I-G: General Industrial District Use and Development Standards in Orlando
The I-G: General Industrial District in the City of Orlando is established primarily for industrial properties, encouraging upgraded development standards while accommodating a broad range of light and heavy industrial activities. The district mandates that all facilities have direct access to arterial or four-lane collector streets to prevent traffic congestion in residential areas, and it allows for a maximum Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) of 0.85. While residential uses are generally prohibited, the City of Orlando allows specific non-industrial uses, such as intensive retailing and major vehicle services, within this designation.
Purpose of the I-G: General Industrial District
The I-G: General Industrial District is intended to provide for the beneficial use of existing industrial properties within the City of Orlando. The district is designed to minimize nuisances by directing traffic away from residential neighborhoods and into the major road network [Section 58.301].
Allowed and Prohibited Uses
The City of Orlando regulates land use within the I-G: General Industrial District through a consolidated schedule of permitted and conditional uses. Uses are categorized as Permitted (P), Conditional (C), or Permitted with Appearance Review (PA).
Industrial and Commercial Uses
Most industrial activities are permitted by right in the I-G: General Industrial District, provided they meet the City of Orlando’s performance standards.
| Use Category | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| General Industrial - Light | Permitted (P) |
| Manufacturing / Processing (Light and Heavy) | Permitted (P) |
| Warehousing | Permitted (P) |
| Mini Storage / Self Storage | Permitted (P) |
| Warehouse Showroom | Permitted (P) |
| Wholesale / Warehouse | Permitted (P) |
| Intensive Retailing | Permitted (P) |
| Light Retailing | Permitted (P) |
| Automotive Services (Automotive, Major Vehicle) | Permitted (P) |
| Personal Services and Intensive Services | Permitted (P) |
| Neighborhood Convenience Store | Prohibited (Blank) |
[Section 58.210 and Figure 2]
Residential Uses
Residential development is strictly limited within the I-G: General Industrial District to prevent conflicts between industrial operations and housing.
- Prohibited Residential: Single-family, duplex, tandem, and multi-family dwellings are not permitted [Figure 2].
- Caretakers Quarters: This is the only allowable residential-style use, permitted as an accessory use specifically for non-residential sites. It must be a dwelling unit for an owner, tenant, or employee providing security or maintenance services [Section 58.921].
Public Benefit and Institutional Uses
Certain public and institutional facilities are allowed within the I-G: General Industrial District, though many require a Conditional Use Permit to ensure they do not interfere with the primary industrial purpose of the area.
| Use Category | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Communication Towers | Permitted (P) |
| Hospitals and Clinics | Conditional (C) |
| Golf Courses | Conditional (C) |
| Intensive Public Benefit Uses (e.g., Jails, Power Plants) | Permitted/Conditional (P/C) |
| Adult Entertainment Facilities | Permitted (P)* |
*Note: Adult Entertainment Facilities in the City of Orlando are subject to strict dispersal requirements and cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a religious institution, school, or residential zoning district [Section 58.702].
Development Standards
The City of Orlando applies specific bulk and intensity standards to the I-G: General Industrial District to maintain the functional integrity of industrial corridors.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 0.35 |
| Maximum Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) | 0.85 |
| Minimum Lot Area | 7,500 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Mean Lot Width | 75 ft. |
| Minimum Mean Lot Depth | 100 ft. |
| Front Yard Setback | 10 ft. |
| Side Yard Setback | 5 ft. |
| Rear Yard Setback | 20 ft.* |
| Maximum Building Height | 55 ft. (can be increased to 100 ft. via Conditional Use) |
*Note: Rear yard setbacks in the I-G: General Industrial District may be reduced to zero when the property line coincides with a railroad siding, provided the trackage is not within 300 feet of a residential district [Section 58.303].
Specific Use Regulations
Junk Yards
Junk yards are permitted within the City of Orlando's I-G: General Industrial District but are prohibited in all primary groundwater recharge areas. They must be screened by a solid wall or wood fence at least six feet in height [Section 58.761, 58.792].
Mobile Vending
Mobile vendors may operate in the I-G: General Industrial District as an accessory use to a principal industrial use. They must be self-contained and are prohibited from using outdoor speakers [Section 58.720, 58.721].
Access to Thoroughfares
Every I-G: General Industrial District property must have access to a thoroughfare. Specifically, it must be located on an arterial or four-lane collector street as designated by the City of Orlando or have access to such a street via a public road that does not pass through a residential district [Section 58.302].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.110 (Figure 1: Table of Zoning District Regulations)
- Section 58.210 (Establishment of Zoning Districts)
- Section 58.300 (Relationship to Growth Management Plan)
- Section 58.301 (Purpose of the District)
- Section 58.302 (Rezones and Zoning Map Applications)
- Section 58.303 (Additional District Requirements)
- Section 58.702 (Dispersal of Adult Entertainment Facilities)
- Section 58.720 (General Requirements for Mobile Vendors)
- Section 58.721 (Temporary Mobile Vending)
- Section 58.761 (Groundwater Contamination - Junk Yards)
- Section 58.792 (Screening and Buffering of Outside Storage)
- Section 58.921 (Caretakers Quarters - Uses for Which Permitted)
- Figure 2 (Table of Allowable Uses in Zoning Districts)