Orlando, FL Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Driveway width
- 7 ft minimum, 18 ft maximum at property line
- Gravel/stone
- Banned in residential driveways and parking spaces
- Impervious ratio cap
- 0.40 of front/side-yard setback area
- Open parking space size
- 9 ft wide x 18.5 ft deep minimum
- First violation fine
- Up to $1,000 per day (§ 5.07(1))
Summary
Orlando requires every driveway and parking space on a single-family, duplex, or townhome lot to sit on an impervious surface, asphalt, concrete, brick, or engineered turf pavers, and flatly bans gravel or stone anywhere in a residential driveway or parking area, even as filler between paved ribbons.
(E)Surface(1)The parking spaces and the driveway must be on an impervious surface such as asphalt, concrete, brick, or engineered turf pavers. The space may be outdoors, under cover, or within an enclosed garage.(2)Gravel. Gravel or stone may not be used for any part of a driveway or parking space in a residential property including as filler between the ribbons of a driveway. Subject to engineering permit review, stone on existing stone driveways may be replenished as long as the existing driveway dimensions are maintained. Existing non-conforming stone vehicular use areas must be maintained per City engineering standards.(F)Impervious Surface Ratio. The total impervious surface ratio of the required front or street side yard setbacks may not exceed 0.40 for any driveway, parking, or turn around configuration. Calculation of the impervious surface ratio must include any non-vehicular impervious areas such as patios but shall not include sidewalks in City Services or Sidewalk Easements or other surfaces exempted from this calculation by other sections of this Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
302 governs off-street parking for detached single-family, duplex, tandem, and townhome dwellings citywide. Subsection (E) requires the parking space and driveway itself to be built on an impervious surface, asphalt, concrete, brick, or engineered turf pavers, whether the space sits outdoors, under cover, or inside an enclosed garage. Gravel or stone is prohibited outright in any part of a residential driveway or parking space, including as filler between paved ribbons; the only carve-out is for legally existing stone driveways, which the City Engineer may allow to be replenished under an engineering permit review provided the original dimensions aren't enlarged, and any nonconforming stone area must otherwise be kept to City engineering standards.
40, though sidewalks in City service or sidewalk easements are excluded from that math. 302 falls under the Land Development Regulations, it is enforced the same way as the rest of Chapter 61: through the City of Orlando Code Enforcement Board under Chapter 5 of the City Code.
Violations & Fines
A code officer who finds an unpaved gravel driveway or an over-ratio impervious front yard issues written notice with a compliance deadline: up to 120 days for a minor violation under § 5.04(4)(g). Uncorrected violations go to the Code Enforcement Board, which under § 5.07(1)-(2) may fine a first violation up to $1,000 per day past the compliance date, and a repeat violation up to $5,000 per day; the order can be recorded as a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put gravel or stone in my Orlando driveway?
What surfaces are allowed for a driveway in Orlando?
Is there a limit on how much of my front yard can be paved?
What happens if my driveway violates these rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orlando
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orlando to another location·View the Florida parking rules overview
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