Zoning explained · Broward County

A-1-A Beachfront Area District (Central Beach) Fort Lauderdale, Florida

ABA promotes high quality destination resort uses along A-1-A on Fort Lauderdale beach. Hotels, restaurants, bars/lounges, and tourist-oriented retail and service uses are permitted; many neighborhood retail/service uses (marked *P) are permitted as primary uses only in the North Beach Area portion of ABA.

1 building zoned ABA57 permitted business types
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Insights › Zoning & land use › Fort Lauderdale — ABA
Permitted uses

What you can operate in ABA, Fort Lauderdale

The businesses the ABA district in Fort Lauderdale allows. The ones on the left are permitted by right; the ones on the right need a special approval first. (Zoning codes are set by each municipality, so ABA here means specifically Fort Lauderdale's ABA district.)

Allowed by right
Indoor Motion Picture Theater, less than Five Screens (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Performing Arts Theater, less than 300 Seats (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Active and Passive ParkBakery Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Bar, Cocktail Lounge (See Section 47-12.4.B.1.j)Candy, Nuts Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Coffee ShopDelicatessenFood and Beverage Carry-Out, No Drive-Thru (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Fruit and Produce Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Seafood Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Grocery/Food Store, less than 5,000 square feet (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Ice Cream/Yogurt StoreMeat and Poultry Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)RestaurantAntiques Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Apparel/Clothing, Accessories StoreArts & Crafts Supplies Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Art Gallery, Art StudioBicycle Shop (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Book StoreCamera, Photographic Supplies Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Card & Stationery Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Cigar, Tobacco Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Computer/Software Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Cosmetic, Sundries Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Florist ShopFurniture Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Glassware, China, Pottery Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Holiday Merchandise, see 47-18.15 (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Jewelry Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Linen, Bath, Bedding Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Luggage, Handbags, Leather Goods Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Music, Musical Instruments Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Newspapers, Magazines Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Office Supplies, Equipment Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Optical Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Party Supply Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Pet Store/Pet Grooming, see 47-18.25 (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Shoe Store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Financial Institution, No Drive-Thru Banks (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Hair Salon (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Health and Fitness Center / Spa (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Instruction: Fine Arts, Sports and Recreation, Dance, Music, Theater (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Interior Decorator (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Mail, Postage, Fax Service (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Nail Salon (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Photographic Studio (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Professional Office (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Travel Agency (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA)Mixed Use Development Section 47-18.21, Mixed Development shall not applyCommercial retail uses offering services or goods for sale to tourists and visitors such as gifts and souvenirsHotels and suite hotelsParking Lots, permanent or temporaryUrban farms and community gardens See Section 47-18.41Residential uses (subject to Sec. 47-12.5 ABA Residential requirements)
With special approval
Other tourist commodities and other uses catering to tourists as approved by the Planning and Zoning Board
Build envelope

Development standards

Headline dimensional limits for this district. Confirm exact figures against the current code for your specific parcel.

Max densitysee Sec. 47-12.5.A (residential)
StandardMax FAR 4 (see Sec. 47-12.5.B; bonuses available)
StandardMax height 200 ft (see Sec. 47-12.5.B; shadow restrictions)
StandardFront/corner/rear yards 20 ft; side yard 20 ft
StandardPodium height 65 ft; tower stepback 15 ft; floorplate above 65 ft 16,000 sf
Accessory usesAccessory buildings and structures; improvements outside of the principal structure including but not limited to fences, walls, landscaping, parking, signs and nonstructural alterations to the exterior of structures located on a parcel; and expansion or change of a permitted use within an existing structure; Automobile rental limited to twelve (12) cars per development site as an accessory to a hotel or marina in an enclosed structure only; Catering Services; Grocery store (primary use only in North Beach Area portion of ABA); Outdoor Dining and Sidewalk Cafes; Uses specially listed in or deemed substantially similar pursuant Section 47-1.14.A of the ULDR to uses list in this Table under the subheadings "Food and Beverage Sales and Service", "Retail Sales" and "Service/Office Facilities" as an accessory to nonresidential development; Outdoor dining and sidewalk cafes (Sec. 47-19.9)
StandardRead from Sec. 47-12.2, 47-12.4 (uses), 47-12.4.1 (dimensional), 47-12.5; permitted = by right, conditional = needs conditional-use / special-exception approval
The fine print

In plain English

BY RIGHT No hearing needed

If your business is on the by-right list, you can occupy a space in this district and open — no zoning hearing. Building permits and licensing still apply, but the use itself is already allowed.

SPECIAL Approval first

Special-approval uses can work here too, but they go through a public review before opening. Plan for extra time and possible conditions — we'll tell you which path a space needs.

Looking for space zoned ABA in Fort Lauderdale?

Tell us what you'll run in it — we'll match you to the right building in Fort Lauderdale and flag anything that needs approval.

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Based on the Fort Lauderdale zoning code.
Educational content — not legal or zoning advice. Verify permitted uses with the municipality for your specific parcel.