Zoning & Land Development Regulations

Vero Beach Land Development Regulation Information

History of Vero Beach Zoning & Land Development Regulations:

The City’s first zoning code was adopted in 1926. The first zoning code divided the City into four use zones (Residence, Apartment, Business and Industrial), four bulk zones, and three heights zones (35 ft., 50 ft., and 100 ft.). In some aspects, this code was similar to form based codes used by many communities today.

In 1948, the City’s zoning regulations were revised to adopt a traditional or “Euclidian” zoning code with eight (8) zoning districts that included single family, multiple family, commercial, airport, and industrial zoning districts. (Euclidean zoning is named after the Village of Euclid, Ohio, where in 1926, a development company famously challenged the constitutionality of the local zoning code, later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Euclid v. Ambler Realty.) This type of zoning code is focused on separation of uses and each zoning district with its own height, setback, and building volume restrictions that vary with intensity. This code is the basis of several of the City’s existing residential, commercial and industrial zoning districts. The City’s Zoning Code received major rewrites in 1955, 1963, and 1978. With each rewrite, the City added zoning districts to address the development needs of the community or a specific area. The 1955 Zoning Code was the first code to require parking for multiple-family residential uses and 1963 Zoning Code was the first code to require all uses to provide off-street parking.

After community controversy with the construction of mid or high-rise buildings on the City’s beachside, notably “The Spires,” the City’s zoning regulations underwent a major rewrite in 1978 to adopt revised zoning regulations with density, intensity, and updated height requirements. A 1974 ordinance, later incorporated into the 1978 Zoning Code, adopted site plan requirements for new projects in the City. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s the City reduced allowed residential densities and building intensities throughout the City. The City also limited the allowed conditional uses in single family and multiple family residential districts. To comply with Federal or State requirements, the City adopted stormwater, landscaping, tree and palm preservation, floodplain management, concurrency management, and telecommunication tower requirements during this timeframe. The current zoning code is based on the 1978 Zoning Code.

The City, led by the Planning and Development Department, is currently updating the City’s Land Development Regulations, to be more readable and easier to use. The City is reviewing the allowed uses in each zoning district and updating the use terminology. In September 2023, the City adopted updated zoning regulations for Park and Conservation Districts, Office and Institutional Districts, and Commercial Districts. These zoning districts provide tables with allowed uses and development standards for each zoning district. The residential zoning districts and the City’s industrial districts are planned to be updated in 2024.

Zoning Regulations:

The City’s zoning regulations can be found in Chapter 61 for Residential Zoning Districts and Chapter 62 for Nonresidential Zoning Districts in the Code of Ordinances. Those provisions regulate land uses, building setbacks, height, overall height, setbacks, lot coverage, building volume and mass, and landscape open space.

Zoning Districts are depicted on the zoning map.

The City’s Land Development Regulations with subdivision requirements, development standards, development incentives, and environmental standards for new development in the City, can be found in Chapters 70 – 79 in municode.

If you have any questions about this information or need help finding specific provision in the Code, you may contact the Planning and Development Department:

Phone: 772-978-4550

Email: planning@covb.org

Below are summary zoning information that may be helpful:

Allowed uses Office and Institutional Districts:

Use Types	POI	I	Use Specific Standards
*Residential Uses – Dwellings*
Dwellings, single family detached	P
*Residential Uses – Group Living*
Assisted living facilities		P	Standards in Sec. 67.03(a) apply
Group homes	P		Standards in Sec. 67.03(d) apply
Hospice residential facilities		P
Nursing facilities	P	P
*Nonresidential Uses – Commercial*
Broadcast studios	P
Clubs, health & fitness	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(b) apply
Financial institutions	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(c) apply
Offices, business services	P	P
Offices, medical services	P	P
Offices, professional services	P	P
Personal services	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(g) apply
*Nonresidential Uses – Institutional*
Administrative services	P	P
Art and cultural centers		P
Child care services	P	P
Educational institutions		P
Hospitals		P
Libraries		P	Standards in Sec. 67.07(a) apply
Museums		P	Standards in Sec. 67.07(b) apply
Offices, government use		P
*Nonresidential Uses – Public Assembly*
Community centers		P
Performance theaters		P	Standards in Sec. 67.08(c) apply
Places of worship	P		Standards in Sec. 67.08(d) apply
*Nonresidential Uses – Utilities*
Utilities, minor	P	P	Standards in Sec. 67.09(a) apply
*Nonresidential Uses – Transportation*
Parking lots and garages		P
Notes: 1. See Sec. 60.27, Interpretation of permitted principal, accessory, temporary use tables, for explanation of interpretation of this table. 2. Abbreviations: P = Permitted by Right C = Allowed with a Conditional Use Permit Blank = Use not allowed

Allowed uses Commercial Districts:

Uses Types	B-1	B-2	B-3	B-4	C-1A	C-1B		C-1		Use Specific Standards
*Residential Uses – Dwellings*
Dwellings, live/work unit				P					Standards in Sec. 67.02(c) apply
Dwellings, multiple-family		P		P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.02(d) apply
Dwellings, single-family attached		P			P	P			Standards in Sec. 67.02(e) apply
Dwellings, upper story		P		P					Standards in Sec. 67.02(f) apply
Dwellings, zero lot line		P			P	P			Standards in Sec. 67.02(g) apply
*Residential Uses – Group Living*
Assisted living facilities						P	P
Community residential homes		P		P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.03(b) apply
Congregate multi-family housing						P	P
Continuing care retirement facilities						P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.03(c) apply
Group homes		P			P	P			Standards in Sec. 67.03(d) apply
Hospice residential facilities				P		P	P
Nursing facilities						P	P
*Residential Uses – Accommodations*
Bed and breakfast inns		P			P
Guest house and transient quarters		P		P	P		P
Hotels and motels		P		P	P		P		Standards in Sec. 67.04(a) apply
*Nonresidential Uses – Commercial*
Art, dance, and music studios	P	P		P	P	P	P
Art galleries	P	P		P	P	P	P
Broadcast studios				P		P	P
Clubs, health & fitness	P	P		P		P	P
Commercial amusements							P
Commercial food services							P
Financial institutions	P		P	P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(b) apply
Microbreweries		P		P			P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(c) apply
Motor vehicle sales and services							P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(d) apply
Motor vehicle servicing, car wash							P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(d) apply
Museums, commercial							P
Offices, business services	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Offices, professional services	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Offices, medical services	P		P	P	P	P	P
Offices, veterinary services	P		P	P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(e) apply
Personal services	P	P		P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(f) apply
Restaurants	P	P			P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(h) apply
Restaurants, bar or drinking places		P		P			P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(g) apply
Restaurants, carry-out	P				P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(h) apply
Restaurants, drive-in							P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(h) apply
Restaurants, fast food	P						P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(h) apply
Restaurants, specialty eating	P	P		P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(h) apply
Retail sales and services, general	P			P		P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(i) apply
Retail sales and services, restricted	P	P		P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.06(j) apply
Retail sales and services, large-scale							P
Trade service and repair							P
Wholesale trades and services							P
*Nonresidential Uses – Institutional*
Administrative services	P		P	P		P	P
Art and cultural centers	C			C		C	C		Standards in Sec. 67.07(a) apply
Child care services	C			C		P
Emergency services	C			C	C	C	P
Libraries	C			C	C	C			Standards in Sec. 67.07(b) apply
Offices, government use				P	P	P	P
*Nonresidential Uses – Public Assembly*
Clubs, beach					P
Clubs, nonprofit	C				P	P	P
Clubs, social	C	P				P	P
Community centers	C				C	P
Exhibition or conference center							P		Standards in Sec. 67.08(a) apply
Funeral homes	C					P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.08(b) apply
Movie theaters							P
Performance theaters	C					P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.08(c) apply
Places of worship	C					P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.08(d) apply
*Nonresidential Uses – Utilities*
Parking lots and garages	P	P		P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.10(a) apply
Utilities, minor	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
*Nonresidential Uses – Recreational*
Parks, square or plaza	P	P	P	P	P	P	P		Standards in Sec. 67.11(a) apply
Parks, active recreation	C				C	C	C
Recreation facilities, athletic field or court						C	C
Recreation facilities, water dependent		P			C
Notes: 1. See Sec. 60.27, Interpretation of permitted principal, accessory, temporary use tables, for explanation of interpretation of this table. 2. Abbreviations: P = Permitted by Right C = Allowed with a Conditional Use Permit Blank = Use not allowed

Allowable Yard Encroachments:

Feature	Extent and Limitations
Balconies, fire escapes, stairways, steps, stoops, chimneys, or flues	May extend up to 3.5 feet into a required yard
Bay windows	May extend up to 3 feet into any required yard if no more than nine feet wide
Roof eaves and overhangs	May extend up to 3 feet into any required yard
Sills, belt courses, cornices, buttresses, entablatures, or similar building façade features	May extend up to 2 feet into any required yard
Mechanical equipment, such as air conditioning equipment, sprinkler system controls, water treatment systems, pumps, and pool filtration systems	For single family (attached or detached) or duplex residential uses, may extend up to 4 feet into the side or rear yard. For all other uses, shall not extend into any yard.
Generators or oil and liquid propane fuel tanks	For single family or duplex residential uses, may extend up to 4 feet into the side yard or be placed in the required rear yard up to 5 feet from any property line. For all other uses, shall not extend into any yard.
Window awnings	May extend up to 4 feet into any required yard
Building porches or covered terraces.	May extend up to 10 feet into the front or rear yard
Uncovered stoops or decks	May extend up to 10 feet into the front or rear yard
Patios, terraces, or walkways	May extend into or be located in any required yard if less than 12 inches high and set back from lot or parcel lines by a distance of 2 feet, unless to make a connection to a public sidewalk. In residential districts, patios and terraces shall be located in the rear yard
Driveways or parking lots	May be located in any yard providing required landscape buffer.
Pools or spas	May be located in any required yard with the outside structural wall not less than 10 feet from a parcel or lot line
Pool screen enclosures	May be located in the side or rear yard with the structure not less than 7.5 feet from a parcel or lot line
Signs, projecting, blade, marquee, awning or freestanding	May extend into or be located in any required yard in accordance with Chapter 38, Article I, Signs
Flagpoles	May be located in any required yard in accordance with Chapter 38, Article I, Signs
Lighting fixtures, projecting or free-standing	May be located in any required yard if less than 20 feet high
Fences or walls	May be located in any required yard, subject to the limitations by the zoning district’s Accessory Structures Standards and Section 67.14
Accessory structures other than those listed above,	May be located in a required yard, subject to the limitations by the zoning district’s Accessory Structures Standards and Section 67.14.
Vegetation and landscaping features such as retaining walls, fountains, ponds, and similar landscaping features	May be located in any required yard, provided any non-vegetative landscaping feature in a required yard is no more than 4 feet higher than natural grade

Parking Ratios:

Use Type	Required Parking
Residential Uses - Dwellings
Single family (attached, detached, or zero lot line)	2 spaces /unit (garages may be used to fulfill this requirement)
Duplexes	2 spaces/unit (garages may be used to fulfill this requirement)
Mobile homes	1.25 spaces/unit
Multiple family (including upper story)
Efficiency (<500 sq. ft. of floor area)	One space/unit
One bedroom	1.25 spaces/unit
Two or more bedrooms	1.5 spaces/unit
Residential Uses – Group Living
Adult family-care homes	2 spaces / unit
Assisted living facilities	1 space / 4 beds
Congregate multi-family housing	0.5 space / unit
Community Residential	One space/ 3 beds
Group homes	2 spaces / unit
Hospice residential facilities	1 space / 4 beds
Nursing facilities	One space/ 4 beds
Residential Uses - Accommodations
Bed and breakfast inns	2 spaces plus one space per guest room
Guest house and transient quarters	2 spaces per unit
Hotels and motels	1 space/rentable room; one-half of the standard parking ratio for each accessory use
Nonresidential Uses - Commercial
Art, dance and music studios	1 space / 350 sq. ft. of floor area
Art galleries	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area
Broadcast studios	1 space / 350 sq. ft. of floor area
Clubs, health & fitness	1 space / 300 sq. ft. of floor area
Commercial amusements (enclosed)	One space / 400 sq. ft. of floor area
Commercial food services	One space / 400 sq. ft. of floor area
Financial institutions
With drive-thru facilities	One space / 400 sq. ft. of floor area and stacking for 4 vehicles per drive-thru window or automatic teller machine
Without drive-thru facilities	One space / 300 sq. ft. of floor area
Microbreweries	One space / 600 sq. ft. of floor area
Motor vehicle sales and services	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area (in addition to spaces dedicated to vacuums) plus 6 stacking spaces per lane
Motor vehicle servicing, car wash	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area (in addition to spaces dedicated to vacuums) plus 6 stacking spaces per lane
Motor vehicle servicing, gasoline stations	One space per two pumps (in addition to spaces dedicated to pumps) plus 2 spaces per service bay and car wash (service bays are not included as parking spaces)
Motor vehicle servicing (general or heavy repair and services)	2 spaces per service bays or 6 spaces, whichever is greater (service bays are not included as parking spaces)
Motor vehicle servicing, self-service car wash	One space per two washing bays or stalls (in addition to spaces dedicated to vacuums) plus one stacking space per bay or stall
Museums, commercial	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area
Offices (business, professional, medical, and veterinary)	One space / 350 sq. ft. of floor area or 4 spaces, whichever is greater
Personal services	One space / 200 sq. ft. of floor area
Restaurants	One space / 100 sq. ft. of floor area
Restaurants, bar and drinking places	One space / 75 sq. ft. of floor area
Restaurants, carry-out	One space / 200 sq. ft. of floor area
Restaurants, fast food	One space / 150 sq. ft. of floor area plus 8 stacking spaces per lane
Restaurants, specialty eating	One space / 150 sq. ft. of floor area
Retail sales and services (general or large scale)	One space / 400 sq. ft. of floor area
Retail sales and services, restricted	One space / 300 sq. ft. of floor area
Trade and service repair uses	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area or 2 spaces, whichever is greater
Wholesales trades and services	One space / 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area
*Nonresidential Uses - Institutional*
Administrative services	One space / 250 sq. ft. of floor area
Art and cultural centers	One space / 200 sq. ft. of floor area
Child care facilities	1.5 spaces / licensed employee
Educational institutions, public	As set by the State Department of Education or School District
Educational institutions, private elementary schools	One space / 10 seats in the main auditorium or 2 spaces for each classroom, whichever is greater
Educational institutions, private high schools	One space / 8 seats in the main auditorium or 5 spaces for each classroom, whichever is greater
Fire stations	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area
Hospitals	2 spaces / bed
Libraries and museums	One space / 500 sq. ft. of floor area
Offices, government use	One space / 300 sq. ft. of floor area
*Nonresidential Uses - Public Assembly*
Auditoriums (performance theaters or movie theaters)	One space per 4 fixed seats or one space / 100 sq. ft. of floor area in public assembly area, if no fixed seats
Clubs, private (beach, non-profit, or social and country clubs)	One space / 100 sq. ft. of floor area for clubhouse and dining facilities, plus required parking spaces for each associated use or structure creating user parking demand
Community centers	One space / 200 sq. ft. of floor area or 1 space / 100 sq. ft. of auditorium, or meeting rooms without fixed seats, whichever is greater
Exhibition or conference centers	One space / 200 sq. ft. of floor area or 1 space / 100 sq. ft. of auditorium or meeting rooms without fixed seats, whichever is greater
Funeral homes	One space / 200 sq. ft. of floor area and one space / 3 fixed seats or one space / 100 square feet in public assembly areas, if no fixed seats
Places of worship	One space per 5 fixed seats in the main auditorium or sanctuary
Stadiums	One space per 4 fixed seats
*Nonresidential Uses – Transportation*
Aeronautical student dormitory	One space / sleeping room plus one space / 20 rooms; plus ½ of the standard parking ratio for each accessory use
Aeronautical schools	3 spaces / classroom
Conventional hangars (excluding commercial or employment generating activities)	One space/1,000 sq. ft. of floor area up to 10,000 sq. ft. and one space / 2,000 sq. ft. thereafter
T-hangars	One space / 5 hangars or tie-downs except for manufacturing inventories or pilot training aircraft
*Nonresidential Uses – Recreational*
Athletic training facility with dormitory facilities	One space per two beds plus required parking spaces for facilities other than offices, club house, athletic fields or courts and dining facilities
Golf course	4 spaces / hole and one space / 100 sq. ft. of floor area for club and pro shop
Marina	One space / 3 dry storage, or wet slip and one space / 300 sq. ft. of administrative space
Public parks and outdoor recreation uses	2 spaces per gross acre of land generating user parking demand; 40 spaces per acre of public beach; one space / 100 sq. ft. of floor area for associated support buildings; plus required parking for other recreational uses and structures specified in this section
Public, private, or commercial boat ramps	6 spaces per ramp; all spaces shall be 14' by 55' to accommodate trailers and oversized vehicles
Racquet ball or tennis courts	3 spaces / court
Skating rinks	One space/200 sq. ft. of floor area
Swimming pool (outdoor)	One space/200 sq. ft. of pool area
*Nonresidential Uses - Industrial*
Contractor yards	One space / 500 sq. ft. or 2 spaces, whichever is greater
Crematoria	One space / 300 sq. ft. of floor area
Manufacturing or industrial establishments, research and testing laboratories, creameries, bottling plants, warehouse or similar establishments, excluding direct sales to the public	One space / 600 sq. ft. of floor area or 4 spaces, whichever is greater
Self-service storage facilities	3 spaces and a 24 ft. wide drive / access aisle to each individual storage unit
Wholesale establishments, excluding direct sales to the public	One space / 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area