Does Orlando, FL have its own buffer zones ordinance?

No. Orlando, FL does not appear to have a local buffer zones ordinance, Florida state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from FL Statute §381.986(8).

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Orlando

Orlando, FL Cannabis Regulations: Buffer Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

School buffer: 500 feet minimum
Measurement: Property line to property line
City limit: Pharmacy parity required
Authority: FL §381.986(8)

Summary

Florida Statute Section 381.986(8) requires Medical Marijuana Treatment Center dispensaries to sit at least 500 feet from public or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools, measured between nearest property lines.

Regulation of cultivation, processing, and delivery of marijuana by medical marijuana treatment centers is preempted to the state except as provided in this subsection. (a) A medical marijuana treatment center cultivating or processing facility may not be located within 500 feet of the real property that comprises a public or private elementary school, middle school, or secondary school. (b)1. A county or municipality may, by ordinance, ban medical marijuana treatment center dispensing facilities from being located within the boundaries of that county or municipality.

Source: FL Statute §381.986(8)View official code

Full Breakdown

Under FL §381.986(8)(b), any MMTC dispensary in Orlando must be located at least 500 feet from the nearest real property comprising a public or private school. The buffer is measured property-line to property-line. Counties and municipalities may, by ordinance, require dispensaries to be at least 500 feet from school properties, but cannot impose buffers larger than the equivalent for pharmacies under local zoning. Orlando treats MMTCs as pharmacies under its zoning code per state preemption. Cities cannot ban dispensaries outright unless they ban all dispensaries by referendum, and cannot impose extra-buffer rules beyond the pharmacy parity required by state law.

Violations & Fines

Operating a dispensary inside the 500-foot school buffer or without state DOH licensure can trigger MMTC license revocation and state criminal charges for unlicensed cannabis distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Orlando require a 1,000-foot school buffer?

No. State law caps local dispensary buffers at parity with how pharmacies are regulated locally. Cities cannot single out MMTCs with stricter spacing.

Can Orlando ban dispensaries altogether?

Only by passing a complete ban via city ordinance prohibiting all MMTC dispensaries. Selective or partial bans are preempted by FL §381.986.

Sources & Official References

[1]FL §381.986(8) MMTC Locations

Other rules in Orlando

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All Orlando rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orlando to another location·View the Florida cannabis regulations overview

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