Los Angeles, CA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- School buffer
- 700 feet K-12 schools
- Park buffer
- 600 feet parks, libraries
- Retailer buffer
- 500 feet between retailers
- State baseline
- BPC Section 26054
- Measurement
- Property line to property line
Summary
Los Angeles enforces strict distance buffers between cannabis retailers and sensitive uses: 700 feet from schools, 600 feet from public parks and libraries, and 500 feet from another licensed cannabis retailer, measured from the retailer's property line.
26054. (a) 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
LAMC Section 104.03 sets the local buffer rules on top of state baselines in MAUCRSA Business and Professions Code Section 26054, which itself bars retail within 600 feet of K-12 schools, daycares, and youth centers. LA's stricter 700-foot K-12 school buffer applies citywide. Distances are measured property line to property line along the most direct pedestrian path. Pre-existing licensed sites can sometimes continue when a sensitive use opens later, but new applications are denied if any buffer is breached on the application date. DCR verifies compliance during the pre-application Business Premises Application review.
Violations & Fines
Operating within a buffer triggers denial or revocation of the LA cannabis license, civil penalties under LAMC Section 11.00, and potential state action by the Department of Cannabis Control against the state license.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the distance measured?
Does a new school nearby close my dispensary?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Buffer Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle buffer zones.