Orange County, FL Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer distance
- 500 feet
- Measured from
- school property line
- Facility types covered
- cultivation, processing, dispensing
- School types
- public or private, elem-secondary
- Cross-jurisdiction schools
- count toward the buffer
Summary
Medical marijuana cultivation, processing, and dispensing facilities in unincorporated Orange County must sit at least 500 feet from any public or private school, measured property line to property line, even if the school is in a neighboring city.
Distance separation. A dispensing facility may not be located within five hundred (500) feet of the real property that comprises a public or private elementary school, middle school, or secondary school, regardless of whether such school lies within unincorporated Orange County or a surrounding municipality. Such distance shall be measured in a straight line between the property line of the subject dispensing facility and the property line of the subject school that are closest to each other.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 128).
Full Breakdown
Section 38-79(179)(c) bars a medical marijuana dispensing facility from locating within 500 feet of the real property of any public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school, whether that school is inside unincorporated Orange County or a surrounding city, with the distance measured in a straight line between the closest property lines. Matching 500-foot school-distance clauses appear at 38-79(177)(c) for cultivation facilities and 38-79(178)(c) for processing facilities.
Violations & Fines
Siting a cultivation, processing, or dispensing facility within 500 feet of a school's property line violates section 38-79(177)-(179)(c); the county can deny or revoke the building/use permit for noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a medical marijuana dispensary be from a school in Orange County?
Does the 500-foot buffer count schools located in Orlando or another city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orange County to another location·View the Florida cannabis regulations overview
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