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St. Joseph council approves zoning change to allow indoor cannabis cultivation in highway-business and light-industrial districts
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 2025-010 Aug. 18 to add 'indoor greenhouse including cannabis cultivation' as a conditional use in B2 and as a permitted use in the light industrial district; applicants described small-scale, sealed indoor operations and planning commission recommended approval after debate.
The St. Joseph City Council on Aug. 18 approved Ordinance 2025-010 to amend zoning code sections to permit indoor cannabis cultivation in two districts: as a conditional use in the B2 Highway 75 business district and as a permitted use in the light industrial district.
Planning staff described the ordinance language and told council the planning commission held a public hearing on Aug. 5 and voted separately on the two additions: a 3–1 vote to add the conditional use in B2 (reflecting concerns about suitability in retail-focused areas) and a 4–0 vote to permit cultivation in the light industrial district. The ordinance text references sections 502.54 and 506.62 of the city's zoning code and was presented as Ordinance 2025-010.
Applicants who are pursuing indoor cultivation at identified addresses addressed council questions about security, odor control, waste handling and production scale. One applicant described a sealed indoor operation using carbon and HEPA filtration and said transportation to retailers would be done by licensed transporters. “We have cameras, we have alarm systems that go to the police… Odor control, we use HEPA filters for mold and toxins. We use carbon filters for smell,” an applicant said, describing a sealed grow room and methods to manage plant waste as compostable material.
Council discussed distinctions between a municipal retail license the city is pursuing and private growers seeking to sell to distributors; one council member said the two activities are separate and asked staff to ensure public clarity. Council voted to approve the ordinance (motion carried; one councilmember voiced opposition) and then approved summary publication as Resolution 2025-057.
The ordinance amendment now enables indoor cultivation under the stated zoning conditions; applicants will still need state licensing and must meet Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) requirements for security, packaging and transport before beginning operations.
