Orlando’s Permitting Services Division handles residential and commercial construction permitting, while the City Planning Division oversees zoning and development approvals. Permit applications are submitted to the city first, and projects requiring plan review use ProjectDox for electronic drawings and supporting documents. Because an Orlando mailing address does not necessarily establish City of Orlando jurisdiction, applicants should confirm that the property’s municipality is actually listed as Orlando before filing.
Zoning can determine whether additional review is needed before construction proceeds. Orlando’s Land Development Code regulates permitted uses and development standards, while Planned Development properties can have site-specific requirements. Variances, conditional uses, rezoning requests, master plans, subdivisions, and projects within certain special-plan or design-review areas may require City Planning review beyond the standard building-permit process.
Floodplain conditions are another important local consideration. Development, filling, alteration, or regrading within regulated flood areas can require additional review, and commercial development within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area requires a Floodplain Development Permit. Orlando also regulates tree removal and encroachment; commercial-property tree removal requires a permit, and tree work associated with a larger development project is coordinated through ProjectDox.
Properties within local historic districts or designated as historic landmarks may require a Certificate of Appropriateness before applicable construction permits are obtained. Work within streets, sidewalks, or other public right-of-way areas follows a separate permitting process. Applicants can start with the City’s Permits & Inspections resources to identify the building, planning, floodplain, tree, historic, and right-of-way reviews that apply.