The purpose of this article is to provide an environment in which recreational vehicles and tents may be located to enhance the enjoyment of leisure time activities on a temporary basis, and to provide a means where the uses occurring upon the land will be made more compatible with surrounding properties. Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks are recognized as a significant tourist-attracting hospitality industry.

(P & Z Res., art. IX-A, § 1)

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

Owner-operated shall mean unified ownership and management of a recreational vehicle park.

Recreational vehicle shall mean and include:

(1)

Travel trailer (including a "fifth-wheel travel trailer") shall mean a vehicular portable unit, mounted on wheels, of such a size or weight as not to require special highway movement permits when drawn by a motorized vehicle. It is primarily designed and constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. It has a body width of no more than eight and one-half (8½) feet and an overall body length of no more than forty (40) feet when factory-equipped for the road. Setup mode square footage shall not exceed three hundred twenty (320). Fifth-wheel overhitch space would be excluded unless over five (5) feet ceiling height.

(2)

Camping trailer shall mean a vehicular portable unit mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial sidewalls which fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at the campsite to provide temporary living quarters for recreational camping, or travel use.

(3)

Truck camper shall mean a truck equipped with a portable unit designed to be loaded onto or affixed to the bed or chassis of the truck and constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.

(4)

Park trailer shall mean a transportable unit which has a body width not exceeding twelve (12) feet and which is built on a single chassis and is designed to provide seasonal or temporary living quarters when connected to utilities necessary for operation of installed fixtures and appliances. The total area of the unit in a setup mode, when measured from the exterior surface of the exterior walls at the level of maximum dimensions and including any bay window that extends to the floor line, does not exceed four hundred (400) square feet constructed to ANSI A119.5 code or five hundred (500) square feet HUD standards. The length of a park trailer means the distance from the exterior of the front of the body (nearest to the drawbar and coupling mechanism) to the exterior of the rear of the body (at the opposite end of the body), including any protrusions.

(5)

Tent shall mean a portable unit constructed with flexible material for folding compactly when not in use, and when unfolded, providing temporary living quarters, and which is designed for travel, recreation, and vacation use.

(6)

Motor home shall mean a vehicular unit which does not exceed the width and length limitations provided by Florida Motor Vehicle Statutes, is built on a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, and is primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational camping, or travel use.

Recreational vehicle park shall mean a place set aside and offered by a person or public body, for either direct or indirect remuneration of the owner, lessor, or operator of such place, for the parking and accommodation of six (6) or more recreational vehicles or tents utilized for sleeping or eating; and this term also includes buildings and sites set aside for group camping and similar recreational facilities. For the purposes of this article, the terms "campground," "camping resort," "RV resort," "travel resort," and "travel park," or any variations of these terms, shall be considered synonymous with the term "recreational vehicle park."

Transient guest shall mean any guest registered as provided for in F.S. § 513.112 for six (6) months or less.

(P & Z Res., art. IX-A, § 2)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

(a)

Location. Recreational vehicle parks may be permitted as a special exception in the A-1, A-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, and C-3 zoning districts.

(Ord. No. 2023-46, § 83, 12-12-23)

(b)

Special accessory uses. Upon review by the board of zoning adjustment, special accessory uses such as retail stores, personal service shops, laundries, storage of RV, dispensing of petroleum products, and commercial outdoor recreational facilities may be permitted. Such uses shall be conducted solely for the convenience of the occupants and not for general public use.

(P & Z Res., art. IX-A, § 3)

The following regulations shall apply to each campground and recreational vehicle park:

(1)

Application. Each application for a special exception shall be accompanied by a site plan indicating property lines, setbacks from exterior property lines, typical space plan, approximate location of buildings, parking areas, recreation areas, and method of sewage disposal, water supply, and fire protection.

(2)

Land use permit. Before a land use permit is issued, a site plan drawn to scale, two hundred (200) feet to one (1) inch, shall be submitted incorporating the following:

a.

Legend. Date of site plan, scale, north arrow, total number of sites, name, address, and telephone number of developer and/or owner, engineer, and land planner.

b.

Gross acreage. The land described in the legal description excluding natural water bodies (as defined by the normal high-water elevation) and conservation areas.

c.

Existing natural features. Including lakes, marshes, swamps, watercourses, wooded areas, trees, and other existing environmental conditions.

d.

Proposed site improvements. Including landscaping, drainage, canals, and lakes.

e.

Contours. Based on U.S. Coast and Geodetic Datum at one-foot intervals.

f.

Property lines, size of spaces, typical space plan, rights-of-way, and/or easement widths, roads, parking lots, and driveways.

g.

Location and types of buildings, recreation areas, sewage treatment facility, sewage dumping stations, fire hydrants, and fire extinguishers. Upon approval, such site plan becomes part of the permanent record and may be changed only by the subsequent action of the board of zoning adjustment.

(3)

Area. Recreational vehicle parks shall contain a minimum of twenty (20) developable acres.

(Ord. No. 2023-46, § 84, 12-12-23)

(4)

Buffer. Landscaping, buffering and open space requirements shall be as provided for in Orange County Code, chapter 24.

(Ord. No. 92-42, § 13, 12-15-92)

(5)

Natural features and vegetation. Natural features, such as lakes, streams, and unique geologic formations, and trees with caliper in excess of six (6) inches, measured three (3) feet above ground level, shall be preserved between each camp space. For sites with minimal natural vegetation, additional landscaping may be required.

(6)

Space size. Each space shall contain a minimum of three thousand (3,000) square feet in area. An open space area is required between each site, which will contain a table.

(7)

Trash disposal. Adequate trash disposal facilities shall be provided within easy access of each campsite and screened with a wall or landscaping.

(8)

Roadways. Each space shall abut at least fifteen (15) feet on a roadway which shall have an unobstructed paved right-of-way of at least twenty (20) feet in width.

(9)

Recreation area. A recreation area shall be provided equivalent to a minimum of six hundred (600) square feet per space and shall be available, but not limited to, residents of the park. In some cases, the board of zoning adjustment may consider allowable commercial outdoor recreation facilities to meet part of this requirement.

(10)

Setbacks. No part of any campsite shall be placed within seventy-five (75) feet of any accessory, sanitary, or service building.

(11)

Space markers. Each campsite shall be identified by a marker clearly visible at a minimum distance of twenty (20) feet.

(12)

Permanent additions. Permanent additions shall not be permitted.

(13)

Off-street parking. Each site shall be provided with a minimum of one and one-half (1½) parking spaces. One (1) parking space shall be located on the site while the remainder may be located in common parking areas.

(14)

Water. Each park shall provide an adequate and safe water supply to each site. Each hookup shall be approved by the county health department and state department of health and rehabilitative services.

(15)

Occupancy. A registered vehicle occupancy shall be limited to a maximum of six (6) months.

(16)

License. It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or operate a recreational vehicle park within the county without an occupational license.

(17)

Land use permit. No person or public body may establish a recreational vehicle park in the county without first obtaining a land use permit from the zoning department subject to applicable fees.

(P & Z Res., art. IX-A, § 4)