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Planning staff reports 26 cannabis sites out of compliance; commissioners seek enforcement direction
Summary
County planning staff reported that of 59 licensed cannabis parcels, 26 are currently out of compliance with county requirements. Staff asked commissioners for direction on enforcement options including continued outreach, liens, misdemeanor enforcement, or permit revocation.
County planning staff updated the Okanogan County Board of Commissioners on efforts to bring cannabis cultivation sites into compliance and requested direction on next steps, saying recent reviews show an increase in noncompliant sites.
The department reported there were 55 licensed parcels in 2024 and 59 as of February 2025. Of those, 33 had completed annual registration in 2025 and 26 were out of compliance—up from 12 out of compliance in 2024, staff said. Staff described the compliance review process timeline: a site analysis is valid for one year and, with customary extensions, the permitting window can extend to about three years before an approval expires.
Planning staff said earlier outreach and quarterly letters have been sent to property owners and producers to gain compliance; some operators did not respond. The state licensing agency (Liquor and Cannabis Board, LCB) continues to issue state licenses even when county land-use compliance is in question, staff said, and the department had submitted comment on a pending state bill that would require the LCB to confirm local compliance before licensing.
Commissioners asked for a list of noncompliant growers, dates of last notices sent, and other documentation before pursuing harsher enforcement such as fines, liens, misdemeanor charges, or permit revocations. One commissioner suggested compiling that list and attempting more targeted outreach first; another noted the political sensitivity and urged commissioners to expect constituent calls if the county pursues revocations.
Staff proposed placing the item on a future agenda for fuller discussion; commissioners suggested scheduling it after many are back in the office, aiming for a meeting around the 17th or 18th of the next month. No formal enforcement action or revocation vote was taken at this meeting.
Staff also said the majority of landowners are local property owners but many producers who operate the sites are not local. Examples cited during the update included unpermitted large sheds found along Green Acres Road. Planning staff will prepare a list of noncompliant sites, the last date each was contacted, and sample letters for commissioners to review ahead of further action.
