B-3 General Commercial District Zoning Guide for Kissimmee
The B-3: General Commercial District in the City of Kissimmee is designed to accommodate a broad range of retail, office, and service activities requiring high visibility and accessibility, typically along arterial or collector streets. Key requirements for new development in the City of Kissimmee B-3: General Commercial District include a minimum lot area of 30,000 square feet, a 25-foot front setback, and a maximum impervious surface ratio of 80 percent. While hotels, restaurants, and professional offices are permitted by right, many specialized uses like gasoline stations and car washes require conditional use approval.
Intent of the B-3: General Commercial District
The B-3: General Commercial District is established by the City of Kissimmee to provide for a diverse array of business activities. It is specifically intended for properties that require high degrees of accessibility for vehicular traffic and is generally situated on or near major transportation corridors [Section 14-4-4.J].
Allowed and Prohibited Uses
Under the City of Kissimmee Land Development Code, land uses are classified as Permitted (P), Conditional (C), or Prohibited (Blank or N). Any use not specifically listed in the schedule of uses is prohibited within the City of Kissimmee [Section 14-4-5].
Permitted Uses (By Right)
The following uses are permitted in the B-3: General Commercial District:
- Commercial/Retail: Restaurants and general retail sales establishments [Section 14-4-5, Table 4-2].
- Institutional: Churches, civic/social clubs, community centers, and libraries/museums.
- Lodging: Hotels and motels.
- Office: General office establishments and financial institutions.
- Services: Communication service establishments, light equipment sales and leasing, and veterinary clinics.
- Recreation: Passive recreation areas and indoor private recreation facilities.
- Miscellaneous: Microbreweries and medical/law enforcement heliports.
- Utilities: Minor utility facilities.
Conditional Uses
The following uses require conditional use approval from the City of Kissimmee:
- Commercial: Drive-through facilities (limited to parcels of two acres or more) [Section 14-4-5, Table 4-2, Footnote 2].
- Institutional: Educational service establishments, hospitals, institutional care facilities, and schools (elementary, middle, and high).
- Services: Car wash establishments, child care facilities (conditional if within 300 feet of a residential zone), gasoline service stations, kennels, light motor vehicle repair, and temporary labor service establishments.
- Recreation: Active/outdoor recreation.
- Utilities: Communication towers/facilities and major utility facilities.
- Miscellaneous: Heliports, outdoor advertising signs, and surface parking lots as a principal use.
- Storage: Self-storage facilities (only allowed as part of a mixed-use development and not directly fronting an arterial roadway) [Section 14-4-5, Table 4-2, Footnote 9].
Prohibited Uses
Uses specifically prohibited or not listed as permitted/conditional in the B-3: General Commercial District include:
- Residential: All residential types, including single-family dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, and multi-family developments.
- Industrial: Manufacturing (light, medium, and heavy) and wholesale trade establishments.
- Retail: Pawn shops and heavy commercial vehicle sales/rental.
- Transportation: Bus depots, rail stations, and taxi stations.
- Miscellaneous: Adult entertainment, shelters/halfway houses, and occult science establishments.
Dimensional and Site Standards
The City of Kissimmee mandates the following site standards for all development located within the B-3: General Commercial District.
| Standard | B-3 Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 30,000 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Lot Width | 150 ft. |
| Minimum Lot Depth | 150 ft. |
| Maximum Impervious Surface | 80% |
| Front Setback (Minimum) | 25 ft. |
| Side Setback (Minimum) | 10 ft. |
| Street Side Setback (Minimum) | 20 ft. |
| Rear Setback (Minimum) | 10 ft. |
| Maximum Structure Height | N/A (Regulated by other sections) |
[Section 14-4-6.B, Table 4-5]
Parking and Loading Requirements
Off-street parking in the City of Kissimmee must be provided for every use in the B-3: General Commercial District based on the specific use type.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Office Building | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. GFA |
| Restaurant | 1 space per 80 sq. ft. GFA (Minimum 8 spaces) |
| Retail Stores | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. GFA |
| Hotel or Motel | 1 space per room, plus 50% for accessory uses |
| Bank/Financial Institution | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. GFA |
| Medical Office/Clinic | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. GFA |
| Warehouse and Storage | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
[Section 14-7-22, Table 7-2]
Sections Cited
- Section 14-4-4.J: Intent - General Commercial District (B-3)
- Section 14-4-5: Schedule of uses for standard zoning districts (Table 4-2)
- Section 14-4-6.B: Schedule of dimensional regulations for standard districts (Table 4-5)
- Section 14-6-9: Outdoor dining
- Section 14-6-37: Child care facilities
- Section 14-6-40: Drive-through facility
- Section 14-6-47: Self-storage facilities
- Section 14-7-22: Automobile parking ratios (Table 7-2)