The purpose of this section is to provide reasonable standards for the use of property as a group home.

(1)

Group homes housing more than fourteen (14) residents may be allowed in the Industrial Zoning District by special exception, providing all applicable standards and requirements have been met. Any facility, whether operating for profit or not, which undertakes through its ownership or management to provide for a period exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, one (1) or more personal services for more than fourteen (14) unrelated residents who operate as the functional equivalent of a family, who requires such services shall be deemed a group home facility, as appropriate, if it formally or informally advertises to or solicits the public for residents or referrals and holds itself out to public to be an establishment which regularly provides such services. "Personal services" means services in addition to housing and food service, which include but are not limited to, dressing, ambulation, housekeeping, supervision, eating, supervision of self-administered medications, and assistance with securing health care from appropriate sources.

(2)

Group homes housing seven (7) to fourteen (14) residents may be allowed in multifamily zones, providing all applicable standards and requirements, including the notice requirements of F.S. Ch. 419 have been met, provided further that:

a.

Such group home conforms to existing zoning regulations applicable to other multifamily uses in the area; and

b.

Such group home is appropriately licensed and meets applicable licensing criteria established and determined by the appropriate State of Florida Regulatory Department (e.g., Department of Elderly Affairs, Department of Children and Families, Agency for Healthcare Administration, Department of Juvenile Justice, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR licensing/registration is required for sober living and recovery residences in the Town), or other applicable State of Florida department or agency), including requirements that the group home be located to assure the safe care and supervision of all clients in the home; and

c.

Such group home does not result in a concentration in the area in proximity to the site selected, nor would it result in a combination of group homes with other group homes in the community such that the nature and character of the area would be substantially altered. A group home that is located within a radius of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet of another existing group home in a multifamily zone shall be considered an overconcentration of group homes that substantially alters the nature and character of the area. A group home that is located within a radius of five hundred (500) feet of an area of single-family zoning shall be considered an overconcentration which substantially alters the nature and character of the area; and

d.

Such group home(s) must be licensed by the appropriate State of Florida Regulatory Department as set forth in part b. above prior to application being made for a certificate of occupancy or town business tax receipt; and must meet all town building and fire codes for the proposed use before a certificate of occupancy or town business tax receipt may be issued.

(3)

Group homes housing six (6) or fewer residents may be allowed in any residential zoning district provided that:

a.

Such group homes shall not be located within a radius of one thousand (1,000) feet of another existing group home or within a radius of one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet of another such group home which houses seven (7) to fourteen (14) residents; and

b.

Such group homes must be licensed by the appropriate State of Florida Regulatory Department as set forth in part 2.b. above prior to application being made for a certificate of occupancy or town business tax receipt; and must meet all town building and fire codes for the proposed use before a certificate of occupancy or town business tax receipt may be issued.

(4)

Supplemental regulations.

a.

Prior to the issuance of a business tax receipt or building permit, whichever occurs first, and prior to the facility being used for its intended group home purpose, evidence shall be provided that all appropriate approvals or licenses from town, county, state or federal regulatory agencies have been obtained.

b.

All group homes shall conform to all applicable zoning regulations in the district in which it is located.

c.

If a group home is located within a zoning area it shall be maintained to conform to the character of that area. This standard applies to design, density, lot size, landscaping or other factors affecting the neighborhood's character.

d.

There shall be no signs denoting the name and/or purpose of a group home.

e.

Parking regulations within the district in which the group home is located shall be strictly observed.

(Ord. No. 7-94-541, § 2, 8-2-94; Ord. No. 8-96-559, § 3, 9-4-96; Ord. No. 2019-04, § 4, 6-18-19)