No development may be undertaken unless the activity is authorized by a development permit.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

Except as provided in Section 10.01.04 below, a development permit may not be issued unless the proposed development activity is authorized by a Land Use Certificate and a Final Development Order issued pursuant to this Code.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

A.

Before any structure or use listed below shall be added to, erected, reconstructed, structurally altered, moved, or demolished, a Land Use Certificate shall be obtained from the Development Administrator. The Certificate shall be on a form provided by the Development Administrator and a Land Use certificate fee may be charged if a fee schedule is adopted by resolution by the Board of County Commissioners. Said Land Use Certificate shall be obtained prior to the issuance of any Building Permit for any type of structure for the activities listed below:

1.

Single-family residence.

2.

Mobile home.

3.

Modular home.

4.

Swimming pool.

5.

Accessory structure.

6.

Utility (power, well, septic, etc.).

7.

Lot split, including family exception process.

8.

Temporary real estate office (out of mobile home/temporary structure, see below).

9.

Temporary construction office (out of mobile home/temporary structure, see below).

10.

Temporary construction storage structure (see below).

11.

Any activity or structure deemed by the Development Administrator to be similar to the aforementioned.

B.

A Land Use Certificate shall be issued or denied within ten (10) working days from the date of application. The applicant may appeal the denial of the Certificate to the Planning Commission, in writing within thirty (30) calendar days after rejection of the application.

C.

Each Application for a Land Use Certificate shall be accompanied by a plot plan drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the size, shape, height, and location of the buildings to be erected, dimensions and location of existing buildings, and width of front, side, and rear yards, and any historical or environmentally sensitive areas located on the site.

D.

When application is made to build upon a lot of nonconforming size, the application shall be accompanied by an affidavit that said lot was a Lot of Record prior to the adoption of these regulations.

E.

A Land Use Certificate shall be valid for one (1) year. One (1) or more extensions of the Land Use Certificate for periods not exceeding 180 days may be issued by the Development Administrator.

F.

The Development Administrator may revoke a Land Use Certificate issued in a case where there has been a false statement or misrepresentation in the application or on the plot plan for which the certificate was issued.

G.

A Land Use Certificate is required for a mobile home or temporary structure used as an on-site real estate sales office, construction office or storage of tools and materials during construction may be located in any Land Use District in which a project has been approved. The on-site real estate sales office use shall be discontinued, and the mobile home/temporary structure removed no later than final closing for purchase of the last unit in the development project. The on-premises construction office or storage of tools and materials use shall be discontinued and the mobile home, temporary structure removed immediately after the final Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

A development permit may be issued for the following development activities in the absence of a final development order issued pursuant to this Code. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the development activity shall conform to this Code.

A.

Development activity necessary to implement a valid development plan on which the start of construction took place prior to October 1, 1991, and has continued in good faith. Compliance with the development standards hi this Code is not required if in conflict with the previously approved plan.

B.

The construction or alteration of a one-family dwelling (including Mobile Homes) on a lot of record, in a valid recorded subdivision approved prior to October 1, 1991, as long as concurrency is met. Compliance with the development standards in this Code is not required if in conflict with the previously approved plat.

C.

The construction or alteration of a one-family dwelling (including Mobile Homes) on a parcel of record with deed dated prior to October 1, 1991, as long as the concurrency provisions and all design and resource protection standards contained in this Code are complied with.

D.

The alteration of an existing building or structure so long as no change is made to its gross floor area, its use, or the amount of impervious surface on the site.

E.

The re-surfacing of a vehicle use area that conforms to all requirements of this Code.

F.

A Minor Replat granted pursuant to the procedures in Article VI of this Code.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

After a permit has been issued, it shall be unlawful to change, modify, alter, or otherwise deviate from the terms of conditions of the permit without first obtaining a modification of the permit. A modification may be applied for in the same manner as the original perm it. A written record of the modification shall be entered upon the original perm it and maintained in the files of the Planning Department.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

Definitions:

"Subdivision' is the division of a parcel of land for the purposes of sale, lease, rental, conveyance of title or any use (including cemeteries), regardless of whether by gift, or exchange of currency or other items of value, into two (2) or more parcels where:

1.

Any one (1) of which is less than four and one-half (4.5) acres in size; or

2.

Any one (1) of which is ten (10) acres in size or less, when any new street or roadway is installed (private or public); or

3.

A parcel of any size which requires, or is requested by an applicant, to create a dedication of a new street through the platting process; or

4.

The division of land into three (3) or more lots, parcels, tracts, tiers, blocks, sites, units, or any other division of land; and includes establishment of new streets and alleys, additions, and resubdivision; and when appropriate to the context, relates to the process of subdividing or to the lands or area subdivided. As a plan, it is an engineered plan laying out a parcel of raw land into lots, blocks, street, and public areas.

(Ord. No. 2026-01, § 1(Exh. A), 1-15-2026)

1.

A parcel of land may not be divided into two (2) or more parcels if it is defined as a "subdivision" in accordance with LDC Section 6.01.01, unless a plat has been filed and approved by the County. The division of land into parcels, all of which are four and a half (4.5) acres in size for larger, and where the parcels are served by an existing private, County, state, or federal roadway, meeting the roadway improvement standards of the LDC (including paving at the time of division), shall be defined as a "property division" and not required to plat. Property divisions must comply with development plan review requirements in accordance with LDC Section 10.02.00.

2.

Pursuant to Chapter 2025-164, Laws of Florida, and Resolution No. 2025-16 (approved July 17, 2025), the Board of County Commissioners hereby designated the County Administrator, and later determined that the County's Development Administrator, would serve as the official authorized to approve plats on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Florida. The Development Administrator serves as an administrative authority to receive, review, and process plat or replat submittals, including designating any administrative official responsible for approving, approving with conditions, or denying a proposed plat or replat.

3.

A plat or replat must be administratively approved and no further action or approval by the governing body of a county or municipality is required if the plat or replat complies with the requirements of F.S. § 177.091.

4.

All plat approvals shall be subject to and consistent with the Washington County Land Development Code, Comprehensive Plan, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to waive or modify any requirements for platting, review, or approval as set forth by law.

(Ord. No. 2026-01, § 1(Exh. A), 1-15-2026)

A.

Preliminary Plat Review.

1.

Following a satisfactory pre-application review, the Planning Department will advise the applicant on submission and development classification, and platting requirements.

2.

Applicants should complete a Subdivision Application to request review and approval of a proposed subdivision and include the preliminary platting application fees. Fees are based on the number of lots.

3.

Applicants should submit preliminary plat documents and a signed and sealed boundary survey in accordance with Section 10.02.02.

4.

Within five (5) business days after receipt of a plat or replat submittal, the Development Administrator shall provide written notice to the applicant acknowledging receipt of the plat or replat submittal and identifying any missing documents or information necessary to process the plat or replat submittal for compliance with F.S. § 177.091.

a.

The written notice must also provide information regarding the plat or replat approval process, including requirements regarding the completeness of the process and applicable timeframes for reviewing, approving, and otherwise processing the plat or replat submittal.

b.

Unless the applicant requests an extension of time, the administrative authority shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the plat or replat submittal within the timeframe identified in the written notice provided for the applicant.

c.

If the administrative authority does not approve the plat or replat, it must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for declining to approve the submittal. The written notice must identify all areas of noncompliance and include specific citations to each requirement the plat or replat submittal fails to meet.

d.

The administrative authority, or an official, an employee, an agent, or a designee of the governing body, may not request or require the applicant to file a written extension of time.

5.

The subdivider shall present sketch plans, data containing existing conditions with the site, and in its vicinity, and provide a proposed layout (with any development) of the subdivision for review.

6.

Minor subdivisions, as defined in LDC Section 10.02.03.C, may be reviewed through an abbreviated procedure in which the preliminary and final plat are submitted concurrently.

7.

All plats must comply with the requirements of F.S. § 177.091.

8.

Applicants will coordinate with the Planning Department regarding the Development Review Committee (DRC) review of the subdivision application and civil and site plans.

9.

Upon preliminary approval by the Development Administrator, the subdivider shall proceed with final plat review.

B.

Final Plat Approval.

1.

Upon completion of the physical development of the subdivision or otherwise satisfying the conditions of LDC Section 10.02.02, the subdivider shall proceed with final plat review and approval.

2.

Applicants should complete a Subdivision Application to request review and approval of a proposed subdivision and include the final platting application fees, Fees are based on the number of lots.

3.

Submit the Final Plat with signed certifications in accordance with LDC Section 10.02.02.

4.

Applicants will coordinate with the Planning Department regarding the Development Review Committee (DRC) review of the subdivision application and civil and site plans.

5.

The final plat application and plat must include a resolution.

6.

Upon approval of the final plat, the subdivider must have the Final Plat recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Circuit Court within sixty (60) days of approval.

7.

No changes, erasures, modifications, or revisions shall be made in any subdivision plat after final approval has been given and endorsed in writing on said plat (except for notations with regard to vacations (see Section 6.03.04 LDC)).

8.

In the event that any subdivision plat, when recorded, contains any changes, the plat shall be considered null and void, and the Planning Department shall then file a correct plat as approved, noting the reason for such filing. Any erasures made on a plat prior to its signing shall be initialed and dated by the Development Administrator at the time of signing.

9.

Upon application by the subdivider, the Planning Department may make a reasonable extension of the approval provided, however, the Planning Department may require the layout by revised according to any change in regulations or ordinance applicable to the layout subsequent to the first approval.

10.

Expiration of an approval shall mean that any further action will require a new filing fee as well as a review of all previous findings. Final plats not recorded within sixty (60) days of the date of approval shall become null and void and a new application shall be required to be submitted to the Planning Department.

11.

Upon having obtained approval, the applicant shall submit the mylar, with one (1) print copy of the "mini-plat" for the subdivision which has been approved, to the County within ten (10) working days of final approval. The County shall secure all required signatures and record the plat within thirty (30) days of receipt of the approved plat from the applicant. All expenses for the recording of the plat shall be paid by the applicant prior to the County Recording of the plat.

12.

Legal, recorded subdivisions shall allow one (1) dwelling unit per parcel. Accessory dwelling units are allowed, per Code, one (1) per parcel at fifty (50) percent of the square footage of the primary structure.

13.

Changes to a legal, recorded subdivision are not allowable, including the construction of newly-created roads; the division or subdividing of parcels/lots within a subdivision; replatting; or the use of the immediate family exception to create parcels of property specifically for immediate family members.

14.

Combination of lots within a subdivision is allowed. However, combined lots may only be returned to their original state as approved in the original, legal recorded subdivision of record.

15.

Any changes to a legal, recorded subdivision will require a new subdivision submittal for review and approval. All new subdivision applications for an existing, approved subdivision will require the approval of all property owners of the legal, recorded subdivision.

16.

Homeowner's associations, or architectural review committees, may undertake revision to a legal, recorded subdivision on behalf of all of the homeowners. However, these changes may be limited to changes to common amenities or community property and would be allowable if submitted on behalf of the community for the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

(Ord. No. 2026-01, § 1(Exh. A), 1-15-2026)