Zoning rules and parking in Florida

You need to look up the number of the Codes Enforcement department in Jupiter (or whatever city or maybe the Palm Beach county the property is located in) and give them a call. I suspect the answer will be no, but could be wrong. I'd guess that land will be very expensive, have you priced it?

Florida hasn't had a strong Hurricane hit for 11 years now. Or is it 9 years? Not something you really need to worry about and you'd have plenty of advanced notice before one got there.

It is doubtful the local zoning and planning board would approve it but no harm in asking.

Usually, you can get a basic idea if it's allowed just by driving around the area.

Is it in a neighborhood or subdivision? Are there any Mobile Homes next door or nearby, or just McMansions?

But you don't know until you check with City/County officials in Planning Dept. And even then, they may change it if they got a complaint from a neighbor.

It all depends on how "above-board" you want to be. If you're in the city limits, you'll more than likely need a demo permit, then also a plumbing permit to modify the sewer connection. However, its very likely that you CAN do what you want without violating any rules.

If it were me and you wanted the property anyway, then heck, I'd do it and make someone come along and tell me not to. Chances are that'll never happen unless the neighbors complain...

If the property was in High Springs then you might be right. If it was in Gainesville, for example, then I really doubt it. And on the southern east coast? I rate the possibility between slim and not very likely. If it's well out in the county away from the coast then, maybe but this is Palm Beach County he's talking about. He'd probably need a temp power pole too.

But all of this is just guessing a 5 minute phone call will provide the answer, and if it's in the county then it might be possible to get a zoning variance via the county commission.

On less than five acres... No On more than five acres... Maybe.

Property is abutts the intercoastal its is not cheap and we believe the property will appreciate in value and why pay property taxes on a big house when we can just drive our coach down there when we want to spend time there. One idea my wife had is that we just leave the old dilapidated home there and improve the driveway put 50A service and a sewer connection out to the driveway and be done with it.
Are there regulations in Palm Beach County that would restrict you from parking your RV in your driveway?

These might show how complex the Codes are in the area:

Palm Bch post

Common code problems

Another one

You should draw the conclusion that they are somewhat RV hostile and that the code varies from town to town.

This area is heavily colonized by New Yorkers and others from the NE states. They brought their love of micromanagement with them.

majorgator wrote:
It all depends on how "above-board" you want to be. If you're in the city limits, you'll more than likely need a demo permit, then also a plumbing permit to modify the sewer connection. However, its very likely that you CAN do what you want without violating any rules.

If it were me and you wanted the property anyway, then heck, I'd do it and make someone come along and tell me not to. Chances are that'll never happen unless the neighbors complain...

This is really bad advice. Palm Beach County is one of the most regulated places in the world and it isn't exactly in the back woods where you won't be seen. If you don't see any RV's or mobile homes in the area the chances are very good that they are not allowed. The old rules of "better to ask forgiveness than permission" no longer apply. Check everything out thoroughly or you may find yourself owning a piece of property that you can't get rid of. lizzie

I doubt it. Many years ago I did some Outside Plant Engineering for Southern Bell in the Jupiter area and the zoning and code enforcement was very tight, even for utility construction.

Even if it were zoned to allow mobile homes (which is unlikely) strict rules on permanent tie-downs have been in effect since Andrew, even for temporary use as a residence. In most areas even parking an RV on residential lots requires a variance or permit of some kind.

Folks living in the back country (North of I-4) seem to forget that "South" Florida begins at Ft. Pierce. (They even wear shoes down there.) Everybody operates on the NIMBY theory and worries endlessly that something will reduce their property value.

If what you propose were possible, lots of people would be doing it. They are not!