Surprise, AZ Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential/dwelling/worship buffer
- 500 feet
- School/day care/park buffer
- 1,500 feet
- Other marijuana facility buffer
- 3,000 feet
- Sexually oriented business buffer
- 3,000 feet
- Measured from
- parcel boundary to parcel boundary
Summary
Surprise's Table 106-10c sets hard buffers for every marijuana facility: 500 feet from residentially zoned parcels, places of worship, and dwelling units, and 1,500 feet from schools, day cares, parks, and entertainment venues. Facilities must stay 3,000 feet from any other marijuana facility, sexually oriented business, or residential substance abuse facility.
C.Any marijuana facility shall meet the following minimum separations, measured in a straight line from the boundary of the parcel containing the marijuana facility location to the boundary of the parcel containing any uses as listed below (see Table 106-10c)...Table 106-10c—Separation Distances for any Marijuana Facility: From any parcels that are residentially zoned or designated residential land use within an approved pad 500 feet. From any place of worship 500 feet. From any dwelling unit 500 feet. From any public or private charter, primary, or secondary school 1,500 feet. From any public or private day care, preschool, or kindergarten facility 1,500 feet. From any public park or playground or usable open space 1,500 feet. From any entertainment establishment 1,500 feet. From any other marijuana facility of any type 3,000 feet. From any sexually oriented business 3,000 feet. From any residential substance abuse facility 3,000 feet.
Full Breakdown
27(C) requires every marijuana facility to meet Table 106-10c's minimum separations, measured in a straight line from the boundary of the parcel holding the facility to the boundary of the parcel holding the buffered use; if either use sits inside a commerce center, the distance runs from the commerce center's boundary instead of the individual tenant's lot line. The table sets three separation tiers. The 500-foot tier applies to any parcel that is residentially zoned or carries an approved residential land use, to any place of worship, and to any individual dwelling unit.
The 1,500-foot tier applies to public or private charter, primary, or secondary schools, to day care, preschool, or kindergarten facilities, to public parks, playgrounds, or usable open space, and to entertainment establishments. The widest tier, 3,000 feet, separates a marijuana facility from any other marijuana facility of any type, from sexually oriented businesses, and from residential substance abuse facilities. Subsection E adds protection for existing operators: a marijuana facility that is lawfully operating is not rendered in violation of these provisions by the subsequent location of a new buffered use established closer than the table allows. 27.
Violations & Fines
A marijuana facility sited inside any of the table's buffers, or one that expands or relocates into a barred distance, fails site plan review and cannot receive a certificate of occupancy or business license. City code enforcement officers and police officers have standing authority under Section 106-10.27(B)(11) to inspect any marijuana facility to confirm the separations and other section standards are being met.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a marijuana facility be to a school in Surprise?
Does a new home built nearby force an existing dispensary to close?
How far apart must two marijuana facilities be from each other?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Surprise
Compare Surprise to another location·View the Arizona cannabis regulations overview
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Buffer Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle buffer zones.