State law and King County Code require licensed cannabis retailers, producers, and processors to sit at least 1000 feet from schools, playgrounds, recreation centers, child care, public parks, public transit centers, libraries, and game arcades. Cities may reduce the buffer to 100 feet for some uses.
RCW 69.50.331 and WAC 314-55-050 set a 1000 foot buffer between cannabis licensees and sensitive uses, measured by the most direct route. Cities and counties may reduce the buffer to 100 feet for parks, transit centers, libraries, and arcades, but the 1000 foot rule for elementary and secondary schools and playgrounds remains mandatory. King County retained the full buffer in unincorporated areas. Several cities including Seattle reduced buffers near transit and libraries to expand legal retail sites. Producer-processor sites use the same measurements.
Operating inside the buffer leads to license denial, revocation by the WSLCB, and county code enforcement actions that can shut down the business and impose daily civil penalties.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kent's buffer zones rules stack up against other locations.
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