Coral Gables, FL Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Bonus amount
- 25% residential density
- Trigger
- Coral Gables Mediterranean Architecture design
- Cross-reference
- Section 5-202 development bonus standards
- Reviewing body
- Board of Architects
Summary
Coral Gables grants a 25% residential density bonus to multi-family buildings designed as Coral Gables Mediterranean Architecture.
Multi-family residential density bonus for Mediterranean Architectural Design buildings. A twenty-five (25%) percent residential density bonus may be awarded to the permitted residential density if the proposed building is designed as Coral Gables Mediterranean Architectural Design as provided for in this Section and Section 5-202, and satisfies all other provisions of this Article.
C. Exclusion from height. The following shall be excluded from computation of building height in MX Districts: Air-conditioning equipment room; Elevator shafts; Elevator mechanical equipment rooms; Parapets; and Architectural features used only for ornamental and aesthetic purposes not exceeding a combined area of twenty-five (25%) percent of the floor area immediately below. The design and height of such exclusion shall be subject to the Board of Architects, based on the building proportions and provided precedents.
(Ord. No. 2025 -01, 01/28/2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Fee Schedule: Supplement 2 | Zoning Code: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Zoning Code Section 5-203.B, a developer can add 25% more residential density above what the zoning district otherwise permits if the building is designed to satisfy the city's Coral Gables Mediterranean Architectural Design standards set out in that section and cross-referenced Section 5-202. The design still has to satisfy every other provision of Article 5 (Architecture), including the Board of Architects review, so the bonus is earned through aesthetic compliance, not paid or negotiated like typical affordable-housing density bonuses.
Violations & Fines
Not applicable: this is a discretionary development incentive, not a prohibition. Buildings claiming the bonus without qualifying Mediterranean design elements can have the density reduced back to base zoning by the Board of Architects/Development Services during plan review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much extra density does Coral Gables allow for Mediterranean design?
Who decides if a building qualifies for the bonus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coral Gables
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Coral Gables to another location·View the Florida zoning overlays & bonuses overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle density bonus law.