C-2 · Orange Co., FL Code updated Jun 2025 GC · Maricopa, AZ Corridor expansion approved HC · Harris Co., TX Drive-thru stacking updated CB · Mecklenburg, NC FAR bonus program extended B-3 · Cook Co., IL CUP process streamlined BU-2 · Miami-Dade, FL Height limits amended C-2 · Fulton Co., GA Drive-thru by-right confirmed CS · Travis Co., TX New transit overlay effective CB · King Co., WA SEPA threshold raised M-1 · Duval Co., FL FAR increased to 0.50 MUDD · Charlotte, NC South End overlay expanded CG · Hillsborough, FL New drive-thru stacking rules C-2 · Orange Co., FL Code updated Jun 2025 GC · Maricopa, AZ Corridor expansion approved HC · Harris Co., TX Drive-thru stacking updated CB · Mecklenburg, NC FAR bonus program extended B-3 · Cook Co., IL CUP process streamlined BU-2 · Miami-Dade, FL Height limits amended C-2 · Fulton Co., GA Drive-thru by-right confirmed CS · Travis Co., TX New transit overlay effective CB · King Co., WA SEPA threshold raised M-1 · Duval Co., FL FAR increased to 0.50 MUDD · Charlotte, NC South End overlay expanded CG · Hillsborough, FL New drive-thru stacking rules
Active Zone · Miami-Dade County Primary · Miami-Dade County, FL  Verified

BU-2 Community Business District
Miami-Dade County Primary, Florida

Community-scale commercial serving larger trade areas. Miami-Dade's most common commercial zone along Flagler St, US-1, and Biscayne Blvd. Drive-thru permitted with conditions.

Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County Primary · county
Miami-Dade Zoning Code §33-267
Updated: 2025-05-15 14.8K Parcels

Jurisdiction Context

Miami-Dade County Primary county county_primary

This zone is currently grouped under Miami-Dade County Primary inside Miami-Dade County. In counties with city-level zoning authorities, standards can vary across jurisdictions even when zone labels look similar.

Max Height
55
Feet · ~5 stories
Max FAR
1.25
Floor Area Ratio
1.75 w/ bonus
Min. Lot Size
10K
sq ft · 0.23 ac
75 ft frontage
Max Lot Coverage
85%
of gross lot area
Impervious surface cap

Comparative Market Context

Density vs. County Average

At FAR 1.25, this zone allows 39% more floor area ratio than the Miami-Dade County commercial zone average of 0.9 — allowing developers to generate more gross floor area per land dollar.

Lot Coverage vs. Average

This zone allows 52% more lot coverage than the Miami-Dade County commercial zone average (56%), reflecting a meaningful advantage for parking-intensive uses like QSR, gas stations, and drive-thru retail.

Height Profile

The 55-foot height allowance is 15 ft shorter than the Miami-Dade County average across all p5_zones (70 ft), a height profile suited to single-story and low-rise commercial typologies prevalent in this submarket.

County Portfolio Position

There are 32 total zoning designations in Miami-Dade County, of which 6 are commercial. BU-2 is among the most flexible for commercial uses. This zone accounts for approximately 28.9% of all commercially zoned parcels in the county.

Development Standards

RequirementStandardNotes / ConditionsCode Ref.
Front Setback
From ROW
5 ft §33-267
Rear Setback
Interior lot
15 ft §33-267
Side Setback
Interior / Corner
0 / 5 ft Zero interior common; corner varies §33-267
Building Height
Max by-right
55 ft §33-267
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
1.25 Bonus FAR 1.75 available §33-267
Impervious Surface
Max lot coverage
85% Stormwater retention required for remainder §33-267
Min. Lot Size
10,000 sf 75 ft min. frontage §33-267
Parking: Retail
Per 1,000 sf GLA
5.0 spaces Shared parking may reduce; ADA per IBC §33-267

Permitted Uses

The BU-2 zone's permitted use schedule for Miami-Dade County, FL is currently being verified from source documents.

By-Right — no special permit needed Conditional (CUP / BZA required) Prohibited in this zone

No byright uses recorded for this zone yet.

No conditional uses recorded for this zone yet.

No prohibited uses recorded for this zone yet.

Zoning Map — BU-2 in Miami-Dade County

ℹ️ BU-2 Corridors in Miami-Dade County

Connect a GIS data source (Regrid, Esri, or county open data portal) to render live parcel-level zoning maps. ByRightHQ Pro subscribers get embedded map tiles for all 14.8K BU-2 parcels in Miami-Dade County. Average asking price for BU-2 land: $62.00/sf.

National Benchmarks

BU-2 in Miami-Dade County compared to equivalent commercial zones nationally (n = 2,841 zones across 50 states).

Max FAR
Miami-Dade County: 1.25 Nat. avg: 0.45
0.101.0+
Max Building Height (ft)
Miami-Dade County: 55 Nat. avg: 48
25 ft100+ ft
By-Right Uses (count)
Miami-Dade County: 0 Nat. avg: 19
535+
Avg. Permit Timeline (days)
Miami-Dade County: 90 Nat. avg: 110
30d180+ d

🔒 Pro: Full national benchmarking dashboard — 14 metrics, parcel search, PDF export

Development Yield Calculator

Instant Build Potential for BU-2
Enter your lot size — see maximum buildable area in real time
BU-2 Miami-Dade County
sq ft
Max Buildable GFA
Enter lot size above
Max Footprint
Coverage limit
Est. Stories
@ 12 ft/floor
Bonus FAR GFA
With incentives
Est. Parking Req.
@ 5.0/1K sf retail

Free Calculators for This Zone

Entitlement Process — Miami-Dade County

01
Pre-Application Meeting (PAM)
Free consultation with Miami-Dade County Development Review Division. Bring a conceptual site plan. Typically 2–4 week wait. Identify overlay districts, activity center requirements, and environmental constraints early.
2–4 weeks
02
DRC / Site Plan Submission
Submit to Development Review Committee. Requires engineered site plan, landscape plan, stormwater analysis (per local SJRWMD/TCEQ/CDOT requirements), and traffic study if >100 PM peak-hour trips.
30–90 days
03
Building Permit
Submit to Miami-Dade County Building Division. Fire, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical sub-permits included. Expedited commercial review available in most Florida, Texas, and Arizona p5_counties.
4–12 weeks
04
Certificate of Occupancy
Final inspections: Building, Fire Marshal, Health (food service), Zoning. Business Tax Receipt or Business License required from local authority prior to opening.
Final Step

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BU-2 zoning in Miami-Dade County, FL?
Community-scale commercial serving larger trade areas. Miami-Dade's most common commercial zone along Flagler St, US-1, and Biscayne Blvd. Drive-thru permitted with conditions.
What is the maximum building height for BU-2 in Miami-Dade County?
The maximum building height in BU-2 zoning in Miami-Dade County is 55 feet by right.
Can you build a drive-thru in BU-2 zoning in Miami-Dade County?
Drive-thru permissibility depends on the specific use type. Verify with Miami-Dade County Planning & Zoning.
What is the minimum lot size for BU-2 zoning in Miami-Dade County?
The minimum lot size for BU-2 zoning in Miami-Dade County is 10,000 square feet (0.23 acres). Minimum street frontage is 75 feet.
⚠ This information is sourced from publicly available zoning codes and is for informational reference only. Always verify current regulations directly with Miami-Dade County Primary Planning & Zoning before making investment or development decisions. Last verified: 2025-05-15. Contact: 305-375-2800.