Seattle SMC 23.42 limits cannabis retailers, producers, and processors to commercial (NC, C1/C2), industrial (IB, IC, IG), and certain mixed-use zones. Residential zones are prohibited; major institution overlays add restrictions.
Seattle Municipal Code 23.42.058 (within the general use chapter) and Title 23 zoning maps determine where cannabis businesses can locate. Retailers are allowed in Neighborhood Commercial (NC1, NC2, NC3), Commercial (C1, C2), Seattle Mixed (SM), and most industrial zones. Single-family, lowrise, and midrise residential zones prohibit cannabis uses. Producers and processors are restricted to industrial zones (IB, IC, IG) due to scale and odor. Retailers must pair zoning compliance with the 1,000-foot school buffer. Major institution master plan areas (e.g., UW, Children's Hospital) add review steps. SDCI verifies zoning at permit intake; LCB cross-checks. Hours of operation are typically capped at 8 a.m. to midnight under state rules.
Operating in prohibited zone: SDCI cease-and-desist, $500-$1,000 daily fines, license revocation. Hours violation: LCB administrative penalty.
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See how Seattle's commercial cannabis zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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