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Board amends county code to revise farm‑stand rules, including on‑site growing requirement
Summary
Solano County supervisors approved a zone text amendment updating farm‑stand definitions, on‑site growing requirements and related rules; staff retained a 50% on‑site growing standard in most agricultural zones and clarified provisions for larger farm stands and nursery stock.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors conducted a noticed public hearing and moved to adopt a zone text amendment to update county code sections governing farm stands in unincorporated Solano County.
Planning staff said the amendment revises the farm‑stand definition, clarifies what agricultural products can be sold, maintains a 50% on‑site‑grown requirement in most agricultural zoning districts (and 25% in the Suisun Valley districts), and adds flexibility for farm stands larger than 2,500 square feet so that produce may be grown elsewhere within Solano County under a documented contractual agreement with the farm‑stand operator. The amendment also clarified that nursery stock may be sold only if produced in Solano County to minimize invasive‑pest risks.
The board opened the public hearing; Lisa Howard of the Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association stated the group supports the changes and noted staff and counsel had accommodated stakeholders’ suggested wording. Planning commissioners had recommended the change earlier, and the Airport Land Use Commission concluded the text amendment was consistent with airport land use compatibility plans.
The board moved and seconded the staff recommendation and waived further reading of the ordinance. The transcript shows the board moved the item to the next agenda item after public hearing and procedural motions; the board’s recorded action on subsequent items indicates staff’s recommendation advanced. The ordinance identifies threshold sizes for different permitting levels and requires building permits for farm‑stand gross floor areas over 120 square feet.
Ending
The amendment is intended to preserve agricultural character while offering greater flexibility for larger farm stands and to reduce pest‑risk from out‑of‑county nursery stock. Planning staff will implement the changes and update outreach materials, including a farm‑stand brochure with size and permitting tables.
