Land Development Code

On April 21, 2021, the City Commission adopted the proposed ordinance 2021-02 (Ord.1963) which established the land development code (LDC) and zoning map for the City of Pembroke Pines. The new land development code and zoning map went into effect on April 26, 2021.  The LDC was amended on June 15, 2022, via ordinance 1989.  Currently, American Legal Publishing is in the process of updating the code sections online, but they are available for download as a PDF below: 

City of Pembroke Pines Land Development Code (6/15/2022)

City of Pembroke Pines Zoning Map (6/15/2022) 

Land Development Code Organization

The updated land development code consolidated zoning districts within the code from 40 to 29 districts by combining similar districts and removing districts. Most of the zoning districts were renamed to reflect their purpose. The new land development code also combines multiple sections of the code of ordinances pertaining to development matters into Chapter 155. Specifically, Chapters 37 (Quasi-Judicial Proceedings), 116 (Lighting Standards), 153 (Landscaping), 155 (Zoning Code), 159 (Green Building Certification Requirements) were repealed and then consolidated into the new Land Development Code.  Additional sections were also consolidated into Chapter 155. The land development code is now composed of six (6) articles:

  • Article 1: Purpose
  • Article 2: Definitions
  • Article 3: Administration
  • Article 4: Zoning Districts
  • Article 5: Use Regulations
  • Article 6: Development Standards

Land Development Code Updated Process and History

The City of Pembroke Pines Zoning Code was originally adopted in 1969. Many sections have been amended over the years –in some cases, multiple times. Since amendments have been done piecemeal, it has resulted in a Code that is sometimes internally inconsistent, difficult to navigate, and overly complex. There are parts of the Code that may also lack consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and other relevant City and State documents.

It is important that the Code remain up to date so as to reflect the most current vision of the City, and to ensure the standards contained therein are relevant and produce the desired character within the built environment. For this reason, the City hired Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CGA) to perform a major “housecleaning,” mainly targeted at updating, reorganizing, and simplifying the Code to make it more user-friendly. This effort involved providing clarification of existing language, removing conflicts between different sections, consolidating duplicate sections, adding tables/graphics, and introducing more current planning principles reflective of best zoning practices. The updated land development code is intended to be intuitive and organized, making the user experience easier for all stakeholders. 

The Zoning Code update process included collecting direct input from various community stakeholders and “Power Code Users” about issues and concerns related to the Code. On August 28, 2019, at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, the City hosted an open house-style meeting to solicit ideas from the community about improvements they would like to see introduced in the Code. After the open house, the City held stakeholder meetings, workshops, and staff working group meetings open to the public to gather input on proposed changes to the Code. On November 25, 2020, the City opened a public comment period on the proposed Land Development Code. The public comment period ended on February 2, 2021. 

The City's Planning and Zoning Board made a recommendation to adopt the new land development code to the City Commission on November 12, 2020. The City Commission adopted the new land development code on  April 26, 2021, via the proposed ordinance 2021-02 (Ord 1963). The LDC was updated on June 15, 2022 (Ord 1989).