PLANNING

Mobile Home Process & Requirements

The Seminole County Board of Adjustment (BOA) is a group consisting of five (5) regular members and two (2) alternate members, all of which are appointed by the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). It is empowered to hear and decide matters related to the following types of applications:

MOBILE HOME SPECIAL EXCEPTION - In A-1, A-3, A-5 and A-10 Districts, (AGRICULTURE) District the Board of Adjustment may approve the temporary occupancy of a mobile home or recreational vehicle while a house is under construction or the placement of a mobile home on a temporary or permanent basis in A-1, only after they consider the compatibility with surrounding land uses and determined that the proposed mobile home complies with the following criteria per Land Development Code SCLDC Chapter 30, 30.123.

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SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A MOBILE HOME SPECIAL EXCEPTION

1. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: 

The Application for Mobile Home Special Exception can be obtained online.

Mobile Home Application (PDF)
Owners Authorization Form - Board of Adjustment (PDF)

Applications are also available from the Planning Division located at:
County Services Building
Room 2201
1101 East First Street
Sanford, FL  32771
(407) 665-7444

2. APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Applicant submits a complete application for variance prior to application deadline. 
Please review the calendar listing below for deadline schedule.

MEETING	APPLICATION DEADLINE
JANUARY 26, 2009	DECEMBER 5, 2008
FEBRUARY 23, 2009	JANUARY 9, 2009
MARCH 23, 2009	FEBRUARY 6, 2009
APRIL 27, 2009	MARCH 6, 2009
MAY 18, 2009	MARCH 27, 2009
JUNE 22, 2009	MAY 1, 2009
JULY 27, 2009	JUNE 5, 2009
AUGUST 24, 2009	JULY 10, 2009
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009	AUGUST 7, 2009
OCTOBER 26, 2009	SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
DECEMBER 7, 2009	OCTOBER 9, 2009
JANUARY 25, 2010	DECEMBER 4, 2009

ALL SUBMITTALS MUST BE RECEIVED, ALONG WITH APPROPRIATE FEES, BY 5:00 PM ON THE DEADLINE DATES.

3. PROCESS:

• After receipt of a complete application, your Mobile Home Special Exception request will be scheduled for the next available Board of Adjustment meeting. 
• If an application is found to be incomplete, staff will contact the applicant and request revisions or additional information.  Staff may also invite the applicant to a pre-application conference with a planner.  Please note that an incomplete application may cause your request to be scheduled for the following hearing.

APPLICANTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO MEET WITH A PLANNER, PRIOR TO THE SUBMITTAL OF ANY APPLICATION TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

4. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION:

Planning Division will provide public notice to affected homeowners.

• No less than ten (10) days before the Board of Adjustment meeting, the Planning Division staff will mail a letter of notification to abutting owners.
• The Planning Division staff will also prepare an 11” x 17” public notice placard for posting on the subject property.  The applicant must post their property at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the Board of Adjustment meeting.
• The applicant will pick up and post the placard in a conspicuous location on the property where it shall remain until final action has occurred on the request.  Maintenance of the placard shall be the responsibility of the applicant.  THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING IS MANDATORY; THE PROPERTY MUST BE POSTED.  Failure to comply may result in a minimum delay of thirty (30) days with additional costs for advertising.
• The applicant must return a notarized affidavit certifying the posting of the placard.  This must be submitted to the Planning Division prior to the Board of Adjustment meeting.
• The Planning Division staff also prepares a legal advertisement for publication in the Orlando Sentinel which is published at least ten (10) days in advance of the Board of Adjustment meeting.

THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CANNOT CONSIDER AN APPLICATION UNLESS ALL PUBLIC NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

5. RECOMMENDATION:

Staff will prepare a written staff report and recommendation.

• The Planning Division staff prepares a written staff report for consideration by the Board of Adjustment.  The report presents factual information concerning the applicant’s request based on existing circumstances, consistency with the comprehensive plan and land development code: future & existing land use, zoning, traffic & environmental impacts, public services availability, etc.
• The meeting agenda along with the staff report is available online approximately one week before the Board of Adjustment meeting.  A Copy will also be sent to the applicant

6.  BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT REGULAR MEETING:

The Board of Adjustment will conduct a public hearing.

• The Board of Adjustment meets on the fourth Monday of each month except in May and December, where the regular meetings occur on the third Monday.  The Board meets in the Board Chambers (Room 1028) at 6:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on the first floor of the Seminole County Services Building, located at 1101 East First Street in downtown Sanford, FL.
• An authorized representative or the applicant must appear at the public hearing in order to present the application.  The representative should be familiar with the request and be able to make statements and commitments on behalf of the applicant.
• Following the presentation by the Planning Division staff, the presentation by the applicant, and public comment, the Board of Adjustment will discuss and vote to decide the outcome of the request for a Mobile Home Special Exception.  The Board may approve, deny or continue a request until a date certain. 
• After the hearing, the applicant will receive a letter stating the decision of the Board with information regarding the date within which the decision can be appealed

A short video clip of a Board of Adjustment hearing is available online. This shows a typical presentation by an applicant; it is recommended that you review this before you come to the meeting.

7. TIME LIMIT:

Mobile Home Special Exceptions have an imposed time limit.

When considering a Mobile Home Special Exception the Board of Adjustment may place time restrictions and impose other reasonable conditions on the approval in order to protect the character of an area or neighborhood.  In A-1, A-3, A-5 and A-10 Districts, the Board is empowered to limit the duration of mobile home occupancy as follows:

• One (1) year permit during construction of a permanent residence.
• One (1) year permit to house a night watchman for a non-residential use.
• Two (2) year permit, or for the duration of a medical hardship, to house a sick relative or practical nurse on the same lot as a single-family dwelling.
• Two (2) year permit for a mobile home use as a tenant dwelling or for a bona-fide agricultural use.
• In approving the permanent placement of a mobile home in the A-1 (AGRICULTURE) District, the Board will consider the compatibility of the surrounding land uses and development patterns in the area.

Sec 30.123 Limited Uses

8. APPEALS:

An applicant may appeal a decision of the board of adjustment to the board of county commissioners.

• Any aggrieved party can appeal a Board of Adjustment decision within fifteen (15) calendar days of the meeting.  A letter must be submitted to the Planning Division stating the grounds for appeal along with the appropriate fee. 
• The Seminole County Board of Commissioners will hear and decide the case.  During the fifteen (15) day appeal period, no permits incorporating the decision of the Board of Adjustment will be issue

SEMINOLE COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Sec. 30.124. Special exceptions.

(17) (A)   Farmworker housing; either single family or multifamily dwellings, where land use is for bona fide agriculture uses; provided further that such structures house only those persons and their immediate family or households, employed in carrying out such bona fide agricultural use. Mobile homes may be permitted in lieu of tenant dwellings, provided, however, that approval for mobile homes shall be limited to a time period not exceeding two (2) years after review and finding that the land is used for bona fide agricultural uses.

(B)   "Bona fide agriculture uses," as used in this subsection, shall be determined by reference to the following criteria:

(i)   Whether the parcel or its adjacent lands are being actually utilized in agricultural pursuits by the same owner; and
(ii)   Whether the requested tenant dwelling or mobile home serve a purpose directly related to the agricultural laborers or employees and/or other agricultural purposes.

 

Fees based on 2004 Fee Schedule, adopted by the BCC on December 9, 2003 (Resolution 2003-R-210)