Looking for a cannabis farm in Lake County, California? Start with the permit file and water records for the actual parcel. Diamond Real Estate Group can help you define your search for outdoor cultivation acreage, greenhouse properties or agricultural land with a previous cannabis use.
Request a Lake County farm search · Browse California cannabis property types
Start with Lake County’s land-use and water records
Lake County’s Community Development Department administers the county cannabis program in unincorporated areas. Start with the parcel’s zoning and Article 27, then confirm which version of the rules applies to the proposed transaction. The county’s planning materials highlight recent amendments, including the removal of SR zoning from allowable commercial cultivation and changes to cultivation and setback standards. Ask staff how the rules apply to the parcel, current permit and any proposed expansion or change of operator.
The county’s cannabis program also flags a water-quality enrollment requirement tied to October 31, 2020 for property proposed for commercial cultivation, with a written verification route where the applicable board determines enrollment was unnecessary. Before valuing an unpermitted parcel as a future cultivation site, ask County Planning to confirm the records that it will accept for that APN and application. The county also publishes a drought ordinance covering enhanced water analysis under applicable conditions.
Lake County cannabis program · Lake County Planning and Article 27 updates
Compare acreage, permits and water separately
| What you are comparing | What to document |
|—|—|
| Total parcel acreage | Recorded parcel boundaries, legal access, grades, usable area, easements and any restrictions on other agricultural or residential uses. |
| Approved cultivation area | Local permit, DCC license and approved premises diagram, approved canopy size, cultivation method, conditions and location on the parcel. |
| Water supply | Legal source, water-quality enrollment records, applicable water-right documents, pump testing, storage condition and projected demand. |
| Built improvements | Finaled greenhouses, drying or storage buildings, permitted grading and road work, electrical service and equipment ownership. |
| Time and cost to reopen | Permit and license status, outstanding conditions, whether operations are active, change-of-operator steps, insurance and utility work. |
What to request from the seller
Ask for the permit number and file, environmental approvals, current license, site plans, annual or periodic reports, well and water records, tank specifications, recorded access, a site inventory and any notices of violation. Compare legal access shown in title with the road you use to reach the property. Walk the drive and inspect any crossings, gates, shared roads, culverts and water storage with the relevant specialists.
A well log or a photograph of storage tanks is a starting point. Ask for recent pump test results and verify who owns and can use the water system. If a farm relies on surface water, check its right and diversion terms. California’s policy generally bars surface water diversion for cultivation from April 1 through October 31, and conditions can extend the period. Model peak-season demand against legally available water and usable storage.
State Water Board cultivation water rights · State Water Board cannabis FAQs
What changes value in Upper Lake, Lower Lake and other rural areas?
Compare properties using their actual jurisdiction and site file. Evaluate usable terrain, legal access, verified water, approvals, fire and insurance costs, and the condition of permitted improvements. A prior cultivation use may be a reason to request the file. Value any claimed entitlement based on the records and on what the buyer can do after closing.
Can a buyer expand the cultivation area?
Ask Lake County whether expansion is available under the parcel’s zoning, the current approval and the applicable canopy and setback rules. Review whether grading, water, environmental review or state licensing would also change.
Can I buy a farm that has stopped operating?
Yes. Before pricing a restart, check whether permits and licenses are active, expired or subject to a deadline and whether any approvals or inspections must be repeated.
Lake County real estate · Sonoma County cannabis properties · Cannabis property due diligence checklist · Talk to Diamond Real Estate Group
