Akron, OH Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Provisional license fee
- $250
- Operating license fee
- $2,500
- License term
- 1 year, renew 90 days early
- Zoning requirement
- conditional use under § 153.464
- Violation penalty
- first-degree misdemeanor
- Security review
- Akron Police must inspect first
Summary
Akron requires every medical marijuana cultivator, processor, dispensary, or testing lab to hold a city-issued local operating license on top of state authorization. City Code § 111.631 ties that license to proof the proposed site is zoned for the use as a conditional use under § 153.464 of the Zoning Code.
No medical marijuana entity shall operate in the City of Akron unless the entity possesses a valid local operating license pursuant to this chapter and a valid state certificate of operation from the Ohio Department of Commerce, except as otherwise provided in this section. ... The proposed physical address of the applicant's medical marijuana entity and confirmation that the property is properly zoned for such use under Section 153.464, in the form of an ordinance authorizing a conditional use under Chapter 153 of this Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
631, in addition to the state certificate of operation from the Ohio Department of Commerce. An entity must first obtain a local provisional license from the License Clerk (the Mayor or a designee) by submitting a $250 application that discloses the applicant's business structure, Secretary of State registration, any out-of-state marijuana licensure history, and background information on anyone who has managed or served on the board of the applicant. 464 of the Zoning Code, since a provisional license cannot support a building permit or certificate of occupancy without that zoning confirmation.
Once the state issues its own provisional license, the entity applies for the $2,500 local operating license, which requires the Akron Police Department to inspect and approve the site's security arrangements. The operating license expires one year after issuance and must be renewed at least ninety days before expiration for a further $2,500 fee. Both the provisional and operating licenses attach to one specific address; relocating requires a new $2,500 location-change application with a fresh zoning and buffer confirmation.
Violations & Fines
Operating a medical marijuana entity in Akron without a valid local license, or otherwise violating the licensing chapter, is a first-degree misdemeanor under § 111.999. The License Clerk can warn, suspend, or revoke a license for violations of this chapter, Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3796, or related state rules; a suspension issued without a prior hearing, used when continued operation poses immediate danger, still gets a hearing within five days. Denials, suspensions, and revocations can be appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2506.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a medical marijuana dispensary open anywhere in Akron?
Does an Akron medical marijuana business need a city license in addition to the state license?
What does it cost to license a medical marijuana entity in Akron?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Akron
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