Orlando Zoning Districts Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
In the City of Orlando, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are allowed as a permitted use in the R-1AA, R-1A, R-1, R-1N, R-2A, and R-2B residential districts. The City of Orlando also allows ADUs in several other districts subject to an appearance review, including the R-3A, R-3B, R-3C, R-3D, MXD-1, MXD-2, O-1, and O-2 districts. All ADUs must be smaller than the principal structure and are limited to a maximum size of 1,000 square feet [Section 58.501].
Authorized Zoning Districts
The Orlando City Code defines where second units, such as garage apartments, cottages, and mother-in-law suites, may be located. These are categorized as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and are subject to the following permissions across the municipality's various zoning districts [Section 58.110, Figure 2]:
| Permission Level | Orlando Zoning Districts |
|---|---|
| Permitted (P) | R-1AA, R-1A, R-1, R-1N, R-2A, R-2B |
| Permitted with Appearance Review (PA) | R-3A, R-3B, R-3C, R-3D, MXD-1, MXD-2, O-1, O-2 |
| Planned Development (PD) | Allowed if the PD has a similar default zoning to those listed above |
In the O-1 and O-2 zoning districts, the City of Orlando restricts development to only one accessory dwelling unit per single-family residential building site or on-site office site [Section 58.501.A.1]. In the R-2A district, the City allows a maximum of two units (totaling a duplex or tandem development) per site; ADUs are expressly prohibited if a site already contains a duplex or tandem dwelling [Section 58.501.A.2].
Development and Design Standards
The City of Orlando mandates specific lot sizes and floor area ratios for the construction of ADUs to ensure they remain subordinate to the primary residence.
Minimum Lot Size Requirements
The required lot area varies based on the zoning district and the intended size of the ADU [Section 58.501.C]:
| Zoning District | Min. Lot Size for ADU up to 500 sq. ft. | Min. Lot Size for ADU up to 1,000 sq. ft. |
|---|---|---|
| R-1AA | 10,000 sq. ft. | 15,000 sq. ft. |
| R-1A | 7,700 sq. ft. | 11,550 sq. ft. |
| R-1 | 6,000 sq. ft. | 9,000 sq. ft. |
| R-1N | 5,500 sq. ft. | 8,250 sq. ft. |
| R-2A, R-3A, O-1 | 5,500 sq. ft. | Must comply with Tandem Code |
| R-2B, R-3B, MXD-1 | 5,000 sq. ft. | Must comply with Tandem Code |
| R-3C, R-3D, MXD-2, O-2 | 4,500 sq. ft. | Must comply with Tandem Code |
Size and Intensity Limits
- Maximum Floor Area: No ADU in the City of Orlando may exceed 1,000 square feet. Additionally, the combined Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the principal residence plus the ADU cannot exceed 0.50 or the maximum FAR allowed for the specific zoning district, whichever is less [Section 58.501.C.1].
- Historic Districts: In Orlando's Historic Preservation (HP) overlay districts, the City may approve new ADUs up to 700 square feet, provided the structure is consistent with the prevailing pattern of contributing development in the neighborhood [Section 62.706.o].
Construction and Placement Standards
The City of Orlando requires that all ADUs match the aesthetic of the principal home. This includes matching the exterior finish, architectural style, roof style, and details such as windows, doors, and cornice treatments [Section 58.501.D].
Setbacks and Parking
Setbacks for ADUs depend on whether the unit is attached to the main house or detached.
| Feature | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Attached ADU Setbacks | Same as requirements for the principal structure |
| Detached ADU Setbacks | Same as requirements for all accessory structures |
| Large ADU Setbacks | ADUs > 500 sq. ft. in R-2, R-3, MXD, and Office districts must meet tandem setbacks |
| Principal Parking | One space and driveway must exist for the principal structure |
| ADU Parking | One additional independently accessible space is required for ADUs > 500 sq. ft. |
ADUs that are 500 square feet or smaller do not require an additional parking space if the principal structure already has code-compliant parking [Section 58.501.F].
Sections Cited
- Section 56.04 - Definitions
- Section 58.110 - Zoning Tables (Figure 2)
- Section 58.500 - Purpose of Accessory Dwelling Unit Requirements
- Section 58.501 - Design Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units
- Section 62.706 - Standards for New Construction (Historic Preservation)