How are zoning variances handled in Palm Bay?
Palm Bay lets staff decide small dimensional variances, up to 10 percent for new construction and 20 percent for existing structures, while larger requests need public hearings.
Under Section 172.026 of the Palm Bay Code of Ordinances, the City Manager or a designee can approve an administrative variance of up to 10 percent of a dimensional requirement for new construction, or up to 20 percent for an existing principal or accessory structure. Larger requests are public hearing variances under Section 172.025, as listed on the city's Land Development forms page.
Public hearing variances go before the Planning and Zoning Board, the City Council or both. The city notes that financial disadvantages or inconvenience to the applicant are not conclusive evidence of hardship and do not by themselves justify a variance.
A public hearing application can require a survey, a concept plan, notarized consent from every owner when a representative applies, and a 500 foot radius mailing package listing nearby owners. All submittals go through the city's iMS Online Portal.
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