Kirkland, WA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)

155 adopts and localizes the state buffer standard for marijuana retail businesses near licensed child care centers. 331(8)(a) to Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board licensing of all marijuana producers, processors, retailers, and research premises operating in Kirkland. 331(8)(b) authority the code cites, the Liquor and Cannabis Board may issue a license for a marijuana retail premises located within 1,000 feet of the perimeter of a child care center's grounds, but no portion of the licensed retailer's property may come within 100 feet of that perimeter.

In practice this creates a graduated buffer: the outright no-go zone is the inner 100 feet from a child care center's boundary, while the space between 100 and 1,000 feet is a discretionary zone where the state board retains licensing discretion rather than an automatic bar. Kirkland's ordinance defines 'child care center' for purposes of this buffer by reference to WAC 170-295-0010, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families licensing definition, rather than creating its own local definition. Because state licensing controls where the retail buffer is actually enforced, a prospective retailer's practical first step is confirming license eligibility with the Liquor and Cannabis Board against the mapped locations of licensed child care centers within Kirkland, not a separate City land-use application specific to this buffer.