Council approves new licensing and zoning regulations to comply with Alabama’s new hemp law
Published on
The Huntsville City Council approved two action items enabling businesses to proceed with the sale of certain consumable hemp products, in accordance with Alabama’s new law.
The City established zoning requirements for hemp sales and created a hemp business license category.
Because stand-alone consumable hemp stores are a new retail category, the City will treat them similarly to package liquor stores when it comes to where they can locate. That means specialty consumable hemp retailers operating as their own business would:
- Be limited to certain commercial and industrial zoning districts
- Meet the same distance requirements from neighborhoods, schools and churches
- Follow spacing requirements from other consumable hemp retailers and package liquor stores having consumable hemp licenses
- Meet frontage requirements on major roads in certain districts
Consumable hemp products sold inside grocery stores must meet the same requirements for selling beer or wine for off-premises consumption and pharmacies would continue to follow the zoning rules that already apply to those types of businesses.
The updates do not create new commercial zones or expand where hemp businesses can operate. Instead, it ensures consumable hemp retail sales follow clear guidelines already in place for similar regulated products.
“This proposal brings clarity for business owners and residents,” said Thomas Nunez, Manager of Planning Services. “It aligns with state law while maintaining consistent standards that protect neighborhoods and nearby schools and churches.”
