Multnomah County, OR Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- School buffer
- 1,000 feet minimum
- Governing section
- MCC § 39.8500(E)(1)
- Zone limit
- Only zones listed in Table A
- Geographic scope
- Unincorporated county only, not Portland
Summary
In unincorporated Multnomah County, marijuana dispensing or retailing is allowed only in the specific base zones listed in the zoning code's marijuana-business table, and any such business must sit at least 1,000 feet from a public or private school.
(E) A Marijuana Business is required to meet the criteria referenced in Table A and must comply with the following:
(1) A Marijuana Business shall be located a minimum of 1,000 feet from a public or private school.
(a) The measurement in the Exclusive Farm Use base zone shall be made using a straight line (S-1 2022)
extending horizontally from the closest school property line to the closest part of any canopy area or building or structure used for marijuana production or marijuana processing.
(b) The measurement in all other base zones shall be made using a straight line extending horizontally from the closest point anywhere on
Full Breakdown
County Code § 39.8500 treats marijuana dispensing or retailing as a regulated "Marijuana Business." It is reviewable only in the base zones the section's Table A specifically lists; where no review process is listed for a zone, the code says the business "may not operate in that base zone" at all, closing off most of the rural base zones outright. Wherever it is allowed, every Marijuana Business, including a dispensary or retailer, must be sited at least 1,000 feet from any public or private school property line. This rule reaches only the unincorporated county. Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village each zone and license marijuana retailers under their own separate municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Operating a marijuana dispensing or retail business in a base zone not authorized in § 39.8500's Table A, or within 1,000 feet of a school, puts the site out of compliance with the county zoning code and can block or void required county land-use approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a marijuana dispensary in unincorporated Multnomah County?
How far must a dispensary be from a school?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon cannabis regulations overview
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