Zoning explained · Broward County

Residential Low Rise Multifamily/Medium Density District Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Low-rise multifamily district (15 du/net acre, 35 ft) allowing single-family, attached, townhouse and multifamily dwellings, parks, small community residences and family day care as of right. B&Bs, mixed-use development, houses of worship, schools and larger community residences are conditional uses.

4 buildings zoned RM-1521 permitted business types

Talk to our team

Insights › Zoning & land use › Fort Lauderdale — RM-15

Permitted uses

What you can operate in RM-15, Fort Lauderdale

The businesses the RM-15 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 RM-15 here means specifically Fort Lauderdale's RM-15 district.)

Allowed by right

Single Family DwellingSingle Family Dwelling, Attached: Cluster (Sec. 47-18.9)Single Family Dwelling: Zero-lot-line (Sec. 47-18.38)Single Family Dwelling, Attached: Duplex/Two Family Dwelling (Sec. 47-18.45)Single Family Dwelling, Attached: Townhouses (Sec. 47-18.33)Multifamily Dwelling: Coach Home (Sec. 47-18.10)Multifamily UseCommunity Residence, 3 residents maximum (Sec. 47-18.47)Community Residence 4 to 10 residents; 1,000' distance separation (Sec. 47-18.47)Multifamily Dwelling (item 1.j)Active and Passive Park (Sec. 47-18.44)Social Service Residential Facility, Level I (Sec. 47-18.32)Family Day Care Home (Sec. 47-18.8)Urban Agriculture / urban farms and community gardens (Sec. 47-18.41; allowed only where the 47-18.41 zoning/land-use-designation conditions are met)

With special approval

Community Residence 4 to 10 residents, less than 1,000' distance separation (Sec. 47-18.47)Community Residence, more than 10 residents / Community Residence, no license or certification available (Sec. 47-18.47)Bed and Breakfast Dwelling (Sec. 47-18.6)Mixed Use Development (Sec. 47-18.21)House of Worship (Sec. 47-18.17)SchoolSocial Service Residential Facility, Level II (Sec. 47-18.32)

Build envelope

Development standards

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

StandardMax density 15 du/net acre; B&B 30 sleeping rooms/net acre (max 9 per dwelling)

StandardMax height 35 ft (all uses)

StandardMin lot size 5,000 sf single-family; 7,500 sf multifamily/townhouse; 10,000 sf other uses; min width 50 ft (100 ft other uses)

StandardMin front yard 25 ft; max structure length 200 ft for multifamily/other (Note B)

Accessory usesAccessory uses, buildings and structures per Sec. 47-19

StandardRead from Sec. 47-5.16 (use list); Sec. 47-5.34 (dimensions); 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.

Available now