OCALA, FL (352today.com) — Fish Hawk Spirits, an Ocala distillery and agritourism destination, is weighing its options to keep operations at its current site while facing more than $250,000 in required upgrades.

Chief Financial Officer Joe Faino told commissioners the business produces 28 craft spirits, employs six staff, and grows some of its ingredients on-site. “It’s not a hobby, it’s a business,” Faino said, emphasizing the distillery’s community contributions and state certifications.

But compliance demands include paved roads, fire code upgrades, new permits, and site plan approvals. “We’ve made a capital investment of over $4 million,” Faino said. “Meeting these requirements isn’t going to be easy, cheap, or quick.”

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners gave the applicant 180 days to look investigate the possibility of another location, and this would provide the county commission the opportunity to look through their comprehensive plan. The applicant will have to let the county know, if they are going to make the investment at the current location, or if they find another, with a special use permit being needed no matter the decision. The applicant’s goal is to keep the business in Marion County, and the county commission wants to work with the applicant to make sure that happens.

The applicant will work with the DRC during the time frame, and if they’re ready prior to the six-month date, they can bring it back before the commissioners, but the date they were given was Feb. 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. And even though the special use permit has expired, there will be no code enforcement until that day. The applicant still has to comply with the operating conditions that were discussed previously in the meeting.