Union City, CA Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- School/child care buffer
- 100 feet minimum
- Park/library/youth center buffer
- 100 feet minimum
- Residential parcel
- No dispensary allowed on-site
- Cultivation residential buffer
- 100 ft from residential zoning district
- Waiver
- City Council may waive with proof of separation
Summary
Cannabis dispensaries and cultivation sites in Union City must stay 100 feet from schools, child care, parks, libraries, and youth centers, and off any residential parcel.
E. Distance Requirements. Establishment of cannabis dispensaries shall be consistent with Title 18 and unless otherwise allowed under State law and approved by the City:
1. Shall not be established on any parcel containing a dwelling unit used as a residence.
2. Shall not be established within one hundred feet from any school or child care facility.
3. Shall not be established within one hundred feet of any park, library, or youth center.
4. The distance requirements of subsections (E)(1) through (3) above may be waived or modified by the City Council when the applicant can show that an actual physical separation exists between land uses or parcels such that no off-site impacts could occur, unless otherwise prohibited under State law. (Ord. 845-17 § 4, 2017; Ord. 909-22 § 2, 2022)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Under Union City Municipal Code § 5.44.050(E), a cannabis dispensary can't be established on a parcel containing a residence, or within 100 feet of any school, child care facility, park, library, or youth center. The same 100-foot buffers apply to commercial cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and distribution under § 5.44.030(E) and § 5.44.060(C), plus a separate 100-foot buffer from any residential zoning district for cultivation and non-dispensary uses. The City Council may waive a buffer only on proof of an actual physical separation preventing off-site impacts.
Violations & Fines
Locating or operating a cannabis business inside the 100-foot buffer without a Council waiver is grounds for permit denial, suspension, or revocation under Chapter 5.44's permit standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a dispensary be to a school in Union City?
Can the 100-foot cannabis buffer be waived?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California cannabis regulations overview
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Buffer Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle buffer zones.