The city ended a temporary moratorium on new nightclubs, replacing it with a rule limiting them to roughly one per every city block.
The Orlando City Council voted to end a ban on new nightclubs in downtown. Now, clubs will have to be located 300 feet — roughly one block — apart. Officials say this is designed to promote a diversity of businesses and a mix of retail, restaurants, and other services. “Existing nightclubs that don’t conform to this distance limit would be grandfathered in under the proposal, although they could be prevented from expanding under these rules.”
As Michelle Meredith explains in an article for WESH Orlando, the ban was instated last year after several deadly shooting incidents prompted city officials to articulate a vision for the district’s future. “The new rule aims to create a more diverse and balanced downtown area, ensuring that nightlife does not overshadow other types of businesses.” The decision reflects a shift toward a long-term strategy that encourages more types of retail and services to draw a wider diversity of tourists and locals.
FULL STORY: Orlando City Council lifts ban on new downtown nightclubs
New York Puts on its Dancing Shoes After Repeal of the 1927 Cabaret Law
For 91 years, dancing was practically illegal in New York City. The city is getting footloose, after the City Council repealed the 1927 Cabaret Law intended to control speakeasies.
Night Mayors Come to America
The Night Mayor, a position first created in Amsterdam, has been taken up by cities around the world, first in Europe and now in more and more American cities.
The 'Night Mayor' Phenomenon Spreads
Managing cities' sometimes-turbulent relationship with their nightlife, "night mayors" help cities capitalize on an industry that has become a marker of urban prestige.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research