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Citrus County, FL Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

School buffer
500 feet minimum
Governing section
LDC § 3765
MDR district (§2406)
Conditional Use only
HDR district (§2407)
Conditional Use only
NEC district (§2411)
Permitted use
CLC district (§2410)
Permitted, under 7,000 sq ft
Coverage
Unincorporated county only

Summary

In unincorporated Citrus County, a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center cannot sit within 500 feet of any public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school under the Land Development Code. The use runs as a Permitted use in most commercial and industrial zoning districts, but needs Conditional Use approval in the county's two multifamily residential districts. Crystal River and Inverness apply their own separate city codes, not this one.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Citrus County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A Medical Marijuana Treatment Center may not be located within 500 feet of the real property that comprises a public or private elementary school, middle school, or secondary school.

Full Breakdown

' Section 3765, in Chapter Three (Use Standards), sets the one substantive siting restriction that applies countywide: a treatment center cannot locate within 500 feet of the real property of any public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school. Beyond that buffer, whether a dispensary can open at all turns on the zoning district's use table. In the Medium Density Residential District (§ 2406) and High Density Residential District (§ 2407), the table lists 'Medical Marijuana Treatment Center' as a Conditional Use ('C'), meaning it needs discretionary Board approval rather than an as-of-right permit.

In the Neighborhood Commercial District (§ 2411) the same use is listed 'P' for Permitted, and the Coastal and Lakes Commercial District (§ 2410) permits it outright for facilities under 7,000 square feet. These are LDC-wide use tables applied district by district, so a specific parcel's status depends on its zoning designation, obtainable from the county's Growth Management Department. None of this reaches Crystal River or Inverness: each incorporated city runs its own zoning and land development code, and a location inside city limits is governed by that city's rules, not the county's. The Land Development Code carries no general opt-out of dispensaries; instead it channels them into specific districts subject to the school buffer.

Violations & Fines

Siting a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center within 500 feet of a school's real property violates § 3765 and exposes the operator to code enforcement action, including denial or revocation of the required zoning approval. Opening in a district where the use table does not list Medical Marijuana Treatment Center as a Permitted or Conditional use, or operating without the Conditional Use approval required in the Medium and High Density Residential districts, is an unauthorized land use subject to the county's standard land-use enforcement process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Citrus County opted out of allowing medical marijuana dispensaries?
No. The Land Development Code carries no opt-out or ban. Medical Marijuana Treatment Center is listed as a Permitted or Conditional use across most commercial, mixed-use, and industrial zoning districts, so the county channels dispensaries into specific districts under its use tables rather than prohibiting them.
How close can a dispensary be to a school in Citrus County?
Not within 500 feet. Section 3765 of the Land Development Code bars locating a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center within 500 feet of the real property of any public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school in unincorporated Citrus County.
Which zoning districts allow a dispensary as of right?
The Neighborhood Commercial District table lists the use as Permitted, and the Coastal and Lakes Commercial District permits it outright for facilities under 7,000 square feet. In the Medium and High Density Residential districts it instead requires Conditional Use approval from the county.
Does this rule apply inside Crystal River or Inverness?
No. Citrus County's Land Development Code governs only the unincorporated county. Crystal River and Inverness are separately incorporated cities with their own zoning and land development codes, so a dispensary sited inside either city follows that city's rules instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Citrus County

All Citrus County rules

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

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