sales and to certify the docket for action by the Board of County Commissioners.

Staff said the code change is intended to reduce permitting time and cost barriers for farmers who sell directly to consumers. "We pivoted to the mobile farm stand concept because this was a feature that farmers expressed wanting throughout our engagement process," said Sabrina Torres, Sustainable Agricultural Planner for Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting.

The amendment renames the existing agricultural sales “structure” to an agricultural sales “unit” and adds language allowing units that are wheeled or otherwise portable. Jack Sheehan, planner with Community Planning and Permitting, said the code will measure required local sourcing by display area rather than by floor area so the 70% local-product requirement can be applied to portable setups. He noted…