Orlando Zoning Requirements for Accessory Dwelling Unit Parking

In the City of Orlando, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) exceeding 500 square feet of conditioned space are required to provide one dedicated off-street parking space. This additional space must be independently accessible from the street and located at least 20 feet from the street side lot line. ADUs that are 500 square feet or less are exempt from the requirement to provide an additional parking space, provided the principal structure on the building site already possesses a code-compliant parking space and driveway.

Off-Street Parking Standards for ADUs

The City of Orlando mandates specific parking configurations for Accessory Dwelling Units based on their size and the existing infrastructure of the principal residence. These regulations ensure that the addition of a secondary unit does not negatively impact street congestion or neighborhood character.

Parking Requirements by Unit Size

The following table outlines the specific off-street parking requirements for ADUs within the City of Orlando:

unit Type/Size	Parking Space Requirement	Location and Accessibility Standards
ADUs 500 sq. ft. or less	No additional space required	Unit must utilize the existing code-compliant parking for the principal structure [Section 58.501(F)(3)].
ADUs greater than 500 sq. ft.	1 additional parking space	Must be located behind the front yard setback and at least 20 feet from the street side lot line. Must be independently accessible to the street and not enclosed within the principal structure [Section 58.501(F)(2)].
Principal Structure	1 parking space (existing)	Every building site must maintain at least one parking space and a driveway that complied with the Land Development Code at the time of construction [Section 58.501(F)(1)].

General Design and Site Standards

The City of Orlando permits ADUs in various zoning districts, including O-1, O-2, R-2A, and R-2B, subject to specific density and lot size requirements. For instance, in the R-2A zoning district, ADUs are prohibited on any building site where a duplex or tandem dwelling already exists [Section 58.501(A)(2)].

Unit Limitations and Setbacks

Accessory units must be smaller than the principal structure on the site. Additionally, the maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the combination of the single-family unit and the ADU cannot exceed 0.50, or the maximum FAR of the principal structure's zoning district, whichever is less [Section 58.501(C)(1)].

Setback requirements for ADUs depend on their attachment to the principal building:

Connected ADUs: Must follow the same setbacks as the principal structure.
Detached ADUs: Must follow standard setbacks for accessory structures. However, units larger than 500 square feet in R-2, R-3, MXD, and Office districts must comply with the more stringent setbacks required for tandem development [Section 58.501(C)(2)].

Impact Fee Considerations for Parking and Development

The City of Orlando evaluates ADUs for both transportation and parks impact fees. These fees are based on the additional conditioned square footage the unit adds to the property.

Transportation Impact Fees: If an ADU is added to a single-family parcel and the new total square footage (principal house + ADU) does not exceed the next tiered single-family rate, no additional transportation impact fee is due [Section 56.06(K)].
Parks Impact Fees: Similar to transportation fees, if the new combined square footage remains within the existing tiered rate for the property, no additional parks impact fee is assessed [Section 56.32(b)].

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