RULES OF ORDER BEFORE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Orlando City Code ch. 2, art. X

in effect

Orlando City Code § 2.56 Compliance with Rules and Regulations Required.

Sec. 2.56. - Compliance with Rules and Regulations Required. Any person appearing before any Board, Commission or other agency of said City shall abide by the rules and regulations hereafter set forth in the City Code of said City and such other rules and regulations as any Board, Commission or other agency shall from time to time adopt to promote the orderly and expeditious procedure before such body. (Ord. of 5-7-1958; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524)

Orlando City Code § 2.57 Addressing Boards and Commissions—Permission Required of Presiding Officer; Exception.

Sec. 2.57. - Addressing Boards and Commissions—Permission Required of Presiding Officer; Exception. Any person desiring to address boards and commissions shall first secure the permission of the presiding officer so to do at the time provided for such input; provided, however, that under the following headings of business, unless the presiding officer rules otherwise, any qualified person may address the board or commission without securing such prior permission: (1) Written Communications. Interested parties or their authorized representatives may address the board or commission by written communications in regard to matters then under discussion. Such communications shall be heard in the order of receipt by the secretary of the board or commission. (2) Oral Communications. Taxpayers or residents of the City, or their authorized legal representatives, may address the board or commission by oral communications on any matter concerning the City's business, or any matter over which the board or commission has control; provided, however, that preference shall be given to those persons who may have notified the appropriate secretary in advance of their desire to speak. (3) Reading of Protests, etc. Interested persons or their authorized representatives may address the board or commission by reading of protests, petitions, or communications relating to zoning, sewer and street proceedings, hearings on protest, appeals and petitions, or similar matters, in regard to matters then under consideration. (Ord. of 5-7-1958; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524; Ord. No. 2015-23, § 1, 6-15-2015, Doc. #1506151205)

Orlando City Code § 2.58 Same—After Motion Made.

Sec. 2.58. - Same—After Motion Made. After a motion is made by a member of a Board or Commission, no person shall address the Board or Commission without first securing the permission of the Board or Commission so to do. (Ord. of 5-7-1958; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524)

Orlando City Code § 2.59 Same—Manner of Addressing Boards and Commissions Generally; Time Limit.

Sec. 2.59. - Same—Manner of Addressing Boards and Commissions Generally; Time Limit. All persons addressing the Board or Commission shall give their name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records and shall limit their address to three (3) minutes, unless by majority vote of the Board or Commission such time is enlarged or contracted. No person, other than a member of the Board or Commission and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the Board or Commission, without the permission of the presiding officer. (Ord. of 5-7-1958; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524; Ord. of 10-25-1999, § 6, Doc. #32410; Ord. No. 2021-28, § 2, 4-12-2021, Doc. #2104121204; Ord. No. 2025-8, § 2, 3-24-2025, Doc. #25032412d)

Orlando City Code § 2.60 Order and Decorum.

Sec. 2.60. - Order and Decorum. (1) By Board or Commission members. While the Board or Commission is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum, and a member shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the Board or Commission nor disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the Board or Commission or its presiding officer, except as otherwise herein provided. (2) By Other Persons. Any person making a statement, either by word, sign, gesture or other means, that is obscene (sexual vulgarities or slurs or epithets relating to race, religion, sex, disability, or ethnic or national origin), or that is intended to delay, interrupt, or disrupt the proceedings, or that incites, or is intended to incite audience members to delay, interrupt, or disrupt the proceedings in the Board or Commission chambers or wherever the Board or Commission is meeting, shall be forthwith, by the presiding officer, barred from further audience before the Board or Commission, unless permission to continue be granted by a majority vote of the Board or Commission. (Ord. of 5-7-1958; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524; Ord. No. 2025-8, § 3, 3-24-2025, Doc. #25032412d)

Orlando City Code § 2.61 Enforcement.

Sec. 2.61. - Enforcement. The Chief of Police, or such member or members of the Police Department as he may designate, shall be Sergeant-at-Arms of the Board or Commission meetings. He, or they, shall carry out all orders and instruction given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the meeting or meetings of any Board or Commission. Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms, or any of them present, to place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting under arrest, and cause him to be prosecuted under the provisions of this Code, the complaint to be signed by the presiding officer. (Ord. of 5-7-1958; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524)

Orlando City Code § 2.62 Quorum.

Sec. 2.62. - Quorum. Unless otherwise specifically provided, a majority of all the members of the Board or Commission shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Board or Commission. In the absence of a quorum, no official meeting may be held and no official action taken by the Board or Commission. (Ord. of 8-15-1977, § 1; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524)

Orlando City Code § 2.63 Silence Constitutes Affirmative Vote.

Sec. 2.63. - Silence Constitutes Affirmative Vote. Silence by a member of a Board or Commission during the taking of a vote shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. (Ord. of 2-16-1981, § 2; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524)

Orlando City Code § 2.64 Robert's Rules of Order.

Sec. 2.64. - Robert's Rules of Order. Except as otherwise specifically provided, "Robert's Rules of Order" shall govern the meetings of Boards and Commissions. (Ord. of 2-16-1981, § 2; Ord. of 2-7-1983, Doc. #17524)

Orlando City Code § 2.64-1 Authority of Board Chairpersons.

Sec. 2.64-1. - Authority of Board Chairpersons. Notwithstanding anything in this Article to the contrary, the chairperson of a City Board or Commission shall be entitled to offer motions and seconds to motions, to vote, and to do all other things in the same manner and to the same extent as any other member of the Board. (Ord. of 10-26-1987, Doc. #21590)

Source: City of Orlando, Florida, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/orlando/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIICICO_CH2AD_ARTXRUORBEBOCOFetched: 11/1/2026