SD: Special District Setback Requirements in Kissimmee

In the City of Kissimmee, the SD: Special District requires a minimum front and street side setback of 10 feet and a maximum of 40 feet. Both side and rear setbacks for the SD: Special District are established at a minimum of 10 feet to ensure a proper proportional relationship with larger-scale public open spaces.

Setback Standards for the SD: Special District

The City of Kissimmee Land Development Code (LDC) utilizes a form-based approach for the SD: Special District. Because this district is intended to accommodate campus-type facilities such as schools and hospitals, the setback requirements are designed to allow for more design flexibility while still contributing to the urban setting of downtown Kissimmee [Section 14-5-4.H].

According to the dimensional standards established for transect zones, the following setbacks apply to development within the City of Kissimmee SD: Special District:

SD: Special District Dimensional Table

Boundary Location	Minimum Requirement	Maximum Requirement
Front Setback	10 feet	40 feet
Street Side Setback	10 feet	40 feet
Side Setback	10 feet	N/A
Rear Setback (Lot or Alley)	10 feet	N/A

[Table 5-2]

Regulatory Context and Precedence

The City of Kissimmee identifies the SD: Special District as a "Special District" within its transect zone categories [Section 14-5-4]. While there is a general zoning table for non-residential districts that lists a flat 25-foot setback for all sides of an SD: Special District property [Table 4-5], the LDC explicitly states that standards adopted for the form-based code area (Chapter 14-5) take precedence over the general standard district regulations [Section 14-4-6.B].

Intent of SD: Special District Setbacks

The setbacks in the Kissimmee SD: Special District are calibrated to:

Define Edges: Buildings are expected to define the edges of streets and public spaces to create pedestrian and bike-friendly environments [Section 14-5-4.H].
Accommodate Large-Scale Use: The flexible 10-foot to 40-foot range allows the City of Kissimmee to accommodate the diverse spatial needs of hospitals and educational campuses [Section 14-5-4.H].
Safety and Connectivity: Setbacks in the SD: Special District must ensure that all connections to the pedestrian system remain safe [Section 14-5-4.H].

Supplemental Standards

In the City of Kissimmee SD: Special District, building length and articulation are also regulated to prevent excessive monotonous façades. For example, in the SD: Special District, building articulation spacing is required every 75 feet, with a minimum projection or recess depth of 3 inches [Table 5-3].

Additionally, circular drives, which are generally prohibited in other Kissimmee transect zones, are specifically permitted for sites within the SD: Special District [Section 14-5-9.A.6].

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