Cannabis Regulations in Longmont, CO: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Longmont or are thinking about moving there, cannabis regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Longmont has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of cannabis regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Home Cultivation

Longmont allows personal-use marijuana home cultivation in line with Colorado state law. Under LMC § 9.60.060, no more than 30 marijuana plants may be cultivated in any single dwelling unit, including a dwelling unit in which up to five unrelated individuals reside. State law (Colorado Constitution Article XVIII, Section 16 and C.R.S. 18-18-406) caps each adult 21+ at six plants, and the household total at twelve plants for two or more adults — Longmont's 30-plant per-unit ceiling functions as the upper bound where multiple medical patients or unrelated adults share a residence.

Key details: City Code: LMC § 9.60.060 — 30 plants max per dwelling unit. Per-Adult Limit: 6 plants (3 flowering) — C.R.S. 18-18-406. Household Cap: 12 plants per residence — C.R.S. 18-18-406.3 (HB 17-1220). Enclosed/Locked: Required — including outdoor grows. Visible from Public: Prohibited.

Exceeding the 30-plant per-dwelling cap or the state 12-plant household / 6-plant per-adult limits violates LMC § 9.60.060 and C.R.S. 18-18-406 / 18-18-406.3. Municipal violations are prosecuted in Longmont Municipal Court at up to $999 and/or 180 days per LMC Title 1 general penalty; state-law violations (especially distribution or unlawful manufacture) escalate to drug felony exposure under C.R.S. Title 18 Article 18. Plants visible from public space, plants in an unsecured location, or any sale of home-grown product invite both criminal charges and removal/destruction of the grow. Renters may also face eviction under lease terms.

Dispensary Zoning

Longmont has opted IN for retail marijuana sales — but on a tightly limited basis. Under LMC Chapter 6.70, the city caps retail marijuana stores at four citywide and prohibits any single entity from owning more than one. The Marijuana Licensing Authority (City Council) selected operators in 2017, and a January 28, 2025 City Council ordinance added a separate hospitality license category. Commercial cultivation, production, and testing remain entirely prohibited within Longmont — only retail sales and hospitality are allowed.

Key details: City Code: LMC Chapter 6.70 (Marijuana Licensing). Opt-In Posture: Retail YES (capped); cultivation/manufacturing/testing NO. Store Cap: 4 retail marijuana stores citywide. Ownership Limit: 1 store per entity. Hospitality Licenses: Added Jan 28, 2025 (Ord. O-2025-15).

Operating without a Longmont marijuana license, violating the one-entity-per-store cap, or operating outside permitted zoning districts violates LMC Chapter 6.70 and is prosecutable in Longmont Municipal Court at up to $999 and/or 180 days per LMC Title 1 general penalty. The Marijuana Licensing Authority can also suspend or revoke the local license, and the state Marijuana Enforcement Division can suspend or revoke the corresponding state license under C.R.S. 44-10. Unlicensed commercial cultivation, manufacturing, or testing — all flatly banned in Longmont — exposes the operator to state felony charges under C.R.S. 18-18-406 plus city nuisance abatement.

Compared to other cities, Longmont takes a harder line on dispensary zoning. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Longmont's cannabis regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Longmont is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Longmont can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.