Cannabis Dispensary Floor Plans: Layouts That Streamline Compliance & Sales
Designing a dispensary floor plan in Australia is about making the space easy to navigate, private when it needs to be, and secure where it counts. Medicinal cannabis is supplied under prescription, so the interior must support a clinical service with rooms and routes that fit the patient journey explained by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA medicinal cannabis). Public promotion of prescription medicines has strict limits, which shapes shopfront wording and in‑store signs (TGA advertising). Your drawing set will also pass through building approvals that check fire safety, exits, and building services under the National Construction Code (ABCB – NCC), and the layout should welcome people with disability with practical paths and counters in line with national guidance (AHRC – Disability Rights).
This guide focuses on stand‑alone pharmacies and includes short notes for medical‑centre co‑locations. It gives you a floor‑plan‑first approach: zoning, room placement, door and counter positions, sightlines, and staff‑only routes. Where the rules matter, we link to public pages so you can check details for Victoria and New South Wales. If you want to see how plan workshops, services overlays and submissions fit together, the project pathway on the commercial services and process page shows how drawings and approvals run as one flow.
What a floor plan must do in Australia (and why)
A good plan makes the patient journey clear: a calm entry, a private conversation if needed, safe preparation, and a supervised handover. It also gives staff a back‑of‑house loop so controlled stock moves behind the scenes, not across public space. These choices come from the way prescription supply is set up nationally (TGA medicinal cannabis) and from the limits on public advertising of prescription medicines, which keep the tone service‑led rather than product‑led (TGA advertising).
Stand‑alone versus medical‑centre co‑located
Stand‑alone pharmacies control their entry and queue, so the floor plan can put reception, consult, and handover in a short, direct chain.
In a medical centre, the front door and foyer are shared. Wayfinding may need an extra sign or two, and shared services (like fire or cleaning) may influence after‑hours work and submissions. Keep the consult room near the handover counter so people are not walking long distances to talk in private.
Rules that shape every dispensary plan (national, VIC and NSW)
Planning begins with the rules because they set the purpose of each room, the tone of signs, and where staff‑only zones sit. Understanding them early reduces redraws and back‑and‑forth at review time.
TGA prescription model and advertising rules
The national framing places medicinal cannabis within a prescription pathway that relies on private counselling and controlled storage handled by pharmacy teams (TGA medicinal cannabis). That is why a consultation room and a supervised handover counter are common features, even in small stores. Signs should use neutral, service‑led language in line with prescription advertising rules, not product claims or inducements (TGA advertising).
S8 storage and custody in VIC and NSW
Victoria’s public guidance on medicines and poisons outlines storage and records duties that shape safe placement and access routines for controlled stock (Victoria – medicines and poisons regulation). Premises inspections in Victoria are overseen by the Victorian Pharmacy Authority, which brings attention to secure zones and supervision lines you can show on plans (Victorian Pharmacy Authority). In New South Wales, the Pharmaceutical Services unit publishes information for pharmacies on premises and poisons matters that informs storage logic, segregation of controlled stock, and record‑keeping expectations (NSW Health – Pharmaceutical Services).
NCC egress, access and life‑safety
Your building surveyor or certifier will check your drawings against the National Construction Code for exit paths, signage, fire and building services (ABCB – NCC). People with disability should be able to reach the same service, with sensible widths, turning space at decision points, and fair counter heights supported by national inclusion guidance (AHRC – Disability Rights).
Privacy and counselling standards
Inside the consultation room, aim to keep voices in and screens private. That supports duties under the Australian Privacy Principles for handling personal information and the health sector’s focus on clear, respectful communication (OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles; ACSQHC – Communicating for Safety).
The patient journey by plan: from door to handover
Draw the journey so people know where to go, and so staff can see the public floor without revealing secure storage. Keep routes short and predictable.
Entry and first contact
A small reception point or welcome desk lets the team triage arrivals and check basic details quietly.
Simple signs point to the consultation room or the waiting area with no product‑led language, which suits the national approach to prescription advertising (TGA advertising).
If queues form, keep them away from door swings and consult doors so people do not block access or overhear private talks.
Consultation room adjacency
Place the room near the handover counter so staff can invite someone to talk without walking across the store.
Fit a vision panel with privacy film for safety, and use door seals and a solid partition build‑up to control sound, which supports privacy and good clinical conversations (ACSQHC – Communicating for Safety; OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles).
Dispensary workroom and handover
Align benches so checking and labelling happen under good task light, with power and data to hand and tidy cable paths.
Keep the handover counter under staff sightlines, with a counter shape that reduces overhear and a card terminal angled away from public view.
Move controlled stock only on staff‑only routes, with a short path from safe to bench to handover away from public aisles, consistent with state storage and custody expectations in VIC and NSW (Victoria – medicines and poisons regulation; NSW Health – Pharmaceutical Services).
Exit and circulation
Avoid cross‑flows by keeping entry and exit paths obvious and short.
Provide seats that do not interrupt clear widths or exit paths, which helps the building review under NCC drawings (ABCB – NCC).
Zoning and adjacencies: a plan you can sketch fast
Think of zones as layers that protect privacy and keep staff movement smooth. A simple zone diagram makes scope easy to read for landlords, builders and reviewers.
Public and semi‑private zones
Public areas include entry, waiting, and a portion of the retail floor in front of the counter.
Semi‑private areas include short screens or offset alcoves where people can talk quietly before entering the consult room.
Restricted and back‑of‑house
Restricted areas include the dispensary bench zone, the S8 storage and reconciliation bench, and any staff corridor.
Back‑of‑house includes receiving, quarantine shelving, and waste routes that avoid public corridors.
Five floor plan archetypes for small pharmacies
These shapes can be scaled for different tenancies. Each includes a consult room, a supervised handover counter, a staff‑only route, and a safe that is out of public view.
Linear galley
A straight line from entry to counter makes supervision simple and keeps wayfinding clear.
Place the consult room close to the counter, with a short offset that reduces overhear.
Draw exit paths with arrows and include sign positions on the reflected ceiling plan, which helps certifier review under the NCC (ABCB – NCC).
L‑shaped corner
The “elbow” of the L creates a natural buffer for the consult room door.
Staff can see the public floor from the inner corner, while the S8 route runs behind joinery to the reconciliation bench.
Keep the handover counter within a clean view corridor, and angle screens away from waiting customers to support privacy duties (OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles).
Horseshoe wrap
Staff benches wrap around a central handover counter for short travel and efficient supervision.
Put the consult door within a few steps of the counter and use a wing panel to reduce overhear.
Make egress lines obvious and keep the horseshoe open near the exit so movement is not blocked, which aligns with building approvals under the NCC (ABCB – NCC).
Cross‑aisle spine
A central staff spine branches to consult, receiving and handover, which works well in narrow tenancies.
Run power and data along the spine and drop to benches so cables stay tidy and out of public reach.
Task lighting along the spine helps accuracy and reduces eye strain, consistent with workplace guidance on lighting and comfort (Safe Work Australia – Work environment and facilities).
Split‑front micro‑tenancy
In very small stores, put the consult door and the handover counter near the entry, with a tight back‑of‑house loop for stock.
Use vertical storage for repeat baskets and a fold‑down demo bench in the consult room.
Keep a short, staff‑only path from safe to bench to counter that is not visible from the door, which supports secure custody routines in state guidance (NSW Health – Pharmaceutical Services).
Small‑footprint tactics (under ~90 m²)
Space is tight in many community sites. These tactics preserve privacy and safety without making rooms feel cramped.
Double‑duty rooms and folding elements
The consult room can double as an education space with a wall‑mounted screen and a fold‑down bench.
A pocket door with seals saves swing space and improves acoustic control for private talks.
Vertical storage and wall utilities
Store high‑use items above the counter line with labelled cubbies to reduce clutter on benches.
Mount screens and secure ports on the wall so cables do not reach public hands at the counter, which supports privacy at screens (OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles).
Queue calm without crowding
A short rail or shallow shelf can shape a line without eating floor space.
Keep turning circles open near the consult door, and place seats where people can wait without blocking exits.
Handover counter and queue design (privacy without friction)
The handover moment is where service, privacy and safety meet. Plan the counter to set the tone and keep the line moving.
Counter geometry and sightlines
A small wing on one side of the counter can cut noise spill and give a sense of privacy without boxing people in.
Keep a clear view corridor from the dispensary to the counter but avoid exposing secure storage through that corridor.
POS, payment and cables
Angle the terminal away from the waiting area and use a privacy filter on the screen.
Keep power points and cable paths inside the counter body so nothing can be unplugged from the public side, which makes security and audits simpler to manage later.
S8 security by plan (coverage without overexposure)
Security is easier to understand when it is drawn on the plan. The goal is safe storage, clear custody, and staff confidence.
Safe placement and reconciliation bench
Place the safe or vault in a staff‑only zone with no sightline from any public area. Leave a clear bench for reconciliations close by.
In Victoria and New South Wales, state pages outline the logic of storage and records you can reflect in plan notes and submission covers (Victoria – medicines and poisons regulation; NSW Health – Pharmaceutical Services).
CCTV, alarms and duress
Draw camera cones that cover access routes and handover, not the inside of secure storage.
Show duress at the counter and note the monitoring arrangement. Keep cable routes protected inside walls and joinery so devices cannot be unplugged casually.
Lighting overlays that help people and cameras
Add a lighting layer to the floor plan. Think ambient grid for calm, task lights for work, and emergency lights and exit signs that match the approval set.
Task light at benches
Use neutral white task lights to keep labels clear and reduce eye strain at checking stations, which supports safe work under general workplace guidance (Safe Work Australia – Work environment and facilities).
Ambient and anti‑glare
Keep general levels even and avoid reflective finishes that bounce light into eyes or camera lenses at the counter.
Where glass is used, place lights so staff can see into the public floor without harsh reflections.
Wayfinding and emergency
Mark exit signs and emergency lights on the reflected ceiling plan, which helps certifier checks under the NCC (ABCB – NCC).
Acoustic and visual privacy overlays (simple, buildable)
You don’t need complex systems to make rooms quiet. Basic details done well can make a big difference.
Partitions, doors and seals
Use a solid core door with full perimeter seals for the consult room. Run partitions to the soffit or add a ceiling treatment if needed to control sound, which supports clinical conversations (ACSQHC – Communicating for Safety).
Quiet layouts and soft cues
Place chairs side by side or at a gentle angle. A small panel or a short wall can block sightlines without turning the area into a booth.
Keep screens and records facing away from public space to support privacy duties (OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles).
Services coordination on the floor plan
A readable plan set shows where power and data run, how air moves, and where hygiene features sit. This makes tendering cleaner and approvals quicker.
Power/data inside the plan
Put labelled outlets and data points at each bench and show which terminal each serves. Keep screen positions out of public sightlines to support privacy at counters (OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles).
HVAC zoning and returns
Give the consult room a calm, steady temperature and avoid a vent that blows on the patient’s face.
Keep returns and supplies placed so noise and drafts do not disturb work at benches.
Plumbing, hand basins and cleaning
Place basins where hand hygiene is natural, not an obstacle. Use sealed junctions and easy‑clean materials in splash zones so daily cleaning is quick.
Fire and egress devices
Draw detectors, exit signs and emergency lights with simple legends and keep their sightlines clear for building review under the NCC (ABCB – NCC).
Stand‑alone vs medical‑centre co‑located: plan changes that matter
You can build a safe and calm journey in both settings, but the plan notes change slightly when you share an entry or base building systems.
Entries, wayfinding and shared services
In medical centres, confirm who controls foyer signs and where your neutral service cues sit so people do not get lost.
Shared life‑safety systems may dictate testing times or after‑hours work windows; a short note on the drawing can help reviewers see your plan is practical.
Responsibilities and submissions
Clarify in a cover note which items are tenant scope and which belong to the building. This helps premises reviewers and building surveyors process your set without delays.
Approvals and a regulator‑friendly drawing pack (VIC and NSW)
A clean pack is easier to read, quote and approve. Show how the plan meets the areas reviewers look for in each state.
VIC/NSW essentials on the sheet
Secure storage narrative (location out of sight, bench space for reconciliation), staff supervision lines, counselling privacy, and a short custody and records logic written in plain language. Use state pages to reference the approach for Victoria and New South Wales (Victoria – medicines and poisons regulation; NSW Health – Pharmaceutical Services).
NCC‑ready plan set
Include a floor plan with zones, a reflected ceiling plan for lights and exit signs, a power and data plan, a simple security diagram with devices, and schedules. Your certifier will check the plan against the National Construction Code (ABCB – NCC).
Frequent floor‑plan mistakes (and quick ways to fix them)
Consult room too far from the counter. Place it within a few steps so staff can invite someone quietly.
Safe visible from public space. Move it behind a door in a staff‑only area and add a reconciliation bench nearby.
Screens facing the waiting area. Turn them or fit privacy filters to support privacy under the Australian Privacy Principles (OAIC – Australian Privacy Principles).
Exit logic unclear on drawings. Show arrows and sign locations on the reflected ceiling plan with a short legend, which speeds building review under the NCC (ABCB – NCC).
Cable clutter at the counter. Route power and data inside the joinery body and label access panels so maintenance is simple and safe.
How a specialist partner turns sketch into approval‑ready plans
A joined‑up approach brings zoning, overlays and submissions into one path from the start. Plan workshops set adjacencies, lighting and acoustic layers lock in comfort and privacy, and the final pack shows devices and notes that match review expectations. If you want to see how that workflow is staged, the steps are shown on the commercial services and process page. When you are ready to turn a sketch into a layout and a submission set, explore our approach to pharmacy fitouts on the Design Yard 32 – Pharmacy Fitout page.
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Keep the path short: entry, discreet check‑in, consultation room near the counter, dispensary benches behind, and a staff‑only loop for receiving and storage. This mirrors the prescription pathway described by national guidance and keeps the public journey calm and simple (TGA medicinal cannabis).
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Place it in a staff‑only zone with no public sightline and keep a reconciliation bench next to it. State pages in Victoria and New South Wales set the storage and records logic you can reflect in plan notes and submission covers (Victoria – medicines and poisons regulation; NSW Health – Pharmaceutical Services).
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Keep it within a few steps of the counter with a small offset that reduces overhear. Use door seals, a solid partition build‑up and a vision panel with privacy film to support private, safe conversations in line with clinical communication standards (ACSQHC – Communicating for Safety).
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Draw an even ambient grid and add neutral‑white task lights at checking benches to reduce eye strain. Keep glare and reflections low at the counter and on glass so staff can supervise the floor and cameras have a clear view, which aligns with workplace guidance on lighting and comfort (Safe Work Australia – Work environment and facilities).
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Yes, if you stage the works in short phases, use a temporary counter, and move controlled stock along staff‑only routes. Keep exit paths and emergency signs clear and consistent with your approval drawings under the National Construction Code (ABCB – NCC).
