Orange County, FL Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Operating hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only
- Parking classification
- Treated as a retail establishment
- State license
- Valid, current MMTC license required
- County permit
- Building/use permit, Division of Building Safety
- Product limit
- Medical marijuana and delivery devices only
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 60 days jail, or both
- Geographic scope
- Unincorporated Orange County only
Summary
Orange County allows medical-marijuana dispensing facilities in the unincorporated area, but only for a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center holding a valid license from the Florida Department of Health. Code Sec. 38-79(179) sets local siting and operating conditions: a building and use permit from the county Division of Building Safety, capped hours, parking treated as a retail use, and a ban on non-medical marijuana sale. Orange County has never opted out of dispensing facilities.
A dispensing facility may be permitted subject to the following conditions:a.Valid license. A valid license for both the MMTC of which the dispensing facility is a part and for the dispensing of marijuana shall be obtained from the State of Florida and remain in effect during the operation of the dispensing facility. All dispensing activities shall cease if a license has expired or been revoked by the state. Any dispensing facility not licensed by the State is hereby prohibited within unincorporated Orange County....f.Parking and queuing. A dispensing facility shall be required to meet the off-street parking standards in section 38-1476 ("Quantity of off-street parking"), Orange County Code, and shall be deemed a retail establishment for parking demand purposes. The owner of the dispensing facility shall be responsible for ensuring that there is no queuing of vehicles in the public right-of-way....h.Hours of operation. A dispensing facility shall only dispense marijuana or marijuana delivery devices from the premises between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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) of the Orange County Code lists the conditions a dispensing facility must meet to operate in unincorporated Orange County. It must belong to an MMTC with a current Florida Department of Health license for both the MMTC and the dispensing activity itself; any facility operating without that state license is "hereby prohibited" under the county code. Before opening, the operator must file a building or use permit application with the county Division of Building Safety, along with proof the MMTC is state-authorized to sell marijuana to qualifying patients, and pay the applicable fee; a permit does not shield anyone from state or federal criminal liability for marijuana activity.
Once open, the facility is treated as a retail establishment for off-street parking purposes and must meet the parking counts in Sec. 38-1476, with the owner responsible for keeping vehicles from queuing into the public right-of-way. ; nothing may be dispensed from the premises outside that window. A separate 500-foot school distance separation and a signage cap of one exterior sign apply under the same section but are addressed on the county's cannabis school-buffer page. The rules apply only inside unincorporated Orange County; Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Oakland and Windermere each set their own zoning for dispensaries under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of Sec. 38-79(179), including operating without a valid state license or dispensing outside the 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. window, is punishable under Sec. 1-9 by a fine of up to $500.00, up to sixty days in the county jail, or both. The county may also pursue code enforcement citations under F.S. ch. 162, or civil action to enjoin a violator, and Orange County Sheriff's deputies and code enforcement officers may inspect a facility any time it is open to check for a valid license and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Orange County opted out of allowing marijuana dispensaries?
What hours can an Orange County dispensing facility operate?
Does a marijuana dispensary need a separate county permit to open?
Can an Orange County dispensary sell recreational marijuana or other products?
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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