Carver County, MN Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Initial countywide cap
- 10 cannabis retail businesses
- Cap trigger for 11th
- Population 137,501-150,000
- Population baseline
- 113,332 (2023 Met Council est.)
- Enforcing agency
- County Election and Licensing Dept.
- Max civil penalty
- $2,000 per violation
Summary
Carver County does not zone cannabis retailers into specific districts; instead, Code of Ordinances § 114.30 caps the total number of registered cannabis retail businesses countywide, currently ten, with per-jurisdiction limits scaled to each city and township's population.
§ 114.30 LIMIT ON NUMBER OF BUSINESSES. The county shall limit the number of cannabis retail businesses to no fewer than one registration for every 12,500 population. § 114.31 INITIAL LIMIT AND INCREASE. The initial overall number of cannabis retail businesses in the county shall be limited to ten based on the county's 2023 Met Council population estimate of 113,332 (published July 2024). When the county's population estimate is between 137,501 and 150,000, the overall limit of cannabis retail businesses in the county will automatically increase to 11.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 111-2025, passed 7-25-25).
Full Breakdown
01 explains the chapter implements Minn. Stat. 22 for local registration and enforcement of state-licensed retailers, applying countywide. 31 fixes the initial overall cap at ten businesses based on the county's 2023 Met Council population estimate of 113,332, automatically rising to 11 once the county's population estimate reaches 137,501 to 150,000. 32 applies to cities and townships that transfer their cannabis retail registration authority to the county: those jurisdictions get one retail business allowed under 12,500 population (covering all townships and, with exceptions, most cities), two between 12,501 and 25,000 population (the code names Waconia as an example), and three between 25,001 and 36,500 (naming Chanhassen and Chaska). 31. 03.
Violations & Fines
Under § 114.03, any violation of Chapter 114 or failure to comply with its requirements is a misdemeanor, regardless of whether a permit was required for the activity involved. Section 114.99 separately authorizes the County Elections and Licensing Department to impose a civil penalty, set in the county fee schedule, for registration violations, capped at $2,000 per Minn. Stat. § 342.22, subd. 5(e).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cannabis retailers can operate in Carver County?
Does Carver County restrict cannabis shops to certain zoning districts?
What if a city keeps its own cannabis retail authority instead of transferring it to the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carver County
Compare Carver County to another location·View the Minnesota cannabis regulations overview
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