PD: Planned Development District Setback Requirements in Orlando
Setback requirements for the PD: Planned Development District in Orlando are not fixed by a single numerical standard but are instead established through the specific development plan approved for each individual project. At the perimeter of a project, the PD: Planned Development District must generally maintain setbacks equal to those of the abutting zoning districts unless the Orlando City Council approves an alternative during the Master Plan review process.
General Setback Standards for the PD District
In the City of Orlando, the PD: Planned Development District is a unique designation where the specific development standards, including setbacks, are contained within the individual approved Development Plan for that specific site [Section 58.368].
Because the PD: Planned Development District is often used for innovative or mixed-use designs, the Orlando City Code relies on a combination of abutting district standards and site-specific negotiations.
| Setback Category | Standard Requirement for PD: Planned Development District |
|---|---|
| Perimeter Setbacks | Must equal the setbacks of the abutting zoning district(s) [Section 58.362]. |
| Internal Setbacks | Established by the site's unique approved Development Plan [Section 58.368]. |
| Default Standards | Uses the standards of the underlying or "default" zoning district [Figure 1C.LDC, Footnote 2]. |
Perimeter Setback Requirements
The Orlando City Code dictates that minimum setbacks at the perimeter of a PD: Planned Development District must be equal to those of the abutting zoning district(s). However, the Orlando City Council has the authority to find that alternate minimum perimeter setbacks are appropriate [Section 58.362].
The City of Orlando considers the following conditions when evaluating a request for alternate perimeter setbacks:
- Comparative Stringency: Cases where the minimum PD perimeter setback required would be greater than the setback required under the site's original zoning [Section 58.362(a)].
- Major Roadway Buffers: Situations where the property in the abutting zoning district is located across a major roadway from the PD: Planned Development District, resulting in a reduced impact on the character of the neighboring property [Section 58.362(b)].
- Established Context: When the minimum PD perimeter setback is greater than the setbacks of the majority of existing structures on the same blockface [Section 58.362(c)].
Internal Setbacks and Lot Splits
For developments within a PD: Planned Development District that involve splitting a building site into multiple lots for separate fee-simple sale, the City of Orlando requires that setback and yard requirements be established from the perimeter of each individual lot [Section 60.120].
If a specific standard is not explicitly detailed in the site's approved ordinance, the City of Orlando applies the standards of the "underlying" or "default" zoning district that was assigned to the property during the rezoning process [Figure 1C.LDC, Footnote 2].
Modification of Setbacks
Because the specific standards for a PD: Planned Development District are codified in its unique approved Development Plan, the City of Orlando prohibits the use of variances or "Modifications of Standards" through the Board of Zoning Adjustment to change these setbacks. Any changes to the setbacks established in an approved PD must follow the formal amendment procedures for Development Plans [Section 58.368].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.362, Rezones and Zoning Map Applications
- Section 58.368, Variances Do Not Apply to Planned Development
- Figure 1C.LDC, Table of Zoning District Regulations Outside the Traditional City
- Section 60.120, Building Site