Cannabis Regulations in Whatcom County, WA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Whatcom County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Home Cultivation
Home cannabis cultivation in unincorporated Whatcom County is governed entirely by Washington's medical cannabis statute, not a county ordinance. A registered qualifying patient may grow six plants and keep eight ounces of useable cannabis by default, up to fifteen plants and sixteen ounces if a health care professional certifies greater medical need, or only four plants and six ounces if never entered into the state database.
Whatcom County Medical Cannabis Home Grow Limits
Significant RestrictionsRCW 69.51A.210
As part of authorizing a qualifying patient or designated provider, the health care professional may include recommendations on the amount of cannabis that is likely needed... The qualifying patient or designated provider may also grow, in his or her domicile, up to six plants for the personal medical use of the qualifying patient and possess up to eight ounces of useable cannabis produced from...
Dispensary Zoning
Unlike some Washington counties, unincorporated Whatcom County allows licensed cannabis retail in designated commercial and industrial zones. State law requires a 1,000-foot buffer from schools and similar sites, and the City of Bellingham also permits retail stores.
Whatcom County Cannabis Retail Zoning
Some RestrictionsRCW 69.50.331
the board may not issue a license for any premises within 1,000 feet of the perimeter of the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit center, or library
Buffer Zones
In the Rural and Agriculture zoning districts, a cannabis production or processing facility cannot sit within 1,000 feet of a community center or within 300 feet of any residential dwelling not on the same parcel, and no two production facilities can be closer than 1,000 feet to each other, under WCC § 20.80.690.
Whatcom County Cannabis Buffer Zones
Significant RestrictionsWCC § 20.80.690(2)(a)-(d)
In the Rural and Agriculture districts, no facility shall be located within 1,000 feet of a community center or within 300 feet of any residential dwelling unit not located on the same parcel as the facility and existing at the time of application. Said distance shall be measured as the shortest straight line distance from property lines (for community centers) or structures (for residences). ....
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