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Rio Blanco County imposes one‑year moratorium on natural medicine/healing centers
Summary
The county board adopted a temporary one‑year moratorium on new natural medicine or healing center applications in unincorporated Rio Blanco County, amended from an earlier shorter proposed period to allow staff time to draft zoning guidance.
The Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners voted on May 13 to adopt a temporary moratorium of one year on the submission, acceptance, processing and approval of applications to establish “natural medicine healing centers” in unincorporated parts of the county.
Why it matters: The moratorium pauses local permitting for businesses described in the county motion (the item was prompted by recently adopted statewide ballot language and local concern about appropriate zoning, timing, and public impacts). The pause allows staff time to research statutory limits and prepare zoning and licensing language for commissioners’ consideration.
What the board decided and why - Duration and scope: Commissioners amended an initial proposal and set the moratorium duration at one year from adoption (effective May 13, 2025 to May 13, 2026). The moratorium covers application intake and processing for natural medicine/healing center businesses in unincorporated county areas. - Reasoning: Staff and commissioners said more time is needed to analyze the state law changes underlying the item, to determine permissible local time/place/manner regulations, and to draft zoning text that aligns with Colorado Revised Statutes. Several commissioners said the extra time (one year) will give planning staff room to consult legal counsel and the planning commission. - Implementation: County staff was directed to draft a formal resolution with precise language (the board amended the motion on the floor to fix the sunset date) and to publish guidance to the public about the moratorium while the county drafts implementing regulations.
What the moratorium does not do: It does not criminalize existing businesses operating under current law nor does it prejudge future regulatory outcomes; rather, it halts the processing of new applications in unincorporated areas while staff and the board prepare regulatory language.
Next steps: Staff to draft the formal resolution language reflecting the one‑year moratorium and return it for publication and posting; planning staff to draft zoning and permitting standards for board review.
