Setback Requirements for the R-2A: Residential District in the City of Orlando
Principal buildings in the R-2A: Residential District must maintain a 25-foot front yard setback and a 25-foot rear yard setback. The City of Orlando requires a minimum side yard of 5 feet, while corner lots must provide a 15-foot street side yard setback. These requirements vary for specialized residential structures such as tandem dwellings, accessory buildings, and swimming pools.
Principal Building Setbacks
The City of Orlando establishes standard setbacks for the R-2A: Residential District to maintain neighborhood character and provide adequate separation between structures. These requirements apply to the principal building on a development site.
| Setback Type | R-2A: Residential District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Yard | 25 feet |
| Side Yard | 5 feet |
| Street Side Yard | 15 feet |
| Rear Yard | 25 feet |
[Figure 1A.LDC; Section 58.231]
Setback Adjustments and Exceptions
- Traditional City Projections: In the Traditional City, the Appearance Review Officer may permit up to 30% of the building frontage to extend up to 20% into the required front yard setback if the projection includes architectural elements like porches or recesses [Section 62.600].
- Awnings and Marquees: These may project up to 8 feet into the street setback in certain special plan areas, such as the SODO district [Section 62.499].
Tandem Single Family Development Setbacks
In the R-2A: Residential District, tandem dwellings (two units where one is located behind the other) have specific setback requirements depending on how the lot was subdivided [Section 58.516].
Lots Resulting from Corner Lot Subdivision
| Unit Type | Front Setback | Side Setback | Street Side Setback | Rear Setback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corner Unit | Per District (25 ft) | 5 feet | 15 ft (living); 20 ft (vehicle) | 5 feet |
| Interior Unit | 15 ft (living); 20 ft (vehicle) | 5 ft (facing tandem); 15 ft (adjacent) | N/A | 5 feet |
[Section 58.516]
Lots Resulting from Interior Lot Subdivision
| Unit Type | Front Setback | Side Setback | Rear Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Unit | Per District (25 ft) | Per District (5 ft) | 5 feet |
| Rear Unit | 5 feet | Per District (5 ft) | 20 feet |
[Section 58.517]
Accessory Structure Setbacks
Accessory structures in the R-2A: Residential District, such as sheds or detached garages, must follow location-specific standards based on their height and size [Section 58.901].
| Structure Size | Structure Height | Rear Lot Line Setback |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 100 sq. ft. | < 8 feet | 0 feet |
| ≤ 100 sq. ft. | 8—12 feet | 5 feet |
| ≤ 100 sq. ft. | > 12 feet | 15 feet |
| > 100 sq. ft. | Up to 12 feet | 5 feet |
| > 100 sq. ft. | > 12 feet | 15 feet |
[Section 58.901]
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
ADU setbacks generally follow the same rules as the principal structure if they are attached. Detached ADUs follow accessory structure setbacks, with the caveat that ADUs greater than 500 square feet in the R-2A: Residential District must comply with tandem development setbacks [Section 58.501].
Swimming Pools and Enclosures
The City of Orlando regulates the placement of pools, spas, and screen enclosures to prevent encroachment on neighboring property rights [Section 58.958].
- Side, Rear, and Alley: Minimum 5-foot setback.
- Street Side: Minimum 15-foot setback.
- Front Facade: Must be located at least 10 feet behind the front facade of the principal structure.
- Water Bodies: Minimum 15 feet from the normal high water line.
- Screen Enclosures: Enclosures with a solid roof must meet principal building setbacks. Enclosures without a solid roof follow pool setbacks (5 feet side/rear) unless they exceed 12 feet in height, in which case they must be 15 feet from the high water line of a natural water body [Section 58.963].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.231 - Purpose of the Districts
- Section 58.501 - Design Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units
- Section 58.516 - Development Site Standards and Principal Building Setbacks for Tandem Single Family Development
- Section 58.517 - Appearance Review (Tandem Dwellings)
- Section 58.901 - Accessory Structure Location and Zoning Standards
- Section 58.958 - Locational Requirements (Swimming Pools)
- Section 58.963 - Screen Enclosures
- Section 62.499 - SODO Special Plan
- Section 62.600 - General Requirements (Traditional City Design)
- Figure 1A.LDC - Table of Zoning District Regulations