Dispensary Zoning: Dunedin vs St. Petersburg
How do dispensary zoning rules compare between Dunedin, FL and St. Petersburg, FL?
Dunedin has fewer restrictions than St. Petersburg.
Dunedin, FL
Pinellas County
Dunedin allows medical marijuana dispensaries anywhere a pharmacy may locate, as required by Florida Statute 381.986. The city dropped its initial moratorium in 2018 and instead controls dispensaries through hours, loitering, and other operational rules.
View full Dunedin rules →St. Petersburg, FL
Pinellas County
St. Petersburg permits medical marijuana treatment center dispensaries under the same zoning rules as pharmacies per Florida Statute 381.986(11), with the 500-foot school buffer applying citywide.
View full St. Petersburg rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dunedin | St. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensaries allowed | Yes, like pharmacies | - |
| State preemption | Fla. Stat. 381.986 | - |
| School buffer | 500 feet under state rule | 500 feet |
| Recreational sales | Prohibited statewide | - |
| Local controls | Hours, loitering, parking | - |
| State statute | - | FS 381.986(11) |
| Treated as | - | Pharmacy |
| Local code | - | Chapter 16 LDR |
| Local ban | - | Not adopted |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dunedin FAQ
Can Dunedin ban medical marijuana dispensaries?
It could ban them entirely, but if it allows any, state law requires they be permitted wherever pharmacies are allowed, with no stricter zoning. Dunedin chose to allow them.
How close to a school can a dispensary be?
Florida law generally requires Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to be at least 500 feet from a public or private school, measured from the property lines.
Are recreational dispensaries allowed?
No. Florida law currently authorizes only medical marijuana dispensing through licensed MMTCs. Recreational adult-use sales remain prohibited as of 2026.
St. Petersburg FAQ
Where can a medical marijuana dispensary open in St. Petersburg?
Dispensaries are allowed wherever a pharmacy is permitted under Chapter 16 land development regulations, generally commercial and mixed-use corridors, subject to a 500-foot buffer from K-12 schools.
Can St. Petersburg ban dispensaries?
Yes. Florida Statute 381.986(11) gives cities the option to either ban MMTC dispensaries entirely or treat them like pharmacies. St. Petersburg has chosen the pharmacy-equivalent path.
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