The purpose of this article is to encourage orderly development, promote economic and environmental advantages and promote, according to present and future needs, the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the non-incorporated areas of the county. This article describes the specific uses and restrictions that apply to the zoning districts as listed and described in this article. These regulations are intended to allow development and use of property according to the goals, objectives and policies of the county as expressed in the county comprehensive plan and to carry out a program of orderly future growth and development within the county.

(LDR 2014, § 3.01.01; Ord. No. 2013-04, § 1, 7-15-2014)

The board of county commissioners adopts the ordinance from which this article is derived pursuant to the provisions of the Community Planning Act (F.S. § 125.2511 et seq.) and F.S. § 125.01(1)(g), (1)(h), and (1)(t) and other applicable state laws.

(LDR 2014, § 3.01.02; Ord. No. 2013-04, § 1, 7-15-2014)

(a)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Accessory structures. Generally, accessory structures include this list of structures:

(1)

Greenhouses;

(2)

Storage buildings;

(3)

Utility buildings;

(4)

Fences;

(5)

Swimming pools;

(6)

Hot tubs and similar structures;

which are governed more specifically by section 24-139.

Excavation. See definition in section 24-41.

Exotic animals means all animals excepting house cats, dogs, feathered vertebrates and poultry and livestock.

Fish pond. See definition in section 24-41.

Guest quarters. Generally, guest quarters may be provided within AG 20 and AG 10, RCMH 2.5 and RCMH 1, and RC 1 zoning districts. Guest quarters are intended to be used exclusively for housing members of the family occupying the principal building and their nonpaying guest, provided that such quarters shall have no cooking facilities; shall not exceed 750 square feet in area; shall not be rented or leased or otherwise be made available for compensation of any kind and shall not have separate utility meters. Mobile homes shall not be used as guest quarters. See also section 24-140 for complete regulations regarding guest quarters.

Household pet means animals that are customarily kept for personal use or enjoyment within the home. Household pets shall include, but not be limited to domestic dogs, domestic cats, domestic tropical birds (canaries, parrots, and parakeets), rabbits, goldfish and rodents.

Kennel means any premises, except where accessory to an agricultural use, where 15 or more dogs or other domestic animals which are not sick or injured and are four months in age or older are boarded for compensation, cared for, trained for hire, kept for sale, or bred for sale, but not including veterinary clinics.

Livestock means all domesticated animals of the equine, bovine, or swine class, including goats, sheep, mules, horses, hogs, cattle and poultry.

Nuisance. A nuisance shall generally mean the following but is not limited to this definition:

(1)

Any public nuisance known in common law or in equity jurisprudence.

(2)

Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to children whether in a building, on the premises of a building, or upon an unoccupied lot. This includes any abandoned wells, shafts, basements, or excavations; abandoned refrigerators and motor vehicles; or any structurally unsound fences or structures; or any lumber, trash, fences, debris or vegetation which may prove a hazard for inquisitive minors.

(3)

Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health, as determined by the county health officer.

(4)

Overcrowding a room with occupants.

(5)

Insufficient ventilation or illumination.

(6)

Inadequate or unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities.

(7)

Uncleanliness, as determined by the county health officer.

(8)

Whatever renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings, as determined by the county health officer.

Stable, public , means a building or land where animals are kept for remuneration, hire, sale, boarding, riding or show.

Wetlands means those areas identified by rule of the state department of environmental protection and/or the St. Johns River Water Management District and/or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

(b)

The following definitions are used in regards to communications antennas and towers which are covered more completely in section 24-235(c):

Alternative support structure means any manmade structure, except towers, including, but not limited to, buildings, power poles, light poles, clock towers, bell towers, steeples, water towers and the like, which allow for the attachment of antennas.

Antenna means a device for radiating or receiving radio waves. As used in this section, the term "antenna" shall include all antennas integrated and used as a single unit, such as an antenna array.

Camouflaged means a structure designed to support one or more antenna but designed to unobtrusively blend into the existing surroundings and disguised so as to not have the appearance of a tower. Such tower shall be consistent in size, scale and appearance with the type of object it is designed to resemble.

Customer premises equipment means telecommunications equipment on the premises of telecommunications customer for the sole use of the occupants of the premises.

Guyed means a tower anchored with guide wires.

Lattice means a self-supporting tower with three or more side or open-framed supports.

Mobile station means equipment which is not fixed and ordinarily moves. Such a facility is typically the end users' equipment such as a wireless telephone.

Monopole means a single, self-supporting tower of concrete, steel, or similar materials having a solid appearance and no guide wires.

Speculative means a tower which is proposed for erection without evidence of any antenna leases or agreement for use of the tower.

Tower means a structure, greater than 15 feet in height, designed and used primarily to support one or more antenna of any type.

(c)

See section 24-103(d) for definitions regarding the following:

(1)

Centerlines.

(2)

Lot lines.

(3)

Railroad tracks.

(4)

Division of single ownership lot by district line.

(5)

Mean ordinary high water lines.

(6)

Body of water.

(7)

Boundaries parallel.

(8)

Measurement of district boundaries.

(LDR 2014, pt. 3.02.00; Ord. No. 2013-04, § 1, 7-15-2014; Ord. No. 2017-05, § 3, 7-18-2017)

The adoption of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived shall not affect nor prevent any pending or future prosecution of or action to abate violations of the previous zoning code of the county which occurred before the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.

(LDR 2014, pt. 3.03.00; Ord. No. 2013-04, § 1, 7-15-2014)

While the zoning conformance is pending, no building permit to repair or improve an existing structure or permit to erect, construct, locate, move a new structure and no change in use of the land shall be made so as to be in violation of the existing zoning designation and/or comprehensive plan unless:

(1)

A vested rights permit is obtained;

(2)

A zoning change to a district adopted herein is approved which is in compliance with the comprehensive plan; or

(3)

A special exception is approved which is in compliance with the comprehensive plan.

(LDR 2014, § 3.03.01; Ord. No. 2013-04, § 1, 7-15-2014)