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Isanti County keeps homestead requirement in cannabis cultivation rules; social-equity applicants express concern
Summary
The Isanti County Board adopted an amendment restricting cannabis cultivation in ag/residential zones to homesteaded properties. Several social-equity applicants and residents urged removing the homestead requirement, saying leasing limitations and banking barriers make it hard for small operators to comply.
The Isanti County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 adopted an amendment to the county cannabis ordinance that requires outdoor cultivation in agriculture/residential zoning to be conducted on property where the operator lives (a homestead requirement).
During the public hearing several people who said they are social-equity applicants told the board the homestead requirement could bar them from operating in the county. Michael Fuhr, who said he and an applicant hold a state license via the lottery, asked the board to "take that line out" because leasing arrangements and limited bank financing for cannabis businesses make homesteading impossible for many applicants. Dan Bergerson, who said he and his wife are social-equity applicants, made a similar plea: requiring operators to live on the property would force some small operators to buy additional houses or forgo operating in the county.
Residents also raised safety and environmental questions. One resident urged the ordinance require trained operators when heavy equipment or herbicides are used; another grower replied that many outdoor growers use organic controls such as neem oil rather than herbicides.
Planning staff told the board the draft ordinance mirrors existing county rules for home-occupation-style uses in ag/residential zones and was written to protect small local operations and reduce the risk that large, well-funded outside companies would displace local growers. The sheriff's office noted enforcement limits but flagged that criminal laws already address unsafe equipment operation or impairment on the job.
After deliberation, the board voted to adopt the proposed ordinance with the homestead requirement intact; the transcript records the motion carrying unanimously. Planning staff said the full ordinance text and maps are available on the county website.
What happens next: The amended ordinance will be posted online and used in reviewing cultivation permit applications; staff said the county will continue to review zoning language as the state regulatory environment evolves.
