Orlando Zoning Districts for Self-Storage and Warehousing
In the City of Orlando, self-storage and warehousing facilities are primarily permitted within industrial districts, specifically the I-G (General Industrial) and I-P (Industrial Park) districts. While these uses are generally restricted in residential and office zones, the City of Orlando allows personal storage as a conditional use in various mixed-use and activity center districts, provided they meet strict ground-floor transparency and secondary-use requirements [Section 58.770, Section 58.774].
Allowable Zoning Districts
The City of Orlando categorizes storage into three main types: Personal Storage (Self-Storage/Mini-Storage), Warehouse Showroom, and Wholesale/Warehouse. The following table details the primary districts where these uses are permitted (P) or require a conditional use permit (C).
| Land Use Category | Permitted Districts (P) | Conditionally Permitted (C) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Storage (Self-Storage) | I-G, I-P | O-1, O-2, MU-1, MU-2, AC-1, AC-2, AC-3, AC-3A, IC |
| Warehouse Showroom | I-G, I-P | C (Outside Traditional City) |
| Wholesale/Warehouse | I-P, I-G (Outside Traditional City) | N/A |
[Figure 2: Table of Allowable Uses]
Development Standards for Personal Storage Facilities
When the City of Orlando approves a personal storage facility (mini-storage), it must comply with specific building and site design standards to ensure compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.
Site and Building Size Requirements
The City of Orlando requires a minimum development size of three (3) acres or 65,000 square feet of enclosed storage area for personal storage facilities. For the purposes of calculating the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), the City of Orlando only counts the first floor [Section 58.772].
Performance and Appearance Standards
- Height Limits: If a storage facility shares a property line with R-1 or R-2 zoned properties in the City of Orlando, the height is limited to 50 feet. Additional height can only be granted through a Conditional Use process [Section 58.774].
- Transparency: All facilities must have a minimum of 15% transparency on building facades, which must include functioning windows that provide visibility into the interior from the public right-of-way [Section 58.774].
- Architecture: Buildings must be designed to resemble office or retail buildings through the use of doors, windows, and awnings. Exterior materials are limited to stucco, brick, stone, or a combination of these [Section 58.774].
Mixed-Use Requirements in AC and MU Districts
In the City of Orlando’s MU (Mixed Use) and AC (Activity Center) districts, a personal storage facility cannot be the sole use. At least 10% of the ground floor area and no less than 75% of the primary street frontage must be dedicated to an additional principal use, such as retail, services, or eating and drinking establishments [Section 58.774].
Specialized Special Plan Permissions
Certain areas within the City of Orlando are governed by Special Plans that provide additional permissions for warehousing beyond the standard zoning table.
Mills Avenue Special Plan
Within the Mills Avenue Special Plan area, the City of Orlando allows "Warehouse Showroom" as a permitted use in both the MU-1 and AC-N districts [Section 62.401].
Lake Underhill Special Plan
In the Lake Underhill area, the City of Orlando permits "Office/Warehouse" as a permitted use (P) in the AC-N district, while "Warehouse/Showroom" is allowed as a conditional use (C) [Section 62.404].
North International Drive Special Plan
The City of Orlando allows Warehouse Showroom, Warehouse or Storage Facilities, and Wholesale and Distribution Facilities within this district, though they are subject to the base district's underlying regulations and the tropical landscape design standards of the special plan [Section 62.496].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.210 - General Requirements (Establishment of Zoning Districts)
- Section 58.770 - General Requirements (Personal Storage Facilities)
- Section 58.772 - Building Site Design (Personal Storage)
- Section 58.774 - Conditional Use Standards (Personal Storage)
- Section 62.401 - Mills Avenue Special Plan
- Section 62.404 - Lake Underhill Special Plan
- Section 62.496 - North International Drive Special Plan
- Figure 2 - Table of Allowable Uses in Zoning Districts