The Land Development Code (Chapter 16 of the City Code) serves to regulate the use (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, etc.) and amount/appearance of development (intensity, density, design standards, etc.) of real property within the corporate limits of the City of Sunrise. The public is advised to consult the full Code - for specific guidance, or to speak with a member of the Community Development Department staff for elaboration/interpretation of these standards. The following is a brief summary of the Code contents:

ARTICLE I provides an Introduction

ARTICLE II provides for a Zoning Map and describes areas of the City subject to the map.

ARTICLE III provides Development Review Procedures including Site Plans (Sec. 16-31), Site Plan Adjustments and Revisions (Sec. 16-32), Plats (Sec. 16-34), Special Exception Uses (Sec. 16-36), Variances and Administrative Appeals (Sec. 16-37), Land Use Plan Amendments, Zoning Map Amendments, and Development Orders for Developments of Regional Impact (Sec. 16-38), Master Development Plans (Sec. 16-39), Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Board (Sec. 16-48 and 16-49, respectively), the Development Review Committee (Sec. 16-50), and On-Site Sign Posting (Sec. 16-51).

ARTICLE IV provides for Concurrency Management: Public Facility Capacity from Adequacy of Public Facilities and Services (Sec. 16-58) to Adequacy of Neighborhood and Community Parks (Sec. 16-68).

ARTICLE V provides District Regulations (i.e., uses permitted, density/intensity standards, and bulk standards, such as setbacks, pervious/impervious lot coverage, etc.) for different residential and non-residential zoning districts from Low Density Single-Family Residential (Sec. 16-69) to Planned Unit Development (Sec. 16-107).

ARTICLE VI provides Supplemental Regulations for other zoning standards including  Outdoor Restaurant Seating Areas (Sec. 16-112),  Areas Between Buildings (Sec. 16-117), Accessory Uses and Structures, such as storage sheds, swimming pools, screen enclosures, amateur radio antennas, etc. (Sec. 16-118), Outdoor Storage and Display of Stock-in-Trade Merchandise restrictions (Sec. 16-128), Community Residential and Group Homes (Sec. 16-135), Gasoline Stations (Sec. 16-136), Exterior Building Color (Sec. 16-138), and Building Design (Sec. 16-140).

ARTICLE VII provides Off-Street Parking and Loading quantity requirements and design standards for residential and non-residential developments, including Parking Requirements for the Handicapped (Sec. 16-143), Amount of Off-Street Parking per unit quantity of a particular use (Sec. 16-144), Shared Parking (Sec. 16-145), Parking of Commercial Vehicle restrictions (Sec. 16-147), Off-Street Loading quantity requirements (Sec. 16-148), Lighting Requirements (Sec. 16-150), and Valet and Preferred Parking requirements (Sec. 16-153).

ARTICLE VIII provides Functional Landscaping requirements and design standards for residential and non-residential developments, including Plan Approval procedures (Sec. 16-162), Maintenance requirements of planted materials (Sec. 16-164), Plant Material requirements (Sec. 16-165), Street Trees standards (Sec. 16-166), Minimum Landscape Requirements in RM-10, RM-16, RM-25, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-3A, B-4, B-5, B-6, I-1 and CF Zoning Districts (Sec. 16-169), Minimum Landscaping Requirements in RS-3, RS-5 and RS-7 Zoning Districts (Sec. 16-170), and Tree Preservation requirements for proposed removal of trees (Sec. 16-172).

ARTICLE IX provides Subdivision Improvements, including reference to Broward County Regulations (Sec. 16-181), Additional Improvement Standards, such as Storm Drainage System Design and Road Right-of-Way Requirements including graphic illustrations of typical roads cross-sections and lake slopes (Sec. 16-182).

ARTICLE X provides requirements and standards for Walls, Fences and Buffers, including Fences and Hedges in Residential Districts (Sec. 16-191), and Visual and Sound Buffers requirements (Sec. 16-192).

ARTICLE XI provides Floodplain Management Map (Sec. 16-201), Definitions (Sec. 16-202), General Provisions (Sec. 16-203), Administration (Sec. 16-204), and Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction including graphic illustrations of typical crown sections (Sec. 16-205).

ARTICLE XII provides Environmental Regulations for On-Site Stormwater Runoff (Sec. 16-216), Air Pollution Control (Sec. 16-217), Wellfield Protection (Sec. 16-218), and Wetlands and Natural Vegetation (Sec. 16-219).

ARTICLE XIII provides for regulation of Nonconforming Uses and Structures, such as restrictions to physical extensions or alterations of Nonconforming Uses (Sec. 16-231), requirements for reconstruction after a catastrophe or change of Nonconforming Uses and Structures (Sec. 16-232), Discontinuance or Abandonment of a Nonconforming Use (Sec. 16-233), and Landscaping compliance requirements for a change in use to the principal building (Sec. 16-236).

ARTICLE XIV provides requirements for Signs, including Purpose and Definitions (Sec. 16-247), Prohibited Signs (Sec. 16-248), and Required Signs (Sec. 16-249); Residential District Permanent Signs (Sec. 16-251), Non-Residential District Permanent Signs (Sec. 16-252), Temporary Signs (Sec. 16-253) are provided in a tabular data format; Supplemental Regulations are included for miscellaneous signage (Sec. 16-254), requirements for Landscaping of Ground Signs (Sec. 16-255), loss of legal status for Legal Nonconforming Signs (Sec. 16-256), Construction Specifications (Sec. 16-257), Improper Signs (Sec. 16-258) and their removal (Sec. 16-259), the Approval Process to obtain a permit for a sign (Sec. 16-261), procedures to request justifiable Waivers from the aforementioned restrictions (Sec. 16-262), and procedures for City Commission approval of Uniform Signage Plans (Sec. 16-264).

ARTICLE XV provides requirements for Communication Antennas and Towers, including Definitions (Sec. 16-266); where Building Mounted Antennas (Sec. 16-267) are permitted, minimum standards, and application procedures; where Communication Towers (Sec. 16-268) are permitted, minimum standards, application procedures, and prohibitions; and Abandonment procedures for antennas and communication towers.

ARTICLE XVI pertains to Enforcement and Penalties, and refers to Section 1-8 of the City Code.

ARTICLE XVII provides Definitions  (Sec. 16-277) of planning and zoning terms and phrases used in this code.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION please call (954) 746-3281 or send your question to AskZoning@sunrisefl.gov.