§ 14-165. Certificate of approval required; term of certificate of approval; premises authorization; renewal application.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to establish or operate a medical marijuana treatment center in the county without first having obtained from the State of Florida approval to do so pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act or any other relevant law, and having obtained from the county a certificate of approval, and having obtained from the county a premises authorization for the facility to be operated in connection with such business. Such certificate of approval and premises authorization shall be kept current at all times and shall be conspicuously displayed at all times in the premises to which they apply. The failure to maintain a current certificate of approval, or to maintain a current premises authorization for any location at which medical marijuana treatment center is conducted, shall constitute a violation of this section.

(b)

Each certificate of approval issued by the county pursuant to this article shall specify the date of issuance, the period of licensure, and the name of the operator.

(c)

Any certificate of approval issued by the county under this article shall expire three (3) years after the date of its issuance.

(d)

Once a certificate of approval is issued by the county, the county manager or designee shall review the application and proposed location of the medical marijuana treatment center and shall issue or deny a premises authorization for said location, based upon compliance with all county and city (as applicable) codes and ordinances.

(e)

Renewal of an existing certificate of approval shall be automatic for successive three-year periods upon payment of required fees to the county, as provided in the fee resolution adopted by the county from time to time.

(1)

Within thirty (30) days of the expiration date of the certificate of approval, each operator shall notify the county of its intent to renew, or not renew the certificate of approval. If an operator elects to renew the certificate of approval, said operator shall pay a nonrefundable fee to the county, as set forth in the fee resolution adopted by the county from time to time, to defray the costs incurred by the county for review of the application and inspection of the premises, as well as any other costs associated with processing the renewal of the certificate of approval.

(2)

In the event the renewal county fees, and taxes are not paid to the county within thirty (30) days prior to the renewal date, the certificate of approval is revoked. An operator whose certificate of approval has been expired for not more than ninety (90) days will be reinstated upon the payment of a nonrefundable late application fee, as set forth in the fee resolution adopted by the county from time to time. A certificate of approval shall be revoked if renewal fees have not been paid within ninety (90) days of the renewal date/expiration of the certificate of approval.

(f)

Any premises authorization issued by the county manager or designee under this article shall expire one (1) year after issued and may be renewed. In the event a certificate of authorization is not renewed, it shall be noticed by the committee as available and be subject to a new application process as set forth herein.

(Ord. No. 2016-97, § 1, 10-17-16)