Structures and Dwellings

Accessory Dwellings :

Accessory dwellings may be allowed in agricultural and residential zoning districts provided all of the following requirements are met:

The lot must be a Lot of Record or a legally created lot and must be 43,560 square feet or greater in size.
No more than one principal structure and one accessory dwelling will be permitted on any Lot of Record, or legally created lot. Prior to the date a building permit is issued for an accessory structure or prior to the use of an existing structure as an accessory dwelling, the owner shall execute and the County Manager or designee shall record in the public records of Lake County, Fla., at the owner's expense, a legal document that requires the principal structure and the accessory dwelling to remain in the same ownership.
Accessory dwellings may be attached to a principal structure, an apartment unit within the principal structure, or a stand-alone building.
An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 1,200 square feet or 40 percent of the air-conditioned, enclosed living area (excluding garages, patios, porches and the like) of the principal dwelling.
The accessory dwelling shall be located and designed not to interfere with the appearance of the principal structure as a one-family dwelling unit.
Both the principal structure and accessory dwelling shall be conventionally built structures.
Accessory dwelling units must meet the setback requirements of the principal structure.
Impact fees shall be paid on accessory dwelling units as if they were a separate dwelling.

Structures/Accessory:

There must be a permitted principal structure on the lot that is in full compliance.
A structure for agricultural purposes (general or non-intensive), on a conforming lot (size) in Agriculture, Ranchette and Agricultural Residential zoning districts shall be considered the principal structure.
All accessory structures shall comply with applicable standards and codes, unless exempted.
Accessory structures shall not be located in a required buffer area, landscape buffer strips, or a minimum building setback area.
Accessory structure square footage shall not exceed 80% of the main floor square footage of the enclosed living area of the permitted principal structure excluding features such as garages, patios, and porches. If there is more than one accessory structure, the combined square footage shall apply.
Accessory structures shall not exceed the height of the principal structure or 25’, whichever is greater.
Conforming lots within the Agriculture, Ranchette, and Agricultural Residential zoning districts that are two acres in size or larger are exempt from the above two requirements.

Canvas/Tube Shade Covering:

A zoning clearance is required. A permit is not required provided the following conditions are satisfied:

The structure will be located in residential and agricultural zoning districts.
The structure will not exceed 200 square feet in size.
The structure will be located in the side or read of the property and meet all setback requirements for the residential or agricultural zoning district.

Constructing an Agriculture/Farm building:

If it is a currently existing producing farm, a Non-Residential Structure Waiver Packet needs to be completed. A copy of a recorded deed/tax bill or property record card, parcel ID number, completed site plan, and application is needed. A $25 fee will be incurred. For structures greater than 5,000 square feet, a stormwater permit is required from the St. Johns River Water Management District. Non-residential agricultural buildings are not exempt from County codes and/or Land Development Regulations such as zoning, setbacks, site planning, stormwater, driveway and signage requirements.

Converting a carport to a screen/glass room:

A zoning clearance is required in order to do this. Environmental Health approval is required for a glass room. To install glass windows 50 percent or more of the ceiling height of the room must be 7 feet or higher. Only vinyl or acrylic windows may be installed if the ceiling height is under 7 feet or less than 50 percent.

Decks:

A property tax record or recorded warranty deed, zoning clearance and three copies of the site plan are needed. For decks 30 inches in height and under, the drawings do NOT need to be engineered. For decks more than 30 inches in height, three sets of sealed engineered drawings (two sets can be an identical copy of the sealed set of plans) are required. If in wetlands, a survey will need to be done.

Fences:

The property owner needs to be sure not to block the visibility of a corner and to be certain of the property lines. A permit and engineered drawings are needed for any size masonry wall and if a wooden or chain link fence is more than 6 feet high.