R-3A: Development District Setback Requirements in Orlando
In the R-3A: Development District within Orlando, principal buildings must generally adhere to a 25-foot front yard setback, a 5-foot side yard setback, and a 25-foot rear yard setback. Additionally, a 15-foot setback is required for street side yards, though these distances may be modified by specific site conditions such as proximity to natural water bodies or locations within the Traditional City [Figure 1A.LDC].
Principal Building Setback Standards for R-3A
The City of Orlando establishes specific distance requirements for the placement of principal structures within the R-3A: Development District. These setbacks ensure appropriate spacing between structures and the public right-of-way.
| Setback Type | Requirement for R-3A District |
|---|---|
| Front Yard | 25 feet |
| Side Yard | 5 feet |
| Street Side Yard | 15 feet |
| Rear Yard | 25 feet |
[Source: Figure 1A.LDC]
District Purpose and Context
The R-3A: Development District in Orlando is officially designated as the Low Intensity Development District. According to the Orlando City Code, this district is intended to provide flexibility in building and site design specifically for locations where residential development or redevelopment is desired at a moderate intensity [Section 58.241]. It implements the "Residential-Low Intensity" category of the Orlando Growth Management Plan [Section 58.240].
Required Modifications and Exceptions
While the base setbacks for the R-3A: Development District are standardized, the Orlando code specifies several conditions where these numbers must be adjusted:
Proximity to Water and Wetlands
In any R-3A: Development District site in Orlando, the minimum principal building setback from any natural surface water body or retained wetland is 50 feet. This measurement is taken from the normal high-water elevation or the wetland boundary [Figure 1A.LDC, Footnote 10].
Traditional City Projections
For properties located within the Traditional City overlay, the Orlando Appearance Review Officer may permit certain architectural elements to extend into the front yard. Specifically, up to 30% of the building frontage may extend up to 20% into the required 25-foot front yard setback if approved by the appearance review official [Figure 1A.LDC, Footnote 18; Section 62.600].
Street Centerline Requirements
Setbacks in the R-3A: Development District may be increased if the property is adjacent to certain street types where the Orlando code requires specific distances from the street centerline rather than the property line [Figure 1A.LDC, Footnote 15].
Non-Residential or Commercial Adjacency
When an R-3A: Development District block face in Orlando is located partly in a commercial or R-3D district, or is adjacent to another residential or office district, specific front and street side yard requirements may be adjusted for a distance of 50 feet to ensure compatibility between different land use intensities [Figure 1A.LDC, Footnote 6].
Sections Cited
- Figure 1A.LDC: Table of Zoning District Regulations
- Section 58.240: Relationship to the Growth Management Plan (Development Districts)
- Section 58.241: Purpose of the Districts (R-3A Low Intensity Development District)
- Section 62.600: General Requirements (Traditional City Design Standards)