Santa Cruz County, CA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)

The 600-foot buffer in § 7.130.110(E)(2) runs from a school, another cannabis retail business, or an alcohol or drug treatment facility, and is measured as the horizontal distance in a straight line from the property line of the school or other retail business to the closest property line of the lot containing the retail business under review, without regard to intervening structures. A separate 300-foot buffer in § 7.130.110(E)(3) applies to any parcel zoned RA, RR, R-1, RB or RM, meaning single-family, rural or multi-family residential land; that buffer does not apply to a retailer already operating at its location on January 1, 2016.

Either buffer can be waived by the Licensing Official on a finding that the general public benefit outweighs concerns regarding intensity of use, land use compatibility, and public health and safety, under § 7.130.110(E)(2) and (E)(3). Before granting a waiver, the Licensing Official must notify the Supervisor of the affected district, and once a waiver is approved, the County mails notice to every property owner within 600 feet and every occupant within 100 feet of the site. Any adversely affected person then has 21 calendar days from the date that notice is mailed to file a written appeal with the Cannabis Licensing Office, which stays the license until an administrative hearing officer decides the appeal de novo within 30 days, per § 7.130.110(E)(7).