Environmental Rules in Orlando, FL (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Orlando, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Every development in Orlando must control the extra stormwater runoff it generates from a 25-year, 24-hour storm with a detention facility under City Code § 63.270, releasing water at a rate no higher than the site's pre-development peak discharge to a legal, positive discharge point. Development must also meet the water management district's pollution-abatement standards, with detailed design criteria set by the Orlando Urban Stormwater Management Manual.
Orlando Stormwater Detention & Discharge Rules
Some RestrictionsOrlando City Code § 63.270 (Retention/Detention Facilities Requirements)
All development shall be required to provide pollution abatement as required by the water management district within which the development is located. The additional volume and rate of stormwater runoff generated by the building site due to development from a 25 year frequency, 24 hour duration storm event shall be controlled by a detention facility and released at a rate of discharge not to ex...
Erosion Control
Before Orlando approves a Final Site Plan or issues a building permit, the plan must include a drainage and erosion control plan that conforms to the Orlando Urban Storm Water Management Manual. Once grading starts, the city's Stormwater Utility Code separately bans dumping silt or construction debris into any storm drain, with civil penalties up to $1,000 per day.
Orlando Erosion and Sediment Control for Site Plans
Some RestrictionsOrlando City Code § 65.349(l); § 31.19(1)
(l)A final drainage and erosion control plan, in conformance with the Orlando Urban Storm Water Management Manual (OUSWMM). ... It shall be unlawful for any person to drain, deposit, place or otherwise discharge into any natural outlet or storm water system within the City, or to cause or permit to be drained, deposited, placed or otherwise discharged into such waters, any organic or inorganic ...
Flood Zones
Orlando's Floodplain Regulations, City Code § 63.220, govern nearly every kind of development touching a flood hazard area: subdividing land, grading, building or altering structures exempt from the Florida Building Code, placing manufactured homes and tanks, siting recreational vehicles, and installing swimming pools. A handful of provisions reach even further, applying citywide, including to properties outside any mapped special flood hazard area.
Orlando Floodplain Development Regulations
Some RestrictionsOrlando City Code § 63.220(a)-(b) (Floodplains, General)
(a)Title. These regulations, with Chapter 65 Part 6D and Part 6E shall be known as the Floodplain Regulations of the City of Orlando, hereinafter referred to as "the Floodplain Regulations."(b)Scope. The provisions of this Part shall apply to all development that is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area, including but not limited to the subdivision of land; filling, grading, a...
Boat Dock Permits
Orlando requires a City permit before any dock is built or repaired on a waterfront lot, and City Code § 58.977 caps what that dock can be: one dock per upland parcel, a terminal platform no larger than 1,000 square feet, and a roof no higher than 12 feet above the floor. The City won't issue a permit unless a conforming principal structure already exists on the parcel.
Orlando Boat Dock Construction Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsOrlando, FL City Code §§ 58.976, 58.977
(A)No permit for dock construction or repair shall be issued by the City unless there exists a conforming principal structure upon the upland parcel to which the dock is attached.(B)Only one dock shall be permitted per upland parcel...(I)The terminal platform square footage, exclusive of any uncovered mooring areas, shall not exceed the following thresholds:1.Ten (10) times the linear shoreline...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Orlando requires the lowest floor of every new building, citywide, to sit at least 18 inches above the crown of the nearest street, or higher if the Florida Building Code demands more, under City Code § 63.226(d). This freeboard rule applies at all locations, including outside any mapped special flood hazard area, and comes paired with a site-drainage requirement.
Orlando Minimum Building Elevation Above Street
Some RestrictionsOrlando City Code § 63.226(d) (Buildings and Structures)
(d)Building elevation and drainage. At all locations in the City, including outside of mapped special flood hazard areas:1.For buildings, lowest floors shall be at or above eighteen (18) inches above the crown of the nearest street or the elevation required by the Florida Building Code, whichever is higher.2.Site plans for new buildings shall account for drainage from adjacent streets and adjac...
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