Orlando Planned Development (PD) District Guide

The PD: Planned Development District in the City of Orlando is a voluntary zoning category requiring a minimum development site size of 10,000 square feet. It utilizes a custom, Council-approved Development Plan to allow for a mixture of land uses and flexible design standards that depart from conventional zoning constraints to achieve superior urban design and resource protection.

Purpose of the PD: Planned Development District

The PD District is intended to provide a specialized process for evaluating unique, individually planned developments that are not otherwise permitted in standard City of Orlando zoning districts. According to the Orlando City Code, the district is designed to promote the following objectives:

Design Flexibility: Encouraging creative and innovative design that provides more usable and suitably located recreational facilities and open spaces than conventional procedures allow [Section 58.361].
Economic Efficiency: Allowing for lower development and building costs by permitting smaller networks of utilities and streets [Section 58.361].
Environmental and Resource Protection: Encouraging land uses that reduce transportation needs, conserve energy, and preserve existing landscape features or natural areas [Section 58.361].
Neighborhood Compatibility: Ensuring a stable character for surrounding developments and providing specific limitations or requirements tailored to the unique characteristics of an individual site [Section 58.361].

Permitted Land Uses and Consistency

The City of Orlando does not provide a fixed list of permitted uses for every PD District. Instead, the specific uses or mixture of uses are proposed by the applicant and established by the Orlando City Council through the adoption of a specific Development Plan and ordinance [Section 58.362].

Despite this flexibility, all PD Districts must remain consistent with the Orlando Growth Management Plan (GMP). Land use intensity and density are typically governed by the site's adopted Future Land Use Map designation [Section 58.360]. If a previously approved development order for a PD District contains specific conditions regarding traffic impacts or designated uses, those conditions remain binding unless a formal modification is requested to bring them into consistency with current City of Orlando standards [Section 58.242].

General Character and Development Standards

The character of a PD District is defined by "Unified Control." The applicant must provide evidence to the City Attorney of complete and unencumbered control of the entire area within the proposed development to ensure the project can be lawfully completed according to the approved plans [Section 58.363].

Technical Development Standards

Standard	City of Orlando PD District Requirement
Minimum Site Size	10,000 square feet [Section 58.362].
Perimeter Setbacks	Generally equal to those of the abutting zoning district(s), unless the City Council determines alternate setbacks are appropriate for the specific block face [Section 58.362].
Variances	Prohibited; any modifications to approved Development Plans must follow formal amendment procedures [Section 58.368].
Maximum Density	Based on the underlying or "default" zoning district unless a density bonus is granted [Section 58.1101, Footnote 2].
Building Codes	All standard City of Orlando building and housing codes remain applicable [Section 58.367].

Phasing and Time Limits

The City of Orlando may permit or require the development of a PD District to occur in stages or phases. Each phase must be planned so that if subsequent phases fail to proceed, the completed portions do not negatively impact surrounding properties or public facilities [Section 58.364]. The City Council establishes reasonable periods for the completion of the total project, individual phases, and common area facilities [Section 58.365]. If these time limits are not met, the City Council may rezone the property or amend the Development Plan to protect the public health and safety [Section 58.365].

Sections Cited