The Urban Design Section coordinates the County's efforts to develop effective policies, design guidelines, and regulatory controls, to improve the aesthetic quality of the physical environment in Orange County, and to create a stronger sense of place and community identity.

Orange County, like much of the Country, is challenged to meet the rapidly-escalating resident and business demand for potable water.  Staff has identified that water used on landscaping, in particular, represents the single largest demand for potable water.  In response, the County has initiated an extensive water conservation education and outreach program to address the growing disconnect between our limited water supply, and the increasing demand for water resources.

In addition to these education and outreach efforts, the Board of County Commissioners also recently directed Staff to develop a regulatory response to the growing gap between available water resources, and demand.  State law, Water Management District Rules, and the County's own Comprehensive Plan Policies also point to necessary regulatory responses. 

In 2008, watering restrictions, and revisions to landscape irrigation system requirements, were adopted within Chapter 37 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances.  On September 22, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners also adopted a series of language updates to the Land Development Code Chapters 24 (landscaping regulations) and 34 (subdivision regulations), which will encourage water conserving landscape design and installation.  

The Village Planned Development ('Village') designation was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (and Codified) in the late 1990's, and established a series of development standards.  The West Orange County area known as Horizon West is the only area possessing the Village designation.  Staff has had an opportunity to observe the resulting residential and non-residential development in the intervening 10+ years since adoption of the standards.  The current proposed code update recommends revisions meant to improve the vibrancy and built character of new neighborhoods and shopping districts - while also recognizing evolving homebuyer preferences, and changes in the economic landscape.

Horizon West (Village) Development Code - Adopted June 3, 2009 (PDF - 4 MB)

• Architectural Standards Ordinance (PDF - 1.4 MB)
• Lighting Ordinance (PDF - 709 KB)
• Landscape Ordinance (PDF - 2.7 MB)
• Big Box Ordinance (PDF - 1.7 MB)
• Tree Protection Ordinance (PDF - 78 KB)

(The following documents are all in PDF format.)

• Orange Blossom Trail Overlay District (overlaps Holden Heights)
  • Ordinance 97-21 (PDF - 2 MB) - Map (PDF - 1.4 MB)
• West State Road 50 Corridor Overlay District
  • Ordinance 2002-12 (PDF - 607KB) Map (PDF - 2.2 MB)
• South Orange Avenue Corridor Overlay District
  • Ordinance 2003-12 (PDF - 370 KB) - Map (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• Holden Heights Neighborhood District (overlaps OBT)
  • Ordinance 2003-18 (PDF - 5 MB) - Map (PDF - 259 KB)
• Conway Road Corridor Overlay District
  • Ordinance 2003-20 (PDF - 454 KB) - Map (PDF - 1.3 MB)
• Lake Willis Neighborhood Buffering and Design Guidelines
  • Ordinance 2003-21 (PDF - 395 KB) - Map (PDF - 385 KB)
• SR 436 / SR 50 Corridor Overlay District
  • Ordinance 2004-15 (PDF - 327 KB) - Map (PDF - 1.3 MB)
• International Drive Activity Center
• Convention Plaza District (CPD) Overlay Zone
  • Ordinance 95-23 (PDF - 500 KB) - Map (PDF - 326 KB)
• Southwest Growth Center
  • Ordinance 96-11 (PDF - 1 MB)
• Northwest Growth Center
  • Ordinance 96-13 (PDF - 100 KB)
• Four Corners Community Village Center (CVC) Guidelines and Standards
  • Ordinance 96-36 (PDF - 1.2 MB) - Map (PDF - 288 KB)
• Horizon West (Village Land Use Classification)
  • Ordinance 97-10 (PDF - 729 KB) - Map (PDF - 1.8 MB)
• Tourism District (Tourist Commercial Area)
  • Ordinance 99-21 (PDF - 223 KB)
• Buena Vista North (BVN) District Standards
  • Ordinance 2001-04 (PDF - 1.2 MB) - Map (PDF - 337 KB)
• Avalon Park Boulevard Corridor
  • Map (PDF - 1.6 MB)

The Orange County Comprehensive Policy Plan (CPP) was first adopted on July 1, 1991, in accordance with the State of Florida Growth Management Law. It establishes the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the primary services provided by Orange County Government. Elements of the CPP provide the guidance for all future development within unincorporated Orange County.

The CPP's Urban Design Element addresses the physical character and form of Orange County, and the relationship between people and their built environment.

• Urban Design Element (PDF - 42 KB)

The International Drive Activity Center Element establishes the boundaries of an economically viable tourist oriented activity center and assigns future land uses that permit a mixture of tourism-related uses.

• International Drive Activity Center Element (MS Word - 110 KB)

The Urban Design Commission (UDC) was formed by the Board of County Commissioners, by Resolution 97-M-21, in May of 1997. The UDC is a permanent body charged with recommending minimum aesthetic performance guidelines for new development; developing an incentive system for encouraging good aesthetic design and construction; supporting current programs aimed at enforcing aesthetic requirements of the Code of Ordinances; reviewing plans and recommending aesthetic enhancements to new development plans; and, overseeing preparation and implementation of the Comprehensive Policy Plan's Urban Design Element. The UDC's thirteen (13) Board-appointed members need not be registered residents of Orange County, but they must have substantial experience in a design-related profession.

Orange County is preparing for the 3rd Annual Design Excellence Awards!  The 2008 ceremony will be held October 16 at the Orange County Convention Center.   

This awards program honors the best in planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, and environmental design throughout Orange County.  Planners, architects, developers, civil engineers, landscape architects, builders and students are encouraged to submit entries into the 2008 Orange County Design Excellence Awards! 

The 2008 awards program has been expanded to include projects located within the incorporated limits of Orange County's cities.  Applicants with projects in selected design categories are encouraged to submit!   This year's Award Program also features a new Government Ordinance category.  Click here to download the 2008 Orange County Design Excellence Awards Call for Entries (PDF -3MB)!  The deadline for submittal has been extended to August 29, 2008. 

On August 23, 2007, eight (8) projects were recognized by Mayor Richard T. Crotty and the Board of County Commissioners at the Second Annual Orange County Design Excellence Awards Ceremony, held at the Orange County Convention Center. Over 150 attendees, including local sponsors, developers, architects, engineers, Orange County employees and the general public, participated in this event.

For more information on the awards ceremony, click on the links below:

• 2007 Design Excellence Awards Program (PDF - 613 KB)
• 2007 Descriptions of Winning Projects (PDF - 1.2 MB)
• 2007 Design Excellence Awards PowerPoint (PDF - 4.18 MB)