Tacoma, WA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail
- Allowed in all downtown districts
- Producers/processors/researchers
- Prohibited downtown
- Retail also permitted
- M-1/M-2 industrial zones
- Citywide store cap
- 16 retail marijuana stores
Summary
Tacoma has not opted out of marijuana retail: stores are zoned into all downtown districts and M-1/M-2 industrial areas, capped citywide at 16.
Marijuana retailers shall be allowed in all downtown districts, subject to the additional requirements contained in Section 13.06.080J. Marijuana producers, marijuana processors, and marijuana researchers shall be prohibited in all downtown districts.
F. District development standards.
1. Applicability. Buildings lawfully in existence on January 10, 2000, or August 1, 2014, depending on the location within the Downtown Zoning District, do not need to conform to these standards; however, additions will need to conform. No addition can increase nonconformity to these standards or create new nonconformity. Please see Section 13.06.010L Nonconforming Parcels/uses/structures for specific locations within the Downtown related to legal non-conforming status to these standards.
2. Purpose. (Reserved) 3. Development Standards Table.
District Residential FAR Non Residential FAR Height Limits “As-of-right” Maximum with Design Standards Maximum with TDR “As-of-right” Maximum with Design Standards Maximum with TDR DMU 3 5 7 2 4 6 100’ WR 4 5 7 3 4 6 100’ DR 2 4 6 1 2 4 90’ DCC 3 6 12 3 6 12 400’
4. Floor area ratio – Additional standards.
a.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma's Zoning Code affirmatively allows marijuana retailers in all four Downtown districts (DCC, DMU, DR, WR), subject to the location and operating standards in the Marijuana Uses section, while producers, processors, and researchers are barred downtown. Retail is also sited in M-1/M-2 industrial zones, where floor area within the South Tacoma Manufacturing/Industrial Overlay is capped at 15,000 sq. ft. (M-1) and 10,000 sq. ft. (M-2). Citywide, no more than 16 retail marijuana stores may operate.
Violations & Fines
Operating a marijuana producer, processor, or research facility in a downtown district, or opening a 17th citywide retail store, is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement and license denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Tacoma banned marijuana retail stores?
Is there a limit on marijuana retailers in Tacoma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington cannabis regulations overview
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Dispensary Zoning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle dispensary zoning.