Orlando I-G General Industrial District Zoning Guide
The I-G General Industrial District in the City of Orlando is established primarily to facilitate the beneficial use of properties for industrial activities while maintaining strict standards to minimize nuisances in areas adjacent to residential zones. Key technical requirements include a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.35, a maximum building height of 55 feet within the Traditional City, and a requirement that all facilities must have direct access to an arterial or four-lane collector street [Section 58.301, 58.302, Figure 1A.LDC].
Purpose of the I-G District
The City of Orlando has designated the I-G district to support a wide range of employment alternatives, including both light and heavy industrial uses. It is intended to promote high standards of design and site intensity while ensuring that industrial traffic and operations do not negatively impact the health, safety, and welfare of the community [Section 58.300].
When an I-G district property is located adjacent to a residential area, the City of Orlando requires upgraded development standards to protect the integrity of those neighborhoods [Section 58.301].
Permitted and Prohibited Land Uses
The I-G district is strictly non-residential. Residential uses, including single-family homes, multi-family units, and congregate living facilities, are prohibited [Figure 2].
Permitted Uses (P)
The following uses are allowed as a matter of right in the Orlando I-G district:
- Industrial: Manufacturing (Light and Heavy), General Industrial, and Wholesale/Warehouse operations.
- Commercial: Intensive Retailing, Warehouse Showrooms, and Major Vehicle Services.
- Service/Office: General Offices, Medical/Dental Labs, and Personal Services.
- Entertainment: Adult Entertainment, Nightclubs, Bars, and Indoor/Outdoor Recreation.
- Other: Hospitals/Clinics, Parking as a Principal Use, and Indoor Shooting Ranges [Figure 2].
Conditional Uses (C)
The following uses require a Conditional Use Permit to operate within the City of Orlando's I-G district:
- Child or Adult Day Care facilities.
- Hotels and Motels.
- Intensive Services.
- Vertiports.
- Whole Blood Facilities.
- Golf Courses [Figure 2].
Technical Development Standards
The City of Orlando enforces specific dimensional requirements for all building sites within the I-G district to ensure adequate spacing and functional intensity.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum Non-Residential FAR | 0.35 |
| Minimum Lot Area | 7,500 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Mean Lot Width | 75 ft. |
| Minimum Mean Lot Depth | 100 ft. |
| Minimum Building Site Frontage | 35 ft. |
| Maximum Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) | 0.85 |
| Maximum Building Height (Traditional City) | 55 ft. |
[Source: Figure 1A.LDC]
Principal Building Setbacks
Standard setbacks for the I-G district are as follows:
- Front Yard: 10 ft.
- Side Yard: 5 ft.
- Street Side Yard: 10 ft.
- Rear Yard: 20 ft. [Figure 1A.LDC]
Special Setback Provision: The City of Orlando allows the rear yard setback to be reduced to zero feet if the property line coincides with a railroad siding. However, no railroad trackage is permitted within 300 feet of any residential district [Section 58.303].
General Character and Design Requirements
The character of the I-G district is defined by its focus on heavy-duty operations and specific access management.
Access and Traffic
To prevent industrial traffic from filtering through residential neighborhoods, every I-G district site in the City of Orlando must be located on an arterial or four-lane collector street. If such access is not directly available, the site must have access via a public street that does not pass through or alongside a residential district [Section 58.302].
Building Design in the Traditional City
For properties located within Orlando’s Traditional City, industrial buildings must follow specific architectural guidelines:
- Entrances: At least one pedestrian entrance must face the right-of-way.
- Facades: Buildings must be designed with a base, middle, and top pattern, and materials must be finished and wrapped on all facades facing a right-of-way.
- Articulation: Facades longer than 60 feet must be articulated with architectural details like windows, canopies, or projections to prevent long, blank walls.
- Screening: Loading facilities must be screened from the right-of-way [Section 62.620].
Signage and Fencing
- Fencing: In the City of Orlando, I-G districts allow security fences (including electrified or barbed wire) as a matter of right [Section 58.930]. Fences in the side and rear yards may be up to 8 feet in height [Section 58.929].
- Signs: I-G properties are typically allowed one freestanding sign per street frontage. The maximum sign area is 100 square feet, and the maximum height is 30 feet if located outside the Traditional City (24 feet if inside) [Table 1C].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.210 (Establishment of Zoning Districts)
- Section 58.300 (I-G Relationship to GMP)
- Section 58.301 (I-G Purpose of the District)
- Section 58.302 (I-G Rezones and Applications)
- Section 58.303 (I-G Additional District Requirements)
- Section 58.929 (Fence Height)
- Section 58.930 (Security Fences)
- Section 62.620 (Building Design Standards for Industrial Buildings)
- Figure 1A.LDC (Table of Zoning District Regulations)
- Figure 2 (Table of Allowable Uses)
- Table 1C (Standards for Freestanding Signs)