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.
Kirkland, WA
Leaf blowers and power equipment are restricted to 8 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on weekends and holidays under KMC 11.84A. Kirkland has not adopted...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland sits about 20 miles north of Sea-Tac and is lightly affected by commercial flights. Kenmore Air seaplanes and Renton Municipal general aviation caus...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban, but enforces the 72-hour rule, signed residential permit zones, and no-parking signs at parks, tra...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland driveways must remain paved, accessible, and used for vehicle parking per KMC Title 115 zoning code, which limits front-yard paving and requires app...
Kirkland, WA
EV charging in Kirkland follows the Washington State Energy Code, which requires EV-ready capacity in new multifamily and commercial parking and protects pub...
Kirkland, WA
Under KZC 115.40, Kirkland fences may be up to 6 feet except within 15 feet of a street curb. Properties on a neighborhood access or collector street are cap...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kirkland's buffer zones rules stack up against other locations.
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