Charleston, WV Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning status
- Permitted by right in 8 of 17 districts
- Local opt-out
- None found in the ordinance
- State authority
- W. Va. Code ch. 16A
- Zoning penalty
- $50-$500 misdemeanor fine
Summary
Charleston's zoning ordinance lists Medical Cannabis Dispensary, Growing Facility, and Processing Facility as permitted-by-right uses in eight of its seventeen zoning districts -- the city has enacted no opt-out or ban on state-licensed medical cannabis businesses locating here.
P .................... Use is permitted by right in a particular district. ... Medical Cannabis Dispensary P P P P P P P P / Medical Cannabis Growing Facility P P P P P P P P / Medical Cannabis Processing Facility P P P P P P P P
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Charleston's Land Use Table (Sec. 3-050) marks Medical Cannabis Dispensary, Medical Cannabis Growing Facility, and Medical Cannabis Processing Facility with a 'P' -- permitted by right, no conditional-use hearing required -- in eight of the ordinance's seventeen mapped zoning districts. The remaining nine districts list no designation, so those uses aren't allowed there. The zoning code defines all three uses by reference to the state's Medical Cannabis Act, W. Va. Code ch. 16A, and the city has enacted no separate opt-out or prohibition; approval still requires the state dispensary/grower/processor license under Chapter 16A.
Violations & Fines
Operating a medical cannabis dispensary, growing, or processing facility outside a district marked 'P' on the Land Use Table violates the zoning ordinance -- Sec. 37-020 makes zoning violations a misdemeanor with a $50-$500 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Charleston opted out of hosting medical cannabis businesses?
Do cannabis businesses still need a state license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia cannabis regulations overview
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