Background
After the legalization of cannabis production, FVRD received a lot of interest and serious inquiries (between 20 and 40 inquiries weekly) from people wishing to develop cannabis production facilities. In consideration of the legalization of cannabis production and the high level of market interest in developing cannabis facilities, the FVRD Board adopted the Land Use Policy for Cannabis Production, Processing and Retail Sales in the Electoral Areas in 2019. The policy summarized the direction and intent to regulate cannabis in each electoral area. The implementation of this policy was separated into two phases.
- Phase 1 in which zoning bylaw amendments were made to prohibit Cannabis land uses in Electoral Areas D, E, F and H was completed in March 2020. The Board considered it an urgent priority to establish these prohibitions first.
- Phase 2 is to create enabling regulations to support cannabis production in the electoral areas that support cannabis land uses.
In 2021, a survey was carried out among Electoral Area residents, businesses and cannabis industry groups to obtain feedback on cannabis regulation. Of the respondents, 82% lived or owned properties in an electoral area. The survey identified several key concerns, including odour, light pollution, environmental impact, crime and safety, increased traffic, declining property values, conversion of homes into production facilities, avoiding residential areas, dealing with illegal operations, favouring small-scale production in the Chilliwack River Valley, promoting grower responsibility, and treating cannabis production like other agricultural products, and expediting the implementation of legalized activities.
Bylaw
The FVRD Board adopted Fraser Valley Regional District Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1723, 2023 at its meeting held on April 25, 2024.
With the adoption of the Consolidated Zoning Bylaw, the FVRD is in a position to advance the implementation of Phase 2 of the Land Use Policy for Cannabis Production, Processing and Retail Sales in the Electoral Areas. This phase involves implementing the unresolved components of the policy including introducing enabling regulations for electoral areas to support cannabis-related land uses.
The bylaw implements regulations for two different types of cannabis facilities based on Health Canada license types:
1. Micro Cannabis Production Facility
- Small-scale commercial growing, cultivating, germinating, producing, storing, warehousing, packaging or wholesale distribution of cannabis or cannabis products as authorized under the Cannabis Act. Consistent with Health Canada Micro-cultivation Licenses.
- Would be permitted in all zones and electoral areas where a Cannabis Production Facility is currently permitted.
| Federal License Requirements | Proposed FVRD Regulations |
- Limited to 200 square metres of growing area
- No area limit for non-cultivation activities and storage
- Processing limited to 600 kg per year
| - Allowed in Agricultural and Rural zones
- Minimum parcel size of 4 ha (10 acres)
- Maximum building gross floor area of 600 square metres
- Screening requirements
- Setbacks (same as livestock buildings)
|
2. Standard Cannabis Production Facility
- Large-scale commercial growing, cultivating, germinating, producing, storing, warehousing, packaging or wholesale distribution of cannabis or cannabis products as authorized under the Cannabis Act.
- Facilities often range from 2,000 square metres to 200,000 square metres
| Federal License Requirements | Proposed FVRD Regulations |
- No limit on the growing area
- No limit on the amount of cannabis that can be processed
| - Allowed only in Industrial Zones (General Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Resource Industrial 1)
- Setbacks and screening (are already laid out in zones for industrial uses)
|
Background
After the legalization of cannabis production, FVRD received a lot of interest and serious inquiries (between 20 and 40 inquiries weekly) from people wishing to develop cannabis production facilities. In consideration of the legalization of cannabis production and the high level of market interest in developing cannabis facilities, the FVRD Board adopted the Land Use Policy for Cannabis Production, Processing and Retail Sales in the Electoral Areas in 2019. The policy summarized the direction and intent to regulate cannabis in each electoral area. The implementation of this policy was separated into two phases.
- Phase 1 in which zoning bylaw amendments were made to prohibit Cannabis land uses in Electoral Areas D, E, F and H was completed in March 2020. The Board considered it an urgent priority to establish these prohibitions first.
- Phase 2 is to create enabling regulations to support cannabis production in the electoral areas that support cannabis land uses.
In 2021, a survey was carried out among Electoral Area residents, businesses and cannabis industry groups to obtain feedback on cannabis regulation. Of the respondents, 82% lived or owned properties in an electoral area. The survey identified several key concerns, including odour, light pollution, environmental impact, crime and safety, increased traffic, declining property values, conversion of homes into production facilities, avoiding residential areas, dealing with illegal operations, favouring small-scale production in the Chilliwack River Valley, promoting grower responsibility, and treating cannabis production like other agricultural products, and expediting the implementation of legalized activities.
Bylaw
The FVRD Board adopted Fraser Valley Regional District Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1723, 2023 at its meeting held on April 25, 2024.
With the adoption of the Consolidated Zoning Bylaw, the FVRD is in a position to advance the implementation of Phase 2 of the Land Use Policy for Cannabis Production, Processing and Retail Sales in the Electoral Areas. This phase involves implementing the unresolved components of the policy including introducing enabling regulations for electoral areas to support cannabis-related land uses.
The bylaw implements regulations for two different types of cannabis facilities based on Health Canada license types:
1. Micro Cannabis Production Facility
- Small-scale commercial growing, cultivating, germinating, producing, storing, warehousing, packaging or wholesale distribution of cannabis or cannabis products as authorized under the Cannabis Act. Consistent with Health Canada Micro-cultivation Licenses.
- Would be permitted in all zones and electoral areas where a Cannabis Production Facility is currently permitted.
| Federal License Requirements | Proposed FVRD Regulations |
- Limited to 200 square metres of growing area
- No area limit for non-cultivation activities and storage
- Processing limited to 600 kg per year
| - Allowed in Agricultural and Rural zones
- Minimum parcel size of 4 ha (10 acres)
- Maximum building gross floor area of 600 square metres
- Screening requirements
- Setbacks (same as livestock buildings)
|
2. Standard Cannabis Production Facility
- Large-scale commercial growing, cultivating, germinating, producing, storing, warehousing, packaging or wholesale distribution of cannabis or cannabis products as authorized under the Cannabis Act.
- Facilities often range from 2,000 square metres to 200,000 square metres
| Federal License Requirements | Proposed FVRD Regulations |
- No limit on the growing area
- No limit on the amount of cannabis that can be processed
| - Allowed only in Industrial Zones (General Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Resource Industrial 1)
- Setbacks and screening (are already laid out in zones for industrial uses)
|
Public Hearing Notice.pdf (56.7 KB) (pdf)
Corporate Reports 2023-2024
