Home Ethanol Distillery

ISSUE:

There are Federal permitting requirements to produce alcohol fuel (ethanol). However, I have been unable to find state requirements or local jurisdiction requirements.

QUESTIONS:

Does California require permits to produce ethanol for personal use on a residentially zoned parcel?

Does any local jurisdiction have permitting requirements for this type of use?

BACKGROUND:

A resident converted an old Ford mustang to run on alternative fuel, specifically ethanol. They would like to distill the alcohol fuel/ethanol at their home using a solar powered still. Their home is on property zoned single family residential. Our jurisdiction is trying to figure out what permits they are required to obtain from the Federal and California State levels, if any. We have found the federal requirements only. We are also trying to figure what, if any, permits we may require for this use (maybe a Conditional Use Permit).