Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the O-3 Office and Residential District of Orlando

The O-3: Office and Residential District in the City of Orlando is a high-intensity transition zone that permits a maximum residential density of 75 dwelling units per acre and a maximum non-residential floor area ratio (FAR) of 1.0. This district is primarily intended for the development of professional offices and multi-family housing in areas immediately adjacent to the Downtown Metropolitan Activity Center, while strictly prohibiting industrial, heavy commercial, and adult entertainment uses.

Relationship and Purpose of the O-3 District

The City of Orlando has established the O-3: Office and Residential District to implement the Office-High Intensity category of the municipal Growth Management Plan. Its primary function is to serve as a high-intensity transition area between the high-density Downtown Activity Center and lower-intensity surrounding neighborhoods [Section 58.280]. The O-3: Office and Residential District is applied to lands adjacent to the AC-3A and AC-3 districts to encourage a mixture of office and housing developments that utilize flexible building and site design [Section 58.281, Section 58.282].

Allowed Residential Uses

Within the O-3: Office and Residential District, the City of Orlando permits a variety of residential types, emphasizing high-density living. Most residential developments in this district are subject to appearance review to ensure compatibility with the urban context.

Permitted (P): Single Family dwellings, Multi-Family dwellings, and all types of Group Housing (Types A, B, and C) [Figure 2].
Permitted with Appearance Review (PA): Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Townhomes, and Duplex or Tandem dwellings [Figure 2].
Care Facilities: Residential Care Facilities (Types A and B), Intensive Care Facilities (Types A, B, and C), and Transient Care Facilities (Types A, B, and C) are all permitted [Figure 2].

Allowed Non-Residential and Mixed Uses

The O-3: Office and Residential District focuses on professional and service-oriented commercial activities.

Permitted (P): General Offices, Medical and Dental Offices, Medical Labs, Personal Services, Light Retailing, and Child or Adult Day Care (both for 6–30 and 31+ persons) [Figure 2].
Public and Institutional: Conservation uses and Local Assembly uses are permitted. Neighborhood and Community Assembly uses are allowed as Conditional Uses (C) [Figure 2].
Conditional and Landmark Uses:
- Communication Towers: Allowed with a Conditional Use Permit and Appearance Review (CA) [Figure 2].
- Hospitals and Clinics: Allowed as a Conditional Use (C) [Figure 2].
- Bars and Hotels/Motels: These are permitted only within historic landmarks (LC) [Figure 2].
- Commercial Dwelling Units: Permitted as a Conditional Use only if located outside of the Traditional City (C1) [Figure 2].
- Principal Use Parking: In the Traditional City, this requires a Conditional Use Permit; outside the Traditional City, it is permitted [Figure 2].

Prohibited Uses in the O-3 District

To maintain the character of the O-3: Office and Residential District, the City of Orlando prohibits uses that generate excessive noise, heavy traffic, or environmental hazards. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to:

Residential: Mobile Homes [Figure 2].
Industrial: Manufacturing and Processing (Light or Heavy), Warehousing, and Wholesale facilities [Figure 2].
Commercial: Intensive Retailing, Automotive Services (including service stations and car washes), and Major Vehicle Services [Figure 2].
Other: Adult Entertainment, Agriculture, and Golf Courses [Figure 2].

O-3 District Development Standards

All development within the O-3: Office and Residential District must adhere to specific technical requirements regarding density, floor area, and setbacks. Standards differ based on whether the property is located inside or outside of the Traditional City overlay.

Standard	Requirement (Inside Traditional City)	Requirement (Outside Traditional City)
Min. Residential Density	30 du/ac	30 du/ac
Max. Residential Density	75 du/ac	75 du/ac
Max. Non-Residential FAR	1.0	1.0
Max. Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR)	0.90	0.90
Min. Lot Area (Non-Residential)	5,500 sq. ft.	8,250 sq. ft.
Min. Mean Lot Width	50 ft.	75 ft.
Front Yard Setback	0 ft. (min) / 10 ft. (max)	25 ft. (min)
Side Yard Setback	0 ft. or 3 ft.	5 ft.
Rear Yard Setback	10 ft.	20 ft.
Max. Building Height	75 ft.	75 ft.

Note: Building heights may be increased beyond 75 feet through the City of Orlando's density and intensity bonus programs [Section 58.1101].

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