Wilmington Council proposes new zoning ordinance to regulate recreational marijuana businesses

The Wilmington City Council proposed an ordinance regulating recreational marijuana business zoning, focusing on the Riverfront and industrial zones (Photo by jcomp on Freepik)

The Wilmington City Council is taking steps to regulate where recreational marijuana businesses can operate within city limits, focusing on the Riverfront and industrial zones. 

A newly proposed ordinance aims to align the city’s zoning code with the Delaware Marijuana Control Act, which legalized recreational cannabis statewide and authorized the issuance of 125 licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and testing.

If approved, Wilmington would officially permit marijuana cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing labs, and retail stores, but only in specific zoning districts.

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Map of zoning locations for recreational marijuana businesses. (Photo provided by the City of Wilmington)

The ordinance also includes a mandatory 300-foot buffer zone between marijuana establishments and residential zoning districts or K-12 public and private schools to maintain separation from school areas.

The legislation also introduces parking requirements for marijuana testing facilities, while deferring to existing cultivation, manufacturing, and retail regulations.

The measure received a favorable recommendation from the City Planning Commission on March 25.  It had its first and second readings before City Council on April 3, where it now awaits final approval.

Officials stress that the ordinance only addresses recreational marijuana and will not impact medical marijuana operations or “compassion centers” already permitted under state law.

Previous efforts to shape marijuana zoning

This isn’t the first time Wilmington officials have paused to weigh the implications of cannabis zoning. As previously reported,  the City Council passed Ordinance 25-004, which temporarily halted the issuance of retail marijuana business licenses for 90 days. Councilman Alexander Hackett introduced the pause to ensure proper zoning updates and gather community input before cannabis stores began operating within city limits.

READ: Wilmington Council imposes 90-day suspension on cannabis business licenses

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.