Not if he doesn't touch, tend, water, process,or smoke any! I found this out when they visited. They had the damn D.A. for the county of Riverside on the phone with them. Since my buddy is a proved long time established freind they took a written O.K. from me since it's me and only me growing on the premises. If it's more than one med patient posted on the fence then he would've needed caregiver status.His action of providing me space was noted as free and legal. A true compassionate gesture!