The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday denied extensions for eight Carpinteria Valley cannabis farms that had requested more time to install odor abatement equipment.

The board denied the requests in a 4-1 vote on Tuesday, with only Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino opposing.

Eight cannabis farms had requested more time to install multi-technology carbon filtration systems, or an approved equivalent, and runtime meters after the supervisors last year set a compliance deadline of March 18.

The supervisors’ decision to require the systems, commonly known as scrubbers, came after years of complaints from Carpinteria Valley residents who say the cannabis farms can be smelled from miles away.

Of the county’s 25 indoor and greenhouse cannabis farms, 11 had carbon filtration systems installed heading into Tuesday’s meeting. Twenty-two of those cannabis farms are located in the Carpinteria Valley.

By one study’s estimate, the scrubbers are said to help eliminate the smell of cannabis by 84%. But the preferred Envinity Group scrubbers are expensive, at roughly $22,000 each and a recommended 10 per acre.

First District Supervisor Roy Lee, whose district includes the Carpinteria Valley, was unsympathetic to the extensions on Tuesday. He said his home district had suffered enough.

Lee, a former Carpinteria City Councilmember who joined the County Board of Supervisors in 2025, was able to unseat the former first district supervisor, Das Williams, partially due to frustration over cannabis odor.

The cannabis farms began popping up in the Carpinteria Valley long before Lee took office, first as medicinal cannabis farms, then as recreational after the 2016 vote to legalize recreational cannabis in the state of California.

Lee said on Tuesday that deadlines must mean something and that the year-long deadline to install scrubbers had been generous.

He also said the operators who needed more time failed to meet the deadline because of “self-imposed delays.”

“As a county supervisor, I am incredibly disappointed (in) these growers,” Lee said. “But as a Carpinterian, my community deserves better. We will not tolerate any more cannabis odors. Enough is enough.”

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps agreed with Lee. She said that it seems like the applicants were hedging on getting the extensions.

She also stated that the operators could have started the process sooner if they were determined to be good neighbors, but were instead more interested in profit than people.

“We’re here to represent people. We’re here to deliver for people,” Capps said. “And it’s been a nightmare for some people that Supervisor Lee represents.”

Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson and Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann also supported a total denial for the applicants.  

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino was the lone vote against the denials.  

Lavagnino agreed that the applicants should not be given the requested 12-month extensions, but he was reluctant to deny the extensions outright since some applicants had already purchased their scrubbers.

He also expressed concern that the county could lose a source of tax revenue if the farms closed down and said the revenue slumps the cannabis industry has faced may be due to how the county regulates the market.

Lavagnino, who is leaving office at the end of his term, added he is concerned neighbors will still have problems after every operator installs scrubbers.

“My biggest fear is — and I think this is probably where you guys are going to be at next year when I’m not here — is that all these people are going to install all these things, and the neighbors are still going to tell you it stinks,” Lavagnino said. “And then, I don’t know what you do at that point.”

What Happens Now

Even though there were eight requests for extensions, some of the operators requesting more time expect to have their carbon scrubbers installed and operational before the March 18 deadline.

CP1 Supply Systems Inc. at 4505 Foothill Road and Emmawood B1 LLC at 5888 Via Real already have carbon scrubbers onsite but are waiting to have them installed.

Both operators expect to have them operational by March 18, but requested an extension in case they encounter any issues.

County staff had recommended that the board approve extensions for seven of the applicants. They also recommended that the board deny an extension for Valley Crest Farms, a 9-acre farm at 5980 Casitas Pass Road, stating the owners took too long to begin the process.

The other requests for extensions were from CKC Farms Inc. & Life Remedy Farms at 5138 Foothill Road, New Generation Farms Inc. & Blue Whale Agriculture at 5775 Casitas Pass Road, Prime Time Farms at 5554 Casitas Pass Road, Bosim 1628 Management Company LLC at 1628 Cravens Lane, and G&K Produce and K&G Flowers at 3561 Foothill Road.

Operators who are not compliant with the county ordinance by the deadline could receive a notice of violation and notice of determination, according to county spokesperson Kelsey Gerckens Buttitta. The notice of determination could result in fines that increase every 30 days.

If an operator is still out of compliance with the ordinance, the county could revoke their permits and apply other punishments under the county regulations.

Any operator that is not in compliance with the county ordinance by March 31 will receive letters revoking their cannabis business license or a denial letter.

Operators can appeal the revocation or denial, and the count must hold a hearing within 60 days of the appeal.

After a denial or revocation, or during the appeal, the cannabis operator must stop operations until a new business license is obtained.