Davis, CA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer distance
- 600 feet from parks/K-12 schools
- Measured from
- Nearest property lines of each parcel
- Waiver authority
- City council finding of no threat to safety
- Excluded from 'park'
- Toad Hollow Dog Park, bike paths, greenbelts
Summary
Davis requires cannabis retailers to stay at least 600 feet from any public park or K-12 school, measured property line to property line, unless the city council specifically finds no threat to public safety or nearby minors.
Cannabis retailers shall not locate or establish within six hundred feet, measured from the nearest property lines of each affected parcel, of any public park or any school providing K-12 education, unless the city council finds that the proposed site will not pose a threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the surrounding properties and any minors that may be present at a public park or school located within six hundred feet of the proposed site. For purposes of this section, "public park" shall not include the following: Toad Hollow Dog Park located at 1919 Second Street, bicycle paths and greenbelts.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
080(c)(1) of the Davis Municipal Code sets the buffer: a cannabis retailer cannot locate or establish within six hundred feet, measured from the nearest property lines of each affected parcel, of any public park or any school providing K-12 education. The city council can waive the buffer only by making an affirmative finding that the proposed site will not pose a threat to the public health, safety and welfare of surrounding properties and any minors who may be present at a park or school within that 600-foot radius.
The section carves out specific exceptions to what counts as a protected 'public park': it expressly excludes Toad Hollow Dog Park at 1919 Second Street, along with bicycle paths and greenbelts, so proximity to those does not trigger the buffer. This buffer sits on top of the zoning prohibitions in subsection (a) and the citywide numeric caps in subsection (c)(2)-(3), and any retailer still needs a conditional use permit reviewed by the planning commission and decided by the city council, which weighs concentration of retailers within 1,000 feet and neighborhood impact under subsection (e).
The buffer was adopted with the retailer program itself by Ordinance No. 2514 in 2017 and has been carried forward through subsequent amendments, including Ordinance No. 2677 effective November 4, 2025.
Violations & Fines
Establishing or operating a cannabis retailer within the 600-foot buffer without a council finding excusing the distance is grounds for denial or revocation of the conditional use permit, and operating without a valid permit is enforceable as a Code violation under the city's administrative citation procedures in Article 1.02.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a Davis cannabis retailer be from a school?
Does the 600-foot buffer apply to Toad Hollow Dog Park?
Can the city council waive the cannabis retailer buffer distance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
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Buffer Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle buffer zones.