Understanding R-CE Zoning in Orange County, FL

What is R-CE Zoning?

R-CE stands for Residential Country Estate. It is Orange County's zoning designation for large-lot residential land with a rural character.

Think of it this way: R-CE is the zoning that lets you live on acreage inside the metro. You get the space and privacy of a rural property, but you are still 10 to 20 minutes from grocery stores, hospitals, and highways.

The key details:

• Minimum lot size: Typically 2 acres (varies by sub-district)
• Allows: Single-family homes, accessory structures, horses, and agricultural uses
• Character: Low density, no sidewalks, tree canopy, large setbacks

R-CE zoning exists because Orange County recognized that some areas should stay rural even as the metro grows. It protects these parcels from being chopped into quarter-acre subdivision lots.

What Can You Do on R-CE Land?

R-CE zoning is one of the most flexible residential categories in Orange County. Here is what is allowed:

• Build a custom single-family home. No cookie-cutter plans. You design what you want within the setback and height requirements.
• Keep horses. Orange County allows equestrian use on R-CE land. There are specific rules about setbacks from property lines and minimum acreage, but if you have 2+ acres, you can likely keep horses.
• Agricultural activities. Gardens, fruit trees, small-scale farming, and bee-keeping are all permitted.
• Accessory buildings. Barns, workshops, detached garages, storage buildings. These need to meet setback requirements but are generally allowed.
• Guest houses. With conditions. Orange County allows accessory dwelling units on R-CE land, but there are size limits and permitting requirements.

Here is what you cannot do:

• Subdivide below the minimum lot size
• Operate a commercial business (retail, office, etc.)
• Build multi-family housing (duplexes, apartments)
• Run a commercial kennel or boarding operation

R-CE vs. Other Residential Zoning

Not all residential zoning is the same. Here is how R-CE compares to the other main categories in Orange County:

Zoning	Min Lot Size	Horses Allowed	Character
R-CE	2+ acres	Yes	Rural, country estate
R-1	7,500--10,000 sq ft	No	Suburban, single-family
R-2	Smaller lots	No	Duplex allowed
R-3	Varies	No	Multi-family, apartments

The difference is dramatic. An R-1 lot might be a quarter acre in a subdivision with an HOA. An R-CE parcel is 2+ acres with no HOA, mature trees, and room for horses. Same county, completely different lifestyle.

Where to Find R-CE Zoned Land in Orlando

R-CE land is concentrated in a few pockets across Orange County. Here is where to look:

• East Orlando -- the Rouse Road corridor and Lake Pickett Road area. This is the most accessible R-CE pocket in the metro. You are minutes from Waterford Lakes Town Center and UCF, but the lots are 1.5 to 5+ acres with tree canopy and space.
• Parts of Apopka -- especially near the Wekiva Springs and Rock Springs areas. R-CE and agricultural zoning are common here, with larger parcels in the $300K--$800K range.
• Christmas and far East Orange County -- the most rural R-CE land in the county. Large parcels, low prices, but you are 30+ minutes from the urban core.

Things to Verify Before Buying R-CE Land

R-CE zoning is a great starting point, but do not assume anything. Verify these items before you make an offer:

• Confirm current zoning with the Orange County Property Appraiser. Zoning can change. The listing might say R-CE, but always verify directly with the county.
• Check for deed restrictions. Some R-CE land has private covenants layered on top of county zoning. These can limit building materials, fence heights, outbuilding sizes, and more. Deed restrictions survive even if zoning changes.
• Verify utility access. Does the parcel have public water and sewer at the road, or will you need a well and septic? This is a $15K--$30K difference in development costs.
• Check wetland delineation. Florida is flat and wet. Many R-CE parcels have wetland areas that reduce your buildable footprint. Get a delineation before closing if one has not been done.
• Review setback requirements. R-CE setbacks are larger than standard residential. Your home might need to be 50+ feet from the property line, which affects where you can place the house on the lot.
• Understand impact fees. Orange County charges $15,000--$25,000 in impact fees before you can pull a building permit. This is on top of the land price and construction costs.

Why R-CE Land is Getting Harder to Find

Here is the reality: R-CE land in Orange County is disappearing.

Development pressure is converting R-CE parcels to higher-density zoning year after year. Builders and developers petition Orange County to rezone these parcels for subdivisions, townhomes, and commercial use. When the county approves a rezone, the R-CE designation is gone. It rarely comes back.

The Rouse Road corridor in East Orlando is one of the last R-CE pockets that is still close to urban amenities. Subdivisions are pressing in from every direction. The parcels that are available now will likely be the last R-CE opportunities in this part of the metro.

Further out in Christmas and rural East Orange County, R-CE land is still relatively available. But even there, the trend line is clear. As the metro expands east, these parcels will face the same development pressure.

If R-CE zoning is important to you, the time to buy is before the rezoning applications start showing up on the county agenda.

Browse R-CE listings on OrlandoAcreage.com to see what is currently available.