PUBLIC BENEFIT USES

Orlando City Code ch. 58, pt. 4, pt. 4L

in effect

Orlando City Code § 58.810 General Requirements for Public Benefit Uses.

Sec. 58.810. - General Requirements for Public Benefit Uses. In addition to any applicable zoning district and use regulations of Figures 1—2, the following requirements shall apply to all public benefit uses. A. Regulation. Public benefit uses are regulated according to the following categories: Public Benefit Uses (PBUs) Assembly PBUs | Light PBUs | Intensive PBUs • Civic Clubs • Libraries • Museums • Religious Institutions • Stadiums • Performing Arts Centers • Community Centers • Public, Private and Charter Schools (elem., middle, and high) • Vocational schools • Colleges (Note: Assembly PBUs are further regulated as neighborhood, community, or regional facilities in Section 58.811.) | • Cemeteries • Charitable Institutions • Fire Stations • Municipal or State buildings • Parks (Public or Private) • Police Stations • Post Offices (Note: Notwithstanding the procedural requirements for approval of Light PBUs, all applications for cemeteries shall be reviewed by the City Council in accordance with Section 16.04 of the City Code. | • Public Utility and Substations • Wastewater Treatment Facilities • Solid Waste Collection Facilities • Correctional Facilities (jails, prisons, and penitentiaries) • Cogeneration Facilities B. Classification. When not clearly defined by this Code, the Zoning Official shall determine how to regulate individual public benefit uses based on the most similar type of use listed in this Part. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202)

Orlando City Code § 58.811 Assembly Public Benefit Uses: Classification, Where Permitted.

Sec. 58.811. - Assembly Public Benefit Uses: Classification, Where Permitted. A. Classification of Assembly Public Benefit Uses. A use shall be categorized and defined as a Local, Neighborhood, Community, or Regional assembly public benefit use as follows: 1. Local Facility. An assembly public benefit use proposed to occupy one or more tenant or condominium spaces with a maximum assembly size of 100 seats. 2. Neighborhood Facility. An assembly public benefit use generally designed for and intended to serve the residents of one neighborhood or small (approximately one square mile) geographic area, which meets the following standards: a. Maximum Lot Area: 5 acres of developable land. b. Maximum Assembly: 200 seats or fewer in the largest assembly space or a student capacity of 500 students or fewer. 3. Community Facility. An assembly public benefit use generally designed for and intended to serve the residents of several neighborhoods within the same approximate geographic area. Community facilities are typically designed to accommodate a larger number of people for a wider geographic area than neighborhood facilities, but are more locally focused than regional facilities, and meet the following standards: a. Maximum Lot Area: 10 acres of developable land. b. Maximum Assembly: 500 seats or fewer in the largest assembly space or a total student capacity of 1,500 students or fewer. c. Exceptions: An assembly facility proposed on more than 10 acres of developable land with fewer than 500 seats in the largest assembly space or a capacity of fewer than 1,500 students may be classified and approved as a community facility in residential zoning districts through the conditional use process when the Municipal Planning Board and City Council find that the increased acreage of the development site will not have a detrimental effect on the residential character of the neighborhood and any negative impacts can be effectively mitigated. 4. Regional Facility. An assembly public benefit use generally designed for and intended to serve the residents of the entire city, nearby communities, and/or unincorporated areas. Assembly facilities proposed to contain more than 500 seats in the largest assembly space or a student capacity of greater than 1,500 students shall be considered regional facilities. 5. Assembly Public Benefit Uses in Mixed-Use, Retail, or Office Developments. Assembly public benefit uses proposed to occupy one or more tenant or condominium spaces in an existing shopping center, mixed-use building, or office park are classified as Neighborhood, Community, or Regional Facilities by number of seats only. Minimum and maximum lot area requirements do not apply to these locations. B. Where Permitted. Assembly public benefit uses are not permitted in the C, H, or UR zoning districts. Vocational schools (also known as trade schools or career colleges) are classified as permitted, conditional, or prohibited uses according to the most intense trade taught at the school, as determined by the Zoning Official. All other assembly public benefit uses shall be allowed as provided in the tables of allowable uses. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202; Ord. No. 2024-24, § 2, 6-24-2024, Doc. #2406241203)

Orlando City Code § 58.812 Assembly PBUs: Development and Design Criteria.

Sec. 58.812. - Assembly PBUs: Development and Design Criteria. In addition to any applicable zoning district and use regulations of Figures 1—2, the following requirements shall apply to all assembly public benefit uses. A. Architecture. Buildings must be compatible with the predominate architecture, articulation, and massing of surrounding development, but are encouraged to include distinctive features such as steeples, cupolas, sculptures, and other architectural elements that identify the building as a public or semi-public gathering space, enhance the public realm, or contribute to a sense of place for the neighborhood. B. Lighting. Lighting of outdoor areas must be cut-off or fully shielded to reduce glare and prevent light overspill into adjacent properties. Lighting for sports fields and outdoor recreation areas, where operational characteristics prevent the use of cut-off or fully shielded lights, must be turned off no later than 10 p.m. or be located such that the lights are not visible from a residential zoning district or residential uses in an approved PD. C. Parking. Parking areas must be designed and located to minimize conflict with pedestrian and bike pathways. D. One and Two Family Residential Zoning Districts. In order to protect the surrounding residential neighborhood from the encroachment or expansion of assembly public benefit uses, assembly facilities located in one or two family residential zoning districts must meet the following additional standards: 1. Desired Development Patterns. Assembly facilities located in residential zoning districts should function as compact, singular sites and all desired activities and required facilities (to include parking facilities, principal use buildings, and accessory use buildings) should be located on one development site consisting entirely of contiguous parcels of land, which may include property located directly across the street. 2. Non-contiguous Parcels. Where a parcel owned or leased by the public assembly use is not contiguous to the parcel(s) containing the principal assembly building, the use of the non-contiguous parcel(s) is limited to the following uses: occasional overflow parking (maximum 2 times per week and must be located within the pedestrian shed of the building site - see Section 61.302), passive recreation space, playgrounds, walking trails, outdoor classrooms or seating, or reflection or meditation space. 3. Acquisition of Land. If additional property is acquired for use by the assembly facility, an amendment to the special or conditional use permit shall be required prior to any development on the property. 4. Vehicular Access. For community and regional assembly facilities, vehicular access to the facility must be off of a collector of four lanes or more, or an arterial street. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202)

Orlando City Code § 58.813 Additional Provisions for Public Schools.

Sec. 58.813. - Additional Provisions for Public Schools. Public schools must meet all requirements for assembly public benefit uses, except as expressly modified by this Section. A. Level of Service Standards. All new schools or expansions to existing schools must not decrease the level of service for public facilities as contained in Chapter 59, Part 2. B. Appearance Review. Modular units require appearance review in the Traditional City when the student capacity in the modular units exceeds 50 percent of the student capacity in the permanent structures. C. Outdoor Recreation Facilities. Where practical, public high school outdoor recreation facilities should be located adjacent to a city and/or a county park. When an outdoor recreation facility abuts a City park, the outdoor recreation facilities shall be designed to provide access to the City park, unless waived by the Zoning Official. Noise from the outdoor recreation facility must not exceed the noise standards contained in the City's noise ordinance. D. Bicycle Storage. Bicycle storage facilities must meet Department of Education standards. E. Installation of Sidewalks and Bikeway. If no sidewalks exist adjacent to the public school site, the Orange County School Board must coordinate with the City of Orlando, Orange County, and other appropriate agencies on the construction of off-site sidewalks to connect to existing sidewalks and bikeways. F. Expedited Review Process. All conditional use or variance applications for a new public school or the expansion of a public school may be submitted two weeks prior to the date of the appropriate board's public hearing. Recommendations and conditions on applications requiring appearance review must be completed within two weeks of the application submittal. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202)

Orlando City Code § 58.814 Light Public Benefit Uses.

Sec. 58.814. - Light Public Benefit Uses. In addition to any zoning district and use regulations of Figures 1—2, the following requirements shall apply to light public benefit uses. A. Design Criteria. Light public benefit uses should be designed to integrate into the surrounding community by matching the height, scale, mass, and articulation of surrounding buildings. Buildings must be designed with a minimum of 30 percent transparency on all facades facing a public street, and may employ architectural treatments and features that identify the building as a civic space or neighborhood anchor. Fully shielded or cut-off lighting is required when located in or adjacent to a residential zoning district. Fencing adjacent to public rights-of-way, where allowed, must be CPTED-style open fencing. Sidewalks and streetscape treatments should match the rest of the street. Appearance review is required to ensure consistency with the design criteria of this subsection. B. Offices. Any office-type public benefit use must meet the standards for office uses in Chapter 58, Part 4M. C. Police and Fire Stations. When proposed in residential zoning districts, police and fire stations should be located on the edges of established neighborhoods, accessed from an arterial or collector road. D. Parks. In order to allow citizen input into the parks planning and development process, and because existing park facilities will periodically need to be expanded and/or redeveloped, all parks shall require review and approval as a Master Plan (to either establish a new park or substantially change an individual park's master plan), except where a conditional use permit is required and a master site plan is reviewed and approved as a part of the conditional use application. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202)

Orlando City Code § 58.815 Intensive Public Benefit Uses.

Sec. 58.815. - Intensive Public Benefit Uses. In addition to any zoning district and use regulations of Figures 1—2, the following requirements shall apply to intensive public benefit uses. A. Intensity. When all activities associated with the intensive public benefit use are conducted within a fully enclosed building, it shall be considered a class V land use intensity class. When activities are conducted outdoors, including outdoor storage or parking of commercial vehicles, the use shall be considered a class VI land use intensity class. The Planning Official may determine that an alternative land use intensity classification is more appropriate for a specific intensive public benefit use, when considering the actual impact and intensity of the use and the surrounding properties. B. Cogeneration Facilities. 1. If a cogeneration facility meets specific thermal output size and efficiency criteria, it may become a qualifying facility under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and qualify for certain regulatory benefits when selling electricity to electric utilities. 2. Accessory Use Facilities. Accessory use cogeneration facilities may be located in AC-2, AC-3, IC, IG, IP, and P zoning districts when approved through the conditional use process. 3. Conditions. Cogeneration facilities must meet all of the following conditions in addition to all other applicable development standards of the zoning district in which it is to be located: a. All transmission lines for principal use cogeneration facilities must be placed underground. b. There shall be no water discharge for cogeneration facilities and well injection shall be prohibited. c. Import of waste materials for burning to generate power shall be prohibited. d. Cogeneration facilities must not create a nuisance, including but not limited to high noise levels, visible on-site storage of waste materials, air or water pollution or other detrimental effects on the community's environment. C. Prisons and Correctional Facilities. Within 300 feet of residential and office zoning districts, and areas designated for residential uses in approved PDs, razor wire, barbed wire, and similar security measures must be screened from view from adjacent public rights-of-way through creative site design, solid masonry walls, perimeter landscaping, or similar techniques whenever technically feasible to do so without compromising necessary security measures. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202)

Orlando City Code § 58.816 Review Criteria for Conditional Use Permit Applications for Public Benefit Uses.

Sec. 58.816. - Review Criteria for Conditional Use Permit Applications for Public Benefit Uses. Where a conditional use permit is required for a public benefit use, the Municipal Planning Board and City Council shall consider the factors and standards applicable to all conditional use permits and may prescribe appropriate conditions and safeguards as stated in Chapter 65, Part 2D. In addition to the factors and standards in Chapter 65, Part 2D, the Municipal Planning Board and City Council shall use the following review criteria to determine the appropriateness of conditional use permit applications for public benefit uses: A. Traffic. Vehicular ingress, egress, and on-site circulation must be designed and constructed to ensure the least possible impact on neighboring properties and residential streets. Primary ingress and egress must be from the highest service level adjacent street, unless otherwise approved by the Municipal Planning Board and City Council. B. Noise Abatement. Public benefit uses often involve groups of people arriving and departing at one time (as is common with many assembly PBUs), emergency response vehicles that use sirens or horns (as is common with many light PBUs), or noisy equipment (as is common with many intensive PBUs). Therefore, issues related to noise from gatherings, events, vehicles, and equipment must be addressed through conditions of approval for a conditional use permit. Conditions including but not limited to the location of outdoor use areas on the property, limitations on hours or days of operation, and additional noise abatement strategies may be required. C. Protects Residential Neighborhoods. Outdoor use areas, including vehicular use areas, must be located and designed to minimize potential negative impacts on residential zoning districts and residential uses in approved PDs, including but not limited to mitigation of light spill-over, glare, noise (from mechanical equipment, recreational facilities, outdoor classrooms, etc.), and any other negative impacts associated with the type of public benefit use proposed. D. Encourages Multiple Transportation Modes. In order to better serve all segments of the population, public benefit uses should be designed and located to provide the greatest possible choice of transportation modes. Conditional use permit applications for public benefit uses shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis using information about the populations they are intended to serve, including the anticipated ages, mobility, and general geographic location of the target population. Conditions including but not limited to additional bicycle storage facilities, transit stops, sidewalk connections, mid-block crossings, and multiple pedestrian access points to the site (whether or not adjacent to a vehicular access point) may be required to meet the intent of this subsection. (Ord. No. 2018-45, § 4, 8-20-2018, Doc. #1808201202)

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_CH58ZODIUS_PT4OTSPUSST_4LPUBEUSFetched: 11/1/2026