City-Wide Moratorium F.A.Q.s
Frequently Asked Questions
Building permits that have already been submitted prior to the effective date of the Ordinance would not be included in this moratorium.
Building permits that are related to storm damage would not be included in this moratorium.
Applications submitted prior to the effective date of the moratoriums would be allowed to complete the development process if an applicant had received approval for an annexation, rezoning, and / or comprehensive plan amendment within the last six months prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, said applicant shall have the right to submit a site plan and / or a preliminary plat and subsequently a final plat. If an applicant has submitted for a preliminary plat prior to the effective date of the moratoriums, said applicant shall be allowed during the moratorium to submit for final plat.
The City will not accept, process, or approve any new applications for annexations, rezoning’s, comprehensive plan amendments, site plans, preliminary plats, or final plats from any applicants who received entitlements more than six months prior to the effective date of the moratorium and who does not have an application submitted.
There are two.
- Ordinance 2024-O-63- The Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium means that the city will not accept, process, or approve any building permit which would increase impervious surface within the Florida Shores Drainage Basin.
- Ordinance 2024-O-62- The City-Wide Moratorium will be imposed on the consideration of annexations, rezoning’s, comprehensive plan amendments, site plans, preliminary plats, and final plats. Commercial and Industrial zoned parcels within the Ridgewood Corridor and Park Avenue Corridor are excluded from the city-wide Moratorium.
An entitlement refers to the legal process by which a developer or landowner obtains the right through a future land use map amendment or an amendment to the zoning map to develop the site by right.
An impervious surface is any material, such as concrete and asphalt, which prevents, impedes, or slows the infiltration or absorption of stormwater directly into the ground. Examples of permits increasing impervious surface can include:
- New single-family homes
- Additions
- Detached garages
- Sheds
- Pools
- Driveways
- Patios
During the duration of these moratoriums, the following tasks will be accomplished:
- Entire Land Development Code update
- Entire Comprehensive Plan update
- Stormwater Code update
- Stormwater maintenance activities
- Delivery of Stormwater Master Plan by outside consultant
- Stormwater Impact Fee ordinance
- Housing Impact Fee ordinance
They went into effect on January 6, 2025 when they were approved, at second reading, by the City Council. Currently they shall terminate no later than January 5, 2026, unless rescinded or extended by subsequent ordinance.
This Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium will provide time for the city to review the impacts of Hurricane Ian and the storm event on September 14, 2024. The City Wide Moratorium will allow the City to update the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development code.
