Long Beach, CA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer distance
- 600 feet
- Code section
- LBMC 5.90.030
- Measurement
- Property line
- State minimum
- BPC 26054
Summary
Long Beach prohibits cannabis retail, manufacturing, and cultivation businesses from operating within 600 feet of K-12 schools, daycares, parks, libraries, and other licensed cannabis businesses, measured property line to property line.
A licensee shall not sell alcoholic beverages or tobacco products on or at any premises licensed under this division. (b) A premises licensed under this division shall not be located within a 600-foot radius of a school providing instruction in kindergarten or any grades 1 through 12, daycare center, or youth center that is in existence at the time the license is issued, unless the department or a local jurisdiction specifies a different radius. The distance specified in this section shall be measured in the same manner as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 11362.768 of the Health and Safety Code unless otherwise provided by law.
Full Breakdown
LBMC Section 5.90.030 and the related zoning provisions establish a 600-foot buffer between any cannabis business and sensitive uses including public and private K-12 schools, licensed day care centers, youth centers, public parks, and public libraries. The same 600-foot separation applies between cannabis retailers to prevent clustering. State law (Business and Professions Code Section 26054) sets a baseline 600-foot school buffer that local governments can keep or expand. Long Beach uses property line measurements rather than door-to-door, which is stricter than the state default for some uses.
Violations & Fines
Operating a cannabis business inside a buffer zone results in license denial, mandatory closure, fines up to thirty thousand dollars per day under LBMC Chapter 5.90, and potential injunction by the City Attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a school move in next to an existing dispensary?
Do buffers apply to delivery-only businesses?
Sources & Official References
- [1]CA BPC 26054
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
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Buffer Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle buffer zones.