1     
AGRICULTURAL LAND USE REGULATION

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Scott H. Chew

5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions related to land use regulation by local entities.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     prohibits a municipality or county from restricting the type of crop that may be
13     grown in certain areas;
14          ▸     prohibits regulation by a municipality or county of an industrial hemp producer
15     licensee in conflict with specified statutes and jurisprudence; and
16          ▸     makes technical changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          10-9a-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 384
24          10-9a-528, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2019, First Special Session, Chapter 5
25          17-27a-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 384
26          17-27a-525, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2019, First Special Session, Chapter 5
27     

28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 10-9a-501 is amended to read:

30          10-9a-501. Enactment of land use regulation, land use decision, or development
31     agreement.
32          (1) Only a legislative body, as the body authorized to weigh policy considerations, may
33     enact a land use regulation.
34          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a legislative body may enact a land use
35     regulation only by ordinance.
36          (b) A legislative body may, by ordinance or resolution, enact a land use regulation that
37     imposes a fee.
38          (3) A legislative body shall ensure that a land use regulation is consistent with the
39     purposes set forth in this chapter.
40          (4) (a) A legislative body shall adopt a land use regulation to:
41          (i) create or amend a zoning district under Subsection 10-9a-503(1)(a); and
42          (ii) designate general uses allowed in each zoning district.
43          (b) A land use authority may establish or modify other restrictions or requirements
44     other than those described in Subsection (4)(a), including the configuration or modification of
45     uses or density, through a land use decision that applies criteria or policy elements that a land
46     use regulation establishes or describes.
47          (5) A municipality may not adopt a land use regulation, development agreement, or
48     land use decision that restricts the type of crop that may be grown in an area that is:
49          (a) zoned agricultural; or
50          (b) assessed under Title 59, Chapter 2, Part 5, Farmland Assessment Act.
51          Section 2. Section 10-9a-528 is amended to read:
52          10-9a-528. Cannabis production establishments, medical cannabis pharmacies,
53     and industrial hemp producer licensee.
54          (1) As used in this section:
55          (a) "Cannabis production establishment" means the same as that term is defined in
56     Section 4-41a-102.
57          (b) "Industrial hemp producer licensee" means the same as the term "licensee" is

58     defined in Section 4-41-102.
59          [(b)] (c) "Medical cannabis pharmacy" means the same as that term is defined in
60     Section 26-61a-102.
61          (2) (a) (i) A municipality may not regulate a cannabis production establishment in
62     conflict with:
63          (A) Title 4, Chapter 41a, Cannabis Production Establishments, and applicable
64     jurisprudence; and
65          (B) this chapter.
66          (ii) A municipality may not regulate a medical cannabis pharmacy in conflict with:
67          (A) Title 26, Chapter 61a, Utah Medical Cannabis Act, and applicable jurisprudence;
68     and
69          (B) this chapter.
70          (iii) A municipality may not regulate an industrial hemp producer licensee in conflict
71     with:
72          (A) Title 4, Chapter 41, Hemp and Cannabinoid Act, and applicable jurisprudence; and
73          (B) this chapter.
74          (b) The Department of Agriculture and Food has plenary authority to license programs
75     or entities that operate a cannabis production establishment.
76          (c) The Department of Health has plenary authority to license programs or entities that
77     operate a medical cannabis pharmacy.
78          (3) (a) Within the time period described in Subsection (3)(b), a municipality shall
79     prepare and adopt a land use regulation, development agreement, or land use decision in
80     accordance with this title and:
81          (i) regarding a cannabis production establishment, Section 4-41a-406; or
82          (ii) regarding a medical cannabis pharmacy, Section 26-61a-507.
83          (b) A municipality shall take the action described in Subsection (3)(a):
84          (i) before January 1, 2021, within 45 days after the day on which the municipality
85     receives a petition for the action; and

86          (ii) after January 1, 2021, in accordance with Subsection 10-9a-509.5(2).
87          Section 3. Section 17-27a-501 is amended to read:
88          17-27a-501. Enactment of land use regulation.
89          (1) Only a legislative body, as the body authorized to weigh policy considerations, may
90     enact a land use regulation.
91          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a legislative body may enact a land use
92     regulation only by ordinance.
93          (b) A legislative body may, by ordinance or resolution, enact a land use regulation that
94     imposes a fee.
95          (3) A land use regulation shall be consistent with the purposes set forth in this chapter.
96          (4) (a) A legislative body shall adopt a land use regulation to:
97          (i) create or amend a zoning district under Subsection 17-27a-503(1)(a); and
98          (ii) designate general uses allowed in each zoning district.
99          (b) A land use authority may establish or modify other restrictions or requirements
100     other than those described in Subsection (4)(a), including the configuration or modification of
101     uses or density, through a land use decision that applies criteria or policy elements that a land
102     use regulation establishes or describes.
103          (5) A county may not adopt a land use regulation, development agreement, or land use
104     decision that restricts the type of crop that may be grown in an area that is:
105          (a) zoned agricultural; or
106          (b) assessed under Title 59, Chapter 2, Part 5, Farmland Assessment Act.
107          Section 4. Section 17-27a-525 is amended to read:
108          17-27a-525. Cannabis production establishments and medical cannabis
109     pharmacies.
110          (1) As used in this section:
111          (a) "Cannabis production establishment" means the same as that term is defined in
112     Section 4-41a-102.
113          (b) "Industrial hemp producer licensee" means the same as the term "licensee" is

114     defined in Section 4-41-102.
115          [(b)] (c) "Medical cannabis pharmacy" means the same as that term is defined in
116     Section 26-61a-102.
117          (2) (a) (i) A county may not regulate a cannabis production establishment in conflict
118     with:
119          (A) Title 4, Chapter 41a, Cannabis Production Establishments, and applicable
120     jurisprudence; and
121          (B) this chapter.
122          (ii) A county may not regulate a medical cannabis pharmacy in conflict with:
123          (A) Title 26, Chapter 61a, Utah Medical Cannabis Act, and applicable jurisprudence;
124     and
125          (B) this chapter.
126          (iii) A county may not regulate an industrial hemp producer licensee in conflict with:
127          (A) Title 4, Chapter 41, Hemp and Cannabinoid Act, and applicable jurisprudence; and
128          (B) this chapter.
129          (b) The Department of Agriculture and Food has plenary authority to license programs
130     or entities that operate a cannabis production establishment.
131          (c) The Department of Health has plenary authority to license programs or entities that
132     operate a medical cannabis pharmacy.
133          (3) (a) Within the time period described in Subsection (3)(b), a county shall prepare
134     and adopt a land use regulation, development agreement, or land use decision in accordance
135     with this title and:
136          (i) regarding a cannabis production establishment, Section 4-41a-406; or
137          (ii) regarding a medical cannabis pharmacy, Section 26-61a-507.
138          (b) A county shall take the action described in Subsection (3)(a):
139          (i) before January 1, 2021, within 45 days after the day on which the county receives a
140     petition for the action; and
141          (ii) after January 1, 2021, in accordance with Subsection [10-9a-509.5(2)]

142     17-27a-509.5(2).