Off-Street Parking Standards for the MU-1 Mixed Use District in Orlando, Florida
Off-street parking for residential and commercial projects within the MU-1: Mixed Use District must primarily comply with the City of Orlando Chapter 61 standards, though specific location and shared-use adjustments apply within special plan areas. In the Traditional City portions of the MU-1 district, parking is restricted to the rear or interior of building sites to preserve pedestrian-oriented streetscapes. Mixed-use developments within special districts like SODO or Edgewater Drive utilize a Shared Parking Factor matrix to calculate reduced total requirements for combined residential and commercial uses.
General Requirements for the MU-1 District
In the City of Orlando, the MU-1: Mixed Use District is intended to serve as a Mixed Use Corridor-Medium Intensity category [Section 58.270]. All parking facilities within this district must conform to the general parking standards developed in Chapter 61 of the City Code [Section 62.307].
For properties located within the Traditional City overlay, the City of Orlando enforces specific site design standards to ensure a pedestrian-friendly environment. In these areas, parking facilities for both residential and commercial projects are permitted only at the rear or interior side of the principal structure [Section 62.611].
Shared Parking for Mixed-Use Projects
For mixed-use developments in the MU-1 district located within specific special plan areas, such as the Edgewater Drive Shared Parking District or the SODO Special Plan, the City of Orlando allows for a reduction in total required parking through a Shared Parking Factor.
The actual parking required is calculated by adding the total number of spaces required for each separate use (based on Chapter 61) and dividing that sum by the appropriate factor from the matrix below. When three or more uses share parking, the lowest applicable factor is used to ensure adequate parking [Section 62.309, Section 62.499].
City of Orlando Shared Parking Factor Matrix
| Use Category | Residential | Lodging | Office | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Lodging | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Office | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| Retail | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
Parking Requirements for Specific Residential Types
If an MU-1: Mixed Use District project includes residential components such as townhomes or multi-family units, the following additional standards apply:
- Townhome Guest Parking: If a townhome development includes more than 20 dwellings or involves the platting of new streets, guest parking is required at a ratio of one space per every five dwellings [Section 58.511].
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): ADUs that are 500 square feet or smaller do not require an additional parking space if the principal structure had code-compliant parking at the time of its construction. Larger ADUs (over 500 square feet) require one additional parking space that is independently accessible and not enclosed within the principal structure [Section 58.501].
Removal of Parking for Code Compliance
The City of Orlando Zoning Official may authorize the removal of existing off-street parking spaces or vehicular use areas to achieve compliance with modern landscaping and bufferyard requirements. However, the amount of parking that can be removed is strictly limited based on the total number of spaces currently on the building site [Section 58.1182].
Maximum Authorized Parking Removal
| Number of Required Spaces on Site | Maximum Spaces Allowed to be Removed |
|---|---|
| 1—6 spaces | None |
| 7—15 spaces | 1 space |
| 16—35 spaces | 2 spaces |
| 36—70 spaces | 3 spaces |
| 71+ spaces | 5% of total required spaces |
Special Plan Parking Provisions
The MU-1 district may be subject to additional refined standards depending on its location within a Special Plan area:
- Edgewater Drive Special Plan: New curb cuts are generally not allowed unless the Planning Official and Transportation Official determine no other ingress/egress solutions are practical. Cross-access easements between parking areas and adjacent properties are required [Section 62.309].
- SODO Special Plan: For single-use developments, the number of spaces is governed strictly by Chapter 61, Part 3C. In the T-5 and T-6 transect zones of SODO, off-street parking must be located behind buildings and may be supplemented with on-street parking [Section 62.499].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.270: Relationship to the Growth Management Plan (MU-1 and MU-2)
- Section 58.501: Design Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units
- Section 58.511: Development Standards (Townhome Development)
- Section 58.1182: Removal of Parking Spaces to Achieve Compliance
- Section 62.307: General Standards (MXD-2 and general appearance review)
- Section 62.309: Edgewater Drive Special Plan/Appearance Review Overlay District
- Section 62.499: SODO Special Plan
- Section 62.611: Streetwall and Vehicular Use Areas (Traditional City)