Zoning explained · Broward County

Middle River (MR) sub-area of the Oakland Park Downtown Development District (OP3D) Oakland Park, Florida

Mixed-use neighborhood sub-area of the OP3D, envisioned to combine commercial, retail and residential uses oriented toward the Middle River with buildings fronting bike/ped trails. Located south of Oakland Park Boulevard, east of NE 6th Avenue and west of N. Dixie Highway. Uses are governed by the OP3D Use List (Sec.

1 building zoned MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT68 permitted business types
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Insights › Zoning & land use › Oakland Park — MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT
Permitted uses

What you can operate in MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT, Oakland Park

The businesses the MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT district in Oakland Park 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 MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT here means specifically Oakland Park's MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT district.)

Allowed by right
Art galleriesArtists' studios, photography studios [supp. reg. 1]Athletic club, health clubs, gymnasiums, indoor sports games and/or athletics, personal training, fitness studio - Up to 5,000 square feet on ground floor with additional floor area permitted only on upper floorsAuction houses (antiques only)Beauty salon/barberBeverage manufacturing, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, with restaurant (incl. brew pub) [supp. reg. 18]Book or magazine publishers [supp. reg. 1]Bowling alleysCanoe and kayak, or similar, sales/rental and/or boat docksCity of Oakland Park municipal facilitiesClothing alterations/shoe repair [supp. reg. 1]Colleges and universities [supp. reg. 1]Community residences (up to ten residents) [supp. reg. 1,20]Community gardenConsignment shopDance or music schools [supp. reg. 1,2]Dry cleaner retail [supp. reg. 3]Dwelling units in duplex, triplex, multi-family, or mixed-use building, [supp. reg. 1]Dwelling units in townhome configuration [supp. reg. 1]Education tutoring centers for school-age children [supp. reg. 1]Farmers markets IndoorFarmers markets outdoor subject to site plan review by the development review committee and only permitted for a total of 8 hours per week at its location.Federal, state, or county customer service facilities [supp. reg. 1]Food caterers and commercial kitchens providing food for delivery to consumers or to other restaurantsGarden supplies [supp. reg. 5]Home occupations in accordance with section 24-75 [supp. reg. 1]Indoor entertainment centers including arcade games, indoor mini golf, group team building activities, computer games, escape rooms, and/or billiards - Less than 5,000 square feet of floor area [supp. reg. 1]Kitchen incubator [supp. reg. 1]Laboratories, medical, dental, diagnostic, educational [supp. reg. 1]Laboratories, research, development, scientific [supp. reg. 1]LibrariesLive-work units (residential portion must comply with supplemental regulations to master business list item #1)Massage and health spa, state licensed [supp. reg. 15]Medical offices including physical therapy, dental, and other healthcare not otherwise listed [supp. reg. 1]MuseumNail groomingOffice - Professional [supp. reg. 1]Parks and public squares or plazasPrinting, copying, office support, mailing, shipping and packaging - 2,000 square feet or lessRadio, television, recording, or music practice studios, soundproofed with DRC review to determine adequacy of controls to reduce nuisance [supp. reg. 1]Real estate sales officeRecovery communities [supp. reg. 1,21]Restaurant - Food halls, subject to site plan review by DRC [supp. reg. 12]Restaurant and Restaurant Bar [supp. reg. 12]Retail sales - Stores up to 5,000 square feet on ground floor with additional floor area permitted only on upper floorsSchools, hobby or personal interest training such as culinary, art, computer coding, acting, martial arts, wellness, hobbies, or other life enrichment, non-trade skill [supp. reg. 1]Senior living/Assisted living [supp. reg. 1]Shopping centers, neighborhood under five (5) acresSign makingSkating rink [supp. reg. 1]Train Station
With special approval
Air mobility station including veriports or drone portsAthletic club, health clubs, gymnasiums, indoor sports games and/or athletics, personal training, fitness studio - Stores 5,000 square feet or larger on ground floorBanquet facilities (assembly hall) [supp. reg. 1]Bar or nightclub [supp. reg. 18]Beverage manufacturing, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, with tasting room or bar [supp. reg. 18]Cigar/Hookah bar [supp. reg. 18]Community center [supp. reg. 1]Day nurseries, childcare centers, adult day care [supp. reg. 1]Fish marketHotelsMeat marketParking garages for general public use (paid or unpaid) or as accessory to a use [supp. reg. 1]Pharmacies [supp. reg. 14]Places of Worship [supp. reg. 1]Retail sales - stores 5,000 square feet or larger on ground floorSchools, public or non-profit private trade, vocational [supp. reg. 1]Theater and motion picture houses, maximum of 5,000 square feet on the ground floor. [supp. reg. 1,2]
Build envelope

Development standards

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

StandardMax height 3 stories (45 ft); more stories (up to 5 or 7 per the MR height-code map) only through the Bonus Provision Program
StandardFAR 1.5 base (3 stories or 4 with BPP); 1.75 with 5 stories; 2.25 with 7 stories
StandardDensity 65 du/ac for lots over 13,000 SF; 55 du/ac for 13,000 SF or less; min 600 net SF per residential unit
SetbacksPrimary Boulevard 5 ft behind the Trafficways Plan right-of-way line; Primary Pedestrian A 2 ft behind; Secondary and Tertiary 10 ft; side interior 0 ft; rear 5 ft; Middle River frontage 37 ft from mean high-water line/seawall; 25 ft stepback above 5 stories fronting the river
Min open space 10% (lot 13,000 SF or less) / 20% (larger); parcels over 35,000 SF20% ground floor plus 5% roof terraces/gardens
StandardOutdoor business activity/sales prohibited unless a listed use entails it
Accessory usesArtists' studios, photography studios [supp. reg. 1]; Bank - Lobby, teller counter only as accessory to a restaurant; Bank - ATM only, shall be built into a building wall of outdoors or in a vestibule; Clothing alterations/shoe repair [supp. reg. 1]; Electric vehicle charging stations [supp. reg. 6]; Engravers; Food production & confectionery manufacture; Furniture and cabinet manufacturing, repair, and refinishing [supp. reg. 2,1]; Indoor entertainment centers including arcade games, indoor mini golf, group team building activities, computer games, escape rooms, and/or billiards - Less than 5,000 square feet of floor area [supp. reg. 1]; Kitchen incubator [supp. reg. 1]; Meat market; Parking garages for general public use (paid or unpaid) or as accessory to a use [supp. reg. 1]; Restaurants - food truck, food cart or sales of food/beverage from a wheeled vehicle (only accessory to a restaurant, brewpub, tasting room or bar/nightclub with a permanent location on the same property; DRC site plan approval required) [supp. reg. 12]; Vending - Indoor machines
Read from Oakland Park LDC Ch. 24 Art. XXSec. 24-264(E) (MR sub-area, Table 24-264-4); Sec. 24-266 (OP3D Use List, Middle River District column and supplemental regulations); 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.

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Spaces zoned MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT in Oakland Park

1 space available in this district, largest first. Click any space to view it.

Looking for space zoned MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT in Oakland Park?

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