AC-N, AC-1, AC-2, AC-3 ACTIVITY CENTER DISTRICTS

Orlando City Code ch. 58, pt. 2, pt. 2O

in effect

Orlando City Code § 58.340 Relationship to the Growth Management Plan.

Sec. 58.340. - Relationship to the Growth Management Plan. The AC-N, AC-1, AC-2 and AC-3 districts implement GMP Future Land Use Objective LU.2.1 to provide standards for activity centers; Future Land Use Objective LU.2.4 to encourage development to achieve a mixture of land uses and an intensity at or near to the maximum permitted by the Future Land Use Map Series so that public services and facilities can most efficiently be provided; Transportation Objective T.1.2 and Policy T.1.2.2, to serve metropolitan and urban activity centers with internal public transit and pedestrian systems; Preservation & Design Objective PD.3.2 and Policy PD.3.2.1, to provide land development standards for activity centers outside the Traditional City; and Preservation & Design Objectives PD.2.1, PD.3.3 and Policies PD.2.1.1, 1 and PD.3.3.1, to promote the positive design elements of the Traditional City in Activity Centers. The AC-N district implements the Neighborhood Activity Center category of the Future Land Use Map Series. The AC-1 district implements the Community Activity Center category, the AC-2 district implements the Urban Activity Center category and the AC-3 district implements the Metropolitan Activity Center category. (Ord. of 9-16-1991, Doc. #25094; Ord. No. 2022-23, § 2, 4-25-2022, Doc. #2204251203; Ord. No. 2026-5, § 1(Exh. A), 4-6-2026, Doc. #26040612c)

Orlando City Code § 58.341 Purpose of Activity Center Districts.

Sec. 58.341. - Purpose of Activity Center Districts. AC-N Neighborhood Activity Center District. The AC-N district is intended to provide for concentrated areas of neighborhood-serving commercial, office, residential, recreational and cultural facilities, at intensities compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. Although some Neighborhood Activity Centers may be composed of a single type of use, a mixture of land uses is specifically encouraged. These activity centers are intended for locations where arterials and collectors are available, providing convenient access to the surrounding neighborhood. AC-1 Community Activity Center District. The AC-1 district is intended to provide for concentrated areas of community-serving commercial, office, residential, recreational and cultural facilities, at higher intensities than in surrounding neighborhoods. Although some Community Activity Centers may be composed of a single type of use, a mixture of land uses is specifically encouraged. These activity centers are intended for locations where a combination of arterials and four lane collectors and mass transit service are available, providing access to other activity centers and surrounding neighborhoods. AC-2 Urban Activity Center District. The AC-2 district is intended to provide for concentrated areas of residential, commercial, office, industrial, recreational and cultural facilities serving major subregions of the Orlando urban area, and at intensities significantly higher than in surrounding neighborhoods. Although some Urban Activity Centers may be composed of a single type of use, a mixture of land uses is specifically encouraged. These activity centers are intended for locations where arterials and four lane collectors and mass transit service are available, providing access between metropolitan subregions and complementing the primary arterial transportation system. AC-3 Metropolitan Activity Center District. The AC-3 district is intended to provide for large concentrated areas of residential, commercial, office, industrial, recreational and cultural facilities at a scale which serves the entire metropolitan area, and at the highest intensities to be found anywhere outside of Downtown Orlando. A mixture of land uses is specifically intended—Metropolitan Activity Centers composed of a single type of use shall be strongly discouraged. These activity centers are intended for locations where arterials and four lane collectors and mass transit service are available, providing access to other metropolitan areas. (Ord. of 9-16-1991, Doc. #25094; Ord. of 4-20-1992, Doc. #25633; Ord. of 7-26-1993, Doc. #26769)

Orlando City Code § 58.342 Rezones and Zoning Map Applications.

Sec. 58.342. - Rezones and Zoning Map Applications. The standards and considerations required below are designed to ensure that each new Activity Center district will be economically viable, adequately served by public facilities and services when fully developed to its maximum size and intensity, and that potential disruptions to the surrounding community will be minimized. New Activity Center districts should not be established in locations which will not support their maximum intended intensity. All applications for Activity Center zoning shall be accompanied by a Master Plan application in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 65, Part 2H. In the event that the Master Plan shall be denied by the reviewing authority, the application for rezoning shall also be deemed to be denied. Where the City initiates a rezoning to Activity Center, a Master Plan shall be required prior to issuance of a building permit for new construction or substantial redevelopment. In addition to the requirements of Chapter 65, Part 2H, no new Activity Center district shall be established on the Official Zoning Map unless the following conditions exist or are planned at the proposed district location, or will be included in the proposed development: Economic or Service Potential. Prior to the establishment of any new Activity Center district, an economic or service analysis of the proposed activity center shall be prepared by the applicant, covering a time frame from the initial phases of the center through its growth to maximum size and intensity, and including consideration of the following: (a) the trade or service area to be covered by the activity center; (b) the general types and locations of uses to be included; (c) site characteristics likely to influence the growth and development of the activity center; (d) community and regional population growth trends; (e) community and regional economic growth trends, including the buying power or service needs of the area; and proximity to other activity centers, and the economic or service relationship of the proposed activity center to adjacent centers. Minimum Land Availability. New Activity Center districts should not be established in locations which will not support their maximum intended intensity. To ensure that the purposes of Activity Center districts will be achieved, no new AC-N, AC-1, AC-2, or AC-3 district shall be established unless sufficient land is available in the area for development or redevelopment to compose a district of at least 50% of the maximum permitted district size. Minimum and maximum district sizes are as follows: Minimum | Maximum AC-Nt | 2 acres | 10 acres AC-N | 3 acres | 10 acres AC-1 | 8 acres | 65 acres AC-2 | 40 acres | 160 acres AC-3 | 100 acres | N/A Minimum Community Disruption. New Activity Center districts should not be established at locations where the existing community fabric will be disrupted, and shall not include established stable residential areas. Traffic generated by activity centers shall not unduly increase projected trip volumes on adjacent residential streets or require widening or reclassification of such streets to thoroughfares. Except as provided in Section 61.303, off-street parking for activity centers shall not be located in or take access from residential areas. GMP Guidelines. New Activity Center districts shall be so designed and located as to be consistent with the guidelines for Activity Centers set forth in the adopted Growth Management Plan. Other Considerations. The Municipal Planning Board and City Council shall also consider the following matters: (a) Whether and the extent to which the establishment of an activity center in the proposed location would stress public services such as police, fire, education, solid waste disposal, drainage, etc. (b) Whether and the extent to which the establishment of an activity center would adversely affect the natural environment, and particularly those factors regulated by Chapter 63. (c) Accessibility of the proposed location to mass transit facilities, including local service, limited stop and express service, and service between activity centers. (Ord. of 9-16-1991, Doc. #25094; Ord. of 7-26-1993, Doc. #26769; Ord. of 5-20-1996, Doc. #29361)

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_PT2DIRE_2OACCEDIFetched: 11/1/2026