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Fort
Lauderdale
Special Zoning Approvals
Zoning Hearings such as Variances, Rezoning,
Historic Preservation
Board Approvals, Conditional Uses, Special Uses, and
Easement Approvals
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We can help you on a wide range of
Special Zoning Approvals from the City of Fort
Lauderdale. These include Zoning Hearings such as Variances,
Rezoning, Historic Preservation Board Approvals,
Conditional Uses, Special Uses, and Easement
Approvals.
Helpful Link:
Fort Lauderdale Planning and Zoning
Variances: A variance is a request to
deviate from current zoning requirements. If
granted, it allows the property owner to use the
land in a manner not otherwise permitted by the
zoning ordinance. It is not a change in the zoning
law but rather it is a specific waiver of
requirements of the zoning ordinance. Examples of
common variance requests include garage enclosures,
guest houses, swimming pools, detached structures,
and the like. In addition, variances are also often
needed to modify ordinance standards for setbacks,
lot coverage, building height, parking, or related
issues.
Most of the time variances are
granted when the property owner can demonstrate that
existing zoning regulations present a practical
hardship in making use of the property. Each city
has it's own rules for variance requests. The
process involves filing the variance packet and
paying the fee and going for review with the Zoning
board. Part of the process involves notifying nearby
and adjacent property owners with a certain radius.
The zoning board might also require a public hearing
to determine if the variance should be granted.
Rezoning: Local zoning boards determine
the best use of land in their particular city and
determine each allowed uses in each section of their
city down to each street and particular property.
Many times a local developer will want to change a
particular use for a specific property or group of
properties.
Rezoning
properties can be a long, expensive, and challenging
process and does not guarantee a specific desired
outcome. Local zoning boards and the surrounding
property owners in that area will have a say on the
matter and may or may not agree with the Rezoning
proposal. Every area is unique when it comes to
zoning and each have their own specifics on land-use
rules and procedures. It might take several rounds
of legislation, hearings, and meetings to gain
approval to rezone a particular property.
Historic
Preservation Board Approvals: The purpose
of the Historic Preservation Board is to implement
that City’s historic preservation regulations, which
promote the cultural, economic, educational and
general welfare of the people of the city and of the
public generally through the preservation and
protection of historically or architecturally worthy
structures. Every time an owner of a property wants
to do work on a property
located in the Historic District of that city, the HPB has to
approve the request. Requests include for all
alterations, additions, new construction,
renovations and demolition requests that affect the
exterior of designated historic sites and
properties.
Conditional Uses: A Conditional Use is a
use that is contrary to the uses allowed in a
particular zoning district. It may be allowed if it
compliments or may otherwise be compatible with the
intended overall development within a zoning
district, provided that the specified city standards
are met.
The difference
between a Variance and Conditional Use is that a
variance cannot be used to alter the essential
character of the zoning district in which the
land is located. A conditional use however can
be granted to allow a use that is not permitted
as a matter of course, but which can be approved
if the property owner is able to meet the
conditions imposed by the zoning board. The
zoning ordinance defines conditional uses that
are allowable in each zoning district and the
conditions that may be imposed. The definition
of a conditional use may differ by each city.
Special
Uses: A Special use permit is a use that
is allowed in specific zoning districts provided
they meet certain conditions set out in the
ordinance. Those conditions are generally related to
avoiding adverse impacts on the neighboring area. An
example of a special use would be an allowance of a
home business such as a tax service, hair salon,
daycare, or similar use.
Easement
Approvals: An easement grants access to
private property for utility installation and
maintenance. No structure, fence or tree may be
placed in an easement without the written consent of
all utility companies that have the right to access
an easement. Your survey will show all easements
that are located on your property. Sometimes based
on the work being proposed it will affect the
easement and approval will be needed from all utility companies
that service that area as well as the city approval will be
required.
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