Buffer Zones: Phoenix vs Scottsdale
How do buffer zones rules compare between Phoenix, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ?
Phoenix and Scottsdale have similar restriction levels.
Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County
Arizona Revised Statutes §36-2806 require licensed cannabis dispensaries to maintain a 1320-foot separation from existing public or private K-12 schools. Phoenix enforces these state buffers through its zoning approval process for marijuana establishments.
View full Phoenix rules →Scottsdale, AZ
Maricopa County
Arizona Revised Statutes section 36-2806 bars marijuana dispensaries within 1320 feet of an existing public or private school. The state buffer applies in unincorporated Maricopa County, and Title XIII county zoning may add larger setbacks from residential zones and parks.
View full Scottsdale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Phoenix | Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|
| School buffer | 1,320 feet from K-12 schools | 1320 feet |
| State statute | ARS §36-2806 | - |
| Measurement | Property line to property line | - |
| Residential zones | Dispensaries prohibited | - |
| Verifier | ADHS plus Phoenix Planning | - |
| Statute | - | ARS 36-2806 |
| Residential setback | - | 500 feet (county) |
| Dispensary spacing | - | 1000 feet |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Phoenix FAQ
Are buffers measured from doors or property lines?
Arizona statute uses property line to property line measurement for the 1,320-foot school separation. Phoenix follows the same convention when reviewing dispensary applications.
Do buffers apply to daycares or churches?
ARS §36-2806 mandates buffers from K-12 schools. Phoenix may require additional separations from daycares or houses of worship through conditional-use review, but state law focuses on schools.
Scottsdale FAQ
Does the buffer apply to day care centers in Maricopa County?
Not under ARS 36-2806, which lists only K-12 schools. Maricopa County Planning may still impose discretionary day care or park setbacks during the Conditional Use Permit hearing.
What if a school opens near an existing dispensary?
The dispensary is grandfathered under ARS 36-2806(C) and may keep operating at the original site. License renewal continues so long as no relocation or expansion is requested.
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