County Denies Ellis Farms Permits, Citing Safety Concerns and Code Violations

Chris Ellis, aka Bad Santa, who famously hung his parasail on the electrical wires just days before Christmas, 2020.

The infamous Ellis Farms, known to have been operated by Chris Ellis, also known as “Bad Santa”, will remain closed this holiday season after Sacramento County Planning denied permits for its seasonal pumpkin and Christmas tree farm.

For years, the Rio Linda/Elverta community has raised concerns about the farm’s operations, citing safety hazards, code violations, and negative impacts on the neighborhood. In a recent decision, the county denied the farm’s permit application, citing a number of issues, including:

Safety Concerns: The Sheriff’s Office expressed concerns about traffic impacts, uneven terrain, inadequate fencing, and lack of lighting.
Code Violations: The farm was found to be in violation of multiple county codes, including those related to building permits, electrical permits, and waste disposal.
Neighbor Complaints: Numerous complaints were received from neighbors regarding the farm’s operations and the proposed activities for this year.

Ellis Farms also stated that they have obtained a permit from the Environmental Management Department (EMD) to prepare and sell food. However, EMD states that an application fee was never paid and the permit was not issued for 2023 or 2024

“The use of a property in a manner that constitutes a violation of County Codes is considered a public nuisance and therefore detrimental to the public health, safety, or general welfare,” the county stated in its decision.

As a result of the denial, Ellis Farms will not be able to open its doors this holiday season.