§ 2.04.05. RMH residential mobile homes.

It is the intent of this section that adequate provision be made for mobile home and manufactured home parks and subdivisions in Okeechobee County. It is further the intent to declare that the use of mobile homes for dwelling purposes shall be in mobile home parks or mobile home subdivisions, except as set out specifically in part 7.08.00. It is further the intent to find and declare that the mixing of mobile homes or manufactured homes and conventional dwellings in the same development makes for mutual incompatibility to the economic and environmental detriment of both types of dwellings. It is further the intent to find and declare that a minimum area for a mobile home or manufactured home park or subdivision is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of such a development. Therefore, a special district of low to medium dwelling density known as the RMH residential mobile home district is established to provide suitable living environments in mobile home and manufactured home developments and to insure the compatibility of such developments with adjoining and nearby present and future development of other types. Mobile home parks and subdivisions and manufactured home parks are subject to development regulations as set forth in article VII and elsewhere in the Code. There is also established a minimum parcel area of 15 acres for consideration of a change in zoning to this zoning district.

A.

Permitted principal uses and structures.

1.

Manufactured home subdivisions developed in full accord with applicable county regulations, including subdivision regulations, and subject to minimum parcel area as established for this district and subject to maximum density criteria as established by the Okeechobee County comprehensive plan. When located in the rural activity center future land use classification, a manufactured home subdivision may not contain fewer than 40 manufactured home lots. Permitted uses in such approved subdivisions include one manufactured home per platted lot.

2.

Mobile home subdivisions developed in full accord with applicable county regulations, including subdivision regulations, and subject to minimum mobile home subdivision size criteria and subject to maximum density criteria as established by the Okeechobee County comprehensive plan. When located in the rural activity center future land use classification, a mobile home subdivision may not contain fewer than 40 mobile home lots. Permitted uses in such approved subdivisions include one mobile home or manufactured home per platted lot.

3.

A conventional single-family dwelling may be erected as a permitted use on a lot in an approved mobile home or manufactured home subdivision provided:

(1)

Such construction meets all standards for a single-family dwelling in RSF save the requirement of minimum lot size;

(2)

Such dwelling shall contain not less than 1,000 square feet of habitable living space not counting carport, patio, screen room or utility room;

(3)

The person whose name appears on the building permit shall be the owner of record for the lot involved.

4.

Home occupations.

B.

Prohibited uses and structures. Any use or structure not specifically, provisionally or by reasonable implication permitted herein or permissible by special exception.

C.

Accessory uses and structures. The following accessory uses and structures are permissible subject to the criteria as stated below, and provided that such accessory uses and structures are included in a site plan approved by the site plan technical review committee:

1.

Park or subdivision recreation facilities, including common room or center, hurricane shelter facilities, courts for games, docks, piers, swimming pools, boat launching area.

2.

Park or subdivision offices, maintenance facilities, and laundry facilities.

3.

Enclosed storage structures and storage garage facilities with use limited to park or subdivision residents only.

In the case of a mobile home or manufactured home park, accessory uses and structures are permitted where such accessory uses and structures are customarily accessory and clearly subordinate to permitted or permissible uses and structures, do not involve the conduct of business on the premises (except home occupation on the premises), are located on the same parcel as the mobile home or manufactured home park, are not of a nature likely to attract visitors in larger numbers than would normally be expected in a mobile home or manufactured home park, and do not involve operations or structures not in keeping with the character of a mobile home or manufactured home park. In the case of a mobile home or manufactured home subdivision, uses and structures which:

1.

Are customarily accessory and clearly incidental and subordinate to permitted or permissible uses and structures.

2.

Do not involve the conduct of business (except home occupation on the premises).

3.

Are located on the same lot as the permitted or permissible principal use or structure or on a contiguous lot in the same ownership.

4.

Are not of a nature likely to attract visitors in larger numbers than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood.

5.

Do not involve operations or structures not in keeping with the character of a low- to medium-density residential neighborhood.

6.

Noncommercial plant nurseries and greenhouses, gardens, servants' quarters, private garages, toolhouses and garden sheds, garden work centers, children's play areas and play equipment, private barbecue pits, private swimming pools, docks and wharves, and the like are permitted as accessory uses in this district.

(Ord. No. 93-10, § 5, 7-22-93; Ord. No. 94-8, § 1 (2.04.05), 10-5-94; Ord. No. 96-03, § 1, 4-11-96)