Medical marijuana dispensaries are regulated as “medical cannabis dispensing facilities” under the City’s Unified Land Development Code (ULDC). The rules are primarily zoning- and permitting-driven, meaning the biggest hurdle for operators is often finding a compliant site and securing approvals—not simply opening the doors.
Where dispensaries are allowed
Fort Lauderdale limits dispensary locations to three business zoning districts: Boulevard Business (B-1), General Business (B-2), and Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial (B-3). In practice, this means dispensaries are steered toward commercial corridors and away from most residentially zoned areas.
The distance buffers that shrink the map
The City’s code layers multiple separation requirements that can dramatically reduce eligible parcels:
- 1 mile (5,280 feet) from another medical cannabis dispensing facility
- 1,500 feet from schools and child day care facilities
- 1,500 feet from parks
- 1,500 feet from libraries
Distances are measured from the closest point where cannabis is dispensed to the nearest property line of the protected use, and the buffers can include protected uses in adjacent municipalities and unincorporated Broward County
Operationally, these stacking buffers create real estate “pinch points.” Even in dense commercial areas, a single nearby park, library, or school can eliminate multiple blocks—especially when combined with the one-mile spacing between dispensaries.
Permitting, documentation, and security expectations
Fort Lauderdale also requires applicants to submit technical and operational materials as part of the approval process, including a certified survey verifying separation distances.
Security is a major emphasis. The ULDC calls for a security plan with items such as lighting and alarm systems, a silent alarm, cash-management controls (such as vaults or drop safes), and a camera system capable of recording and retrieving images for at least 30 days, with cameras placed at key entry and exit points and transaction or storage areas. The police department reviews the plan and may require revisions before approval.
Operating standards that affect day-to-day business
Additional operating rules include:
- Hours generally limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- No drive-through operations
- Products and promotional depictions not visible from the public right-of-way
- Odor and air filtration expectations to prevent impacts outside the suite
- Parking set at 1 space per 150 square feet of gross floor area
These standards can increase buildout costs related to HVAC, odor control, and security systems, while also narrowing viable storefront configurations due to visibility rules and the prohibition on drive-through service.
A legal tension that can add uncertainty
Fort Lauderdale’s ordinance includes language that ties the number of dispensaries to population and commission districts. At the same time, Florida law places limits on how local governments may regulate the number of medical marijuana dispensing facilities, allowing zoning and time-place-manner controls but discouraging outright caps.
This tension has contributed to regulatory uncertainty in the past, creating additional risk for operators attempting to secure leases, invest in buildouts, and move through the approval process.
Bottom line: Fort Lauderdale’s dispensary zoning rules are strict enough to create meaningful operational challenges. Real estate scarcity, layered distance buffers, higher compliance costs, and regulatory uncertainty all play a role in shaping where—and how—medical cannabis businesses can operate within the city.