Scranton, PA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Dispensary zoning
- Permitted by right, Highway Commercial (§445-12.N)
- Dispensary zoning (2)
- Permitted by right, Commercial Industrial (§445-12.P)
- Grower/processor zoning
- Permitted by right, Light Industrial (§445-12.Q)
- State permit required
- Must hold PA Dept. of Health permit
- Residential districts
- Not a listed use in any residential table
- Zoning penalty
- Up to $500 civil judgment (§445-77)
Summary
Scranton's zoning code channels state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and growers into its commercial and industrial districts rather than banning them outright. A dispensary is a permitted use by right in the Highway Commercial and Commercial Industrial districts, and a grower/processor is permitted by right in Light Industrial.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA, DISPENSARY: A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit issued by the Department of Health (DOH) of the Commonwealth to dispense medical marijuana.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4719898; v25 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 445-8 defines 'MEDICAL MARIJUANA, DISPENSARY' as 'a person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit issued by the Department of Health (DOH) of the Commonwealth to dispense medical marijuana,' and defines 'MEDICAL MARIJUANA, GROWER' in parallel terms as an entity holding a state DOH permit to grow and process medical marijuana. Both definitions tie the local use directly to holding the state license; the city zoning code does not create its own separate licensing scheme for these operations.
The § 445-12 district use tables place both uses squarely in commercial and industrial zoning rather than residential or mixed-use districts. A medical marijuana dispensary is listed as a Permitted Use by right ('P') in the Highway Commercial district (§ 445-12.N) and again as 'P' in the Commercial Industrial district (§ 445-12.P). A medical marijuana grower is listed as a Permitted Use by right in the Light Industrial district (§ 445-12.Q). None of the residential or mixed-use district tables, from Conservation through City Downtown Mixed Use, list either use, so a dispensary or grower cannot locate in Scranton's residential zoning regardless of its state permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating a dispensary or grow/processing operation outside the districts where § 445-12 lists it as a permitted use, or without holding the underlying state Department of Health permit the § 445-8 definitions require, is a zoning violation under § 445-77: the City issues a written enforcement notice with a compliance deadline, appealable to the Zoning Hearing Board, and a civil judgment of up to $500 per violation follows for noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a medical marijuana dispensary locate in Scranton?
Can a marijuana grower or processor operate in Scranton?
Does Scranton require its own separate marijuana business license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scranton
Compare Scranton to another location·View the Pennsylvania cannabis regulations overview
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