Kennewick, WA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- Prohibited in every zoning district citywide
- License types barred
- Producer, processor, and retailer under WSLCB/I-502
- Governing section
- KMC 18.12.165, Ord. 5566 Sec. 3, 2014
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under KMC 18.54.090
- Visible growing
- Declared a public nuisance under KMC 9.48.010(5)
- Duplicate section
- Same text also appears at KMC 18.09.1605
Summary
Kennewick prohibits the production, processing, and retail sale of marijuana and marijuana-infused products in every zoning district within city limits under KMC 18.12.165, making Kennewick a full opt-out jurisdiction under Washington's Initiative 502. No zone, permit, variance, or conditional use approval can authorize a licensed marijuana producer, processor, or retailer inside city boundaries; the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board cannot issue a Kennewick-address license consistent with the ban.
The production, processing and retail sales of marijuana and marijuana-infused products, all as defined in Initiative Measure No. 502, as codified in Revised Code of Washington Chapter 69, and implementing regulations in Chapter 314-55 of the Washington Administrative Code, are each prohibited and not allowed in any zone in the City of Kennewick.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
165, adopted by Ord. 5566 Sec. 3 in 2014, reads in full: "The production, processing and retail sales of marijuana and marijuana-infused products, all as defined in Initiative Measure No. 12, Zone Districts and Standards, so the prohibition applies uniformly across every residential, commercial, and industrial district on Kennewick's zoning map, not just a subset. The ban covers the three license types the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board issues under I-502: producer, processor, and retailer. Kennewick's code does not carve out an exception for medical-only dispensaries, co-ops, or delivery-only operations; the text bars "retail sales" outright. 090, operating an unpermitted marijuana production, processing, or retail use anywhere in the city is a misdemeanor. 020.
Violations & Fines
Operating a marijuana production, processing, or retail business anywhere in Kennewick is a misdemeanor under the Title 18 penalty clause at KMC 18.54.090. If growing or processing marijuana is visible or detectable from a public place or a neighbor's housing unit, it also qualifies as a "Marijuana Nuisance" under KMC 9.48.010(5), letting the Planning Director pursue a notice and order, civil penalty, or abatement action, or refer the case to the City Attorney for misdemeanor prosecution under KMC 9.48.020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kennewick a marijuana opt-out city?
Can I get a conditional use permit for a marijuana business in Kennewick?
What happens if I grow marijuana plants at home in Kennewick?
What's the penalty for operating an illegal marijuana business in Kennewick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
Compare Kennewick to another location·View the Washington cannabis regulations overview
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