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1. What are the rules for Medical and Recreational Marijuana in Arapahoe County?

The Arapahoe County Land Development Code, Section 3-3.5, regulates Marijuana Land Uses. The County also has an Ordinance 2013-1 prohibiting commercial marijuana activities and establishments. Ordinance 2020-02 allowed the four legally-established medical marijuana dispensaries to add retail marijuana. County regulations prohibit any new retail marijuana dispensaries. 

2. Do these regulations apply to all of Arapahoe County?

No, these regulations apply only to the unincorporated areas of Arapahoe County.

3. Where can I find regulations for incorporated cities and towns in Arapahoe County?

You can find links to all incorporated cities through our website. But, we've provided links to marijuana regulations for our largest communities: City of Aurora / City of Centennial / City of Littleton / City of Greenwood Village / City of Englewood

4. Are medical marijuana dispensaries allowed in the county?

The County has four legally-established medical marijuana dispensaries. These dispensaries were open and doing business prior to the County’s adoption of the provisions of the Land Development Code prohibiting the operation of commercial medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas. County regulations prohibit any new medical marijuana dispensaries.

5. Can I use marijuana in my yard or on my deck?

It is a criminal offense under state law to “openly and publicly” display, consume, or use marijuana. If the amount is two ounces or less this is a petty offense.

6. If I had an existing grow prior to these regulations, am I grandfathered in?

No, these regulations are retroactive and all properties in unincorporated Arapahoe County must be in compliance. All marijuana land uses are subject to all restrictions contained within this Section 3-3.5, including those uses that were in existence prior to the adoption of this Section 3-3.5.

7. What about growing medical marijuana for personal use (or, if I am a caregiver for others, for a patients’ use)?

It doesn’t matter whether the marijuana is for recreational or medical purposes; the rules are the same:

May only be conducted within a dwelling unit (and not on a porch or within a shed, greenhouse or other such structure),

By a person residing at the dwelling unit,

For such person’s own use or by a primary caregiver on behalf of a patient who resides at the same dwelling unit as the primary caregiver;

However, in no event shall more than six plants, with three or fewer being mature flowering plants, be grown or cultivated at any one time by each person or primary caregiver residing at such dwelling unit, up to a maximum of 12 plants total per dwelling unit.

8. Are there any other special requirements for growing marijuana in my house?

If you need to add or modify electrical wiring, lighting, plumbing from your water line, plumbing to your sewer line for drainage, ventilation to the inside or outside of your home, or remodeling to add walls or otherwise modify the spaces in your home for growing marijuana, you will need appropriate building, electrical, plumbing and/or HVAC permits from the Building Division of Public Works and Development. Odors from growing marijuana in your home must not be discernable beyond your property line.

9. Are there regulations other than County regulations I need to know?

You are responsible for knowing your rights and limitations for marijuana use and the growing of marijuana under the Colorado State Constitution and any applicable regulations of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Where Arapahoe County regulations are more restrictive than State of Colorado regulations, you must comply with Arapahoe County regulations. Your Homeowners’ or Neighborhood Association also may have restrictions that apply to your home. These restrictions are enforced privately and not by the County.

10. How do I report a complaint or suspected violation?

The Zoning Office of the Public Works and Development Department enforces zoning restrictions for the Arapahoe County Land Development Code within the unincorporated areas of the county. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office enforces criminal violations.