Zoning explained · Broward County

B-3 Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial Business District Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The B-3 Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial Business District is intended for heavy commercial business uses, wholesale, warehousing and storage operations. Located along major transportation arterials with convenient interstate access but limited local-street access, and around major transportation draws such as airports, ports and railways.

11 buildings zoned B-3155 permitted business types

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Education › Zoning & land use › Fort Lauderdale — B-3

Permitted uses

What you can operate in B-3, Fort Lauderdale

The businesses the B-3 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 B-3 here means specifically Fort Lauderdale's B-3 district.)

Allowed by right

Automotive Detailing and Alarm SystemsAutomotive Sales, Rental, new or used vehicles (Sec. 47-18.3)Automotive Parts & Supplies Store, incl. installation in enclosed buildings (wholesale permitted)Automotive Repair Shop, including major repair (Sec. 47-18.4)Automotive Service Station (Sec. 47-18.5)Car Wash, automatic (Sec. 47-18.7)Motorcycle/Moped Sale (wholesale permitted)Recreation Camper and Trailers Sales and Rental (Sec. 47-18.27)Taxi Lot/OperationsTire sales, including Retreading and Service (wholesale permitted)Marine Parts and Supplies StoreSailmakingWatercraft Repair, major repair (Sec. 47-18.37)Watercraft Sales and Rental (Sec. 47-18.36)Billiard ParlorBingo HallBowling AlleyIndoor Motion Picture TheaterPerforming Arts TheaterBakeryBar, Cocktail Lounge, NightclubCafeteriaCandy, NutsCatering OperationConvenience Kiosk (Sec. 47-18.43)Convenience Store (Sec. 47-18.43)Convenience Store, Multi-Purpose (Sec. 47-18.43)DelicatessenFood and Beverage, Drive-Thru and Carry-OutFruit and Produce StoreGrocery/Food StoreIce Cream/Yogurt StoreLiquor Store (Sec. 47-18.43)Meat and Poultry StorePackage Liquor Store (Sec. 47-18.43)RestaurantSeafood StoreSupermarketLight Manufacturing: Apparel, Textile, Canvas and related usesLight Manufacturing: Contractors YardsLight Manufacturing: Processing and Assembly of Previously Prepared MaterialsHotel (Sec. 47-18.16)Bus Terminal, Railroad StationHospitalCivic and Private Clubs FacilityGovernment AdministrationActive and Passive Park (Sec. 47-18.44)Public/Private RecreationPolice and Fire SubstationPost Office SubstationRailroad Freight and Passenger DepotAntiques StoreApparel/AccessoriesArts & Crafts SuppliesArt StudioBait and TackleBicyclesBooksCamera, Photographic SuppliesCard & StationeryCigars, TobaccoComputers/SoftwareConsignment, ThriftCosmetics, SundriesDepartment StoreFabric, Needlework, YarnFirearms StoreFloristFlooring StoreFurniture StoreGifts, Novelties, SouvenirsGlassware, China, PotteryHardwareHobby Items, Toys, GamesHoliday-Related Merchandise, Outdoor Sales (Sec. 47-18.15)Home Improvement CenterHousehold AppliancesJewelryLawn and Garden Supplies, FurnitureLinen, Bath, BeddingLuggage, Handbags, Leather GoodsLumber YardsMedical SuppliesMobile Vendor (Sec. 47-18.22)Music, Musical InstrumentsNewspapers, MagazinesNursery, Plants, FlowersOffice Supplies, Office EquipmentOptical StorePaint, WallpaperParty SupplyPawn ShopPet StorePharmacyShoe StoreSporting Goods StoreSwimming Pools, Hot Tubs & Spas, supplies and serviceTapes, Videos, Music CD'sAuction HouseCheck Cashing StoreChild Day Care Facilities, Corporate/Employee Sponsors (Sec. 47-18.8)Contractors yardsCopy CenterDry Cleaning, Laundering PlantEquipment RentalFilm Processing Plant, including wholesale salesFinancial Institution, including Drive-Thru BanksFortunetellers and Psychic ReadersFuneral HomeHealth and Fitness CenterInstruction: Fine Arts, Sports, Recreation, Dance, Music, TheaterInterior DecoratorMail, Postage, Fax ServiceMassage TherapistMedical ClinicMedical, Dental OfficeMover, Moving Van ServiceParking Facility (Sec. 47-20)Pest ControlPet Boarding Facility, Domestic Animals OnlyPersonnel Services, including Labor PoolsProfessional OfficePhotographic StudioPublishing PlantSecurity SystemsShoe RepairSwimming PoolsTailor, Dressmaking StoreTanning SalonTattoo ArtistTaxidermistTrade/Business SchoolTravel AgencyVeterinary Clinic (Sec. 47-18.35)Watch and Jewelry RepairSelf Storage Facility (Sec. 47-18.29)Warehouse FacilityUrban Agriculture (Sec. 47-18.41)

With special approval

Car Wash, Outdoor Hand-washCommunication Towers, Structures, Station (Sec. 47-18.11)Charter and Sightseeing Boat (Sec. 47-23.8)Hotel Marina (Sec. 47-23.8)Marina (Sec. 47-23.8)Marine Service Station (Sec. 47-18.20)Shipyard (Sec. 47-23.8)Watercraft Sales, Rental, new or used (Sec. 47-18.36)Indoor Firearms Range (Sec. 47-18.18)Social Service Facility (Sec. 47-18.31)Addiction Treatment Center (Sec. 47-18.31)Social Service Facility-General (Sec. 47-18.31)Radio Broadcast Facility, Radio/Television and Motion Picture ProductionPain Management ClinicAdult Gaming Center (Sec. 47-18.42)Child Day Care Facilities, Large (Sec. 47-18.8)Medical Cannabis Dispensing Facilities (Sec. 47-18.46)

Build envelope

Development standards

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

REQUIRED USEproperty fronting a navigable waterway must be used for marina, hotel marina, or shipyard use (Sec. 47-23.8)

StandardSeveral automotive/retail uses annotated 'wholesale sales permitted'

Dimensional (Sec. 47-6.20)max height 150 ft (120 ft east of the Intracoastal); no min lot size/width; no max FAR; front/corner yard 5 ft

StandardSide yard 20 ft and rear yard 25 ft when contiguous to residential; otherwise none, except structure portions over 100 ft set back +1 ft per 1 ft of height over 100 ft

Accessory usesAccessory uses to Hotels (Sec. 47-19.8); Catering Services; Child Day Care Facility, Corporate/Employee Sponsor, when accessory to a Professional Office (Sec. 47-18.8); Film Processing, when accessory to a permitted use; Outdoor Dining and Sidewalk Cafe (Sec. 47-19.9); Outdoor storage (Sec. 47-19.9); Video Games Arcade, when accessory to a shopping center; Warehouse Facilities; Outdoor Television and Motion Picture Production when ancillary to production

StandardRead from ULDR Sec. 47-6.13 (list of permitted and conditional uses); intent Sec. 47-6.2.D; dimensional Sec. 47-6.20; permitted = by right, conditional = needs conditional-use/special approval

StandardBroward County district — confirm the parcel is inside City of Fort Lauderdale limits

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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