Watkins CDP (part), Arapahoe County, Colorado Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning Rules (2026)

Cannabis retail in Arapahoe County varies significantly by jurisdiction. Aurora City Code §94-400 et seq. permits licensed dispensaries in specific commercial zones (B-1, B-2) with minimum 1,000-foot buffer from K-12 schools, licensed daycare centers, residential zones, and other dispensaries. Conditional use permit required. Aurora licenses both medical and adult-use retail. Centennial Municipal Code §7-14 permits dispensaries in industrial and some commercial zones with similar buffer requirements and approval through a local licensing authority. Littleton allows dispensaries under City Code §7-1-11 with buffer zones and security requirements. Englewood permits operations in industrial zones. Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village have banned all marijuana retail operations under Colorado's local-option authority in C.R.S. §44-10-104. Unincorporated Arapahoe County allows licensed operations under county Land Development Code with Arapahoe County Sheriff as law enforcement and county commissioners as local licensing authority. All dispensaries must hold a state license from the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) under C.R.S. §44-10-101 et seq. plus local license. Security requirements include 24-hour video surveillance, alarm systems, limited access vaults, and tracking through METRC (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting & Compliance). Operating hours 8 AM to 10 PM typical. Signage heavily restricted—no off-premise advertising within 1,000 ft of schools.