Key West, Florida sunscreen law
In February 2019 Key West voted to ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate starting January 1, 2021. Before that date, Florida passed SB 172, which reserves all regulation of over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics to the state. That law made the city ban unenforceable, so it never took effect. No sunscreen ingredient ban applies in Key West or anywhere else in Florida.
Last verified October 14, 2026 · Key West city sunscreen ordinance (adopted Feb. 2019; scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021 and never took effect). Preempted by Fla. Stat. § 499.002(7), added by Ch. 2020-118 (SB 172)
This rule is not currently enforceable. We keep it here because it is still widely cited. See the details below.
Banned ingredients
| Ingredient | Also called | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Oxybenzone | benzophenone-3, benzophenone 3 | UV filter |
| Octinoxate | ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octyl methoxycinnamate | UV filter |
The details
- The City Commission approved the ordinance 6–1 in early February 2019. It targeted sales of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, with a prescription exemption.
- Florida SB 172 (2020) passed the Senate 25–14 and the House 68–47. Gov. DeSantis approved it on June 29, 2020, and it became Chapter 2020-118, effective July 1, 2020, six months before the city ban was due to start.
- The statute now reads: 'Notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance or regulation to the contrary, the regulation of over-the-counter proprietary drugs and cosmetics is expressly preempted to the state' (Fla. Stat. § 499.002(7), 2026 edition).
- Status is recorded as 'repealed' because the ordinance was nullified by state preemption. We did not find a separate city vote formally repealing it.
- The city ordinance's own text was not retrieved. Its details come from a secondary source (NOAA-funded National Sea Grant Law Center summary).
Sunscreens that meet this guidance in Key West, Florida
0 of 988 products we track pass; 0 don’t.Browse all 0 →
By brand
Common questions
What sunscreen ingredients are banned in Key West, Florida?
Oxybenzone, Octinoxate.
When did the Key West, Florida sunscreen rule take effect?
January 1, 2021, but it is no longer enforceable.
Which sunscreens are allowed in Key West, Florida?
Of the 988 products we track, 0 meet the Key West, Florida rule. The simplest choice is a sunscreen with only zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients.