Imperial County, CA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- School buffer
- 600 feet
- Residential buffer
- 25 feet
- Wall requirement
- 6-ft masonry/stucco
- Measured from
- Property line to property line
Summary
Commercial cannabis activity in unincorporated Imperial County must stay 600 feet from schools and day cares and 25 feet from residential structures, walled off where zones abut.
Commercial cannabis activities shall not be located within a six hundred-foot radius of a school providing instruction in kindergarten or any grades one through twelve (12), commercial day care center(s), or youth center(s) that are in existence at the time the license is issued. The horizontal distance shall be measured in a straight line from the property line of the school to the closest property line of the commercial cannabis activities lot.D.Where industrial, commercial and residential zones abut, commercial cannabis activities shall be not less than twenty-five (25) feet away from any existing residential structure located within a residential zone.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 - 9-25).
Full Breakdown
Section 14.03.080(C) bars locating commercial cannabis activity within a 600-foot radius of a K-12 school, commercial day care or youth center existing when the license issues, measured property line to property line. Subsection (D) requires a 25-foot setback from any existing residential structure where industrial, commercial and residential zones abut, plus a six-foot solid masonry or stucco wall between the cannabis site and adjacent residential property, approved by Planning and Development Services.
Violations & Fines
Operating a commercial cannabis activity that violates the buffer standards is grounds for CCA license denial or revocation and is separately enforceable as a code violation under § 1.16.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a cannabis business stay from a school in unincorporated Imperial County?
Is a wall required next to homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Imperial County
California rules heatmap·Compare Imperial County to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
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