Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bristol, Florida

Bristol’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Development in Bristol city, and specifically mobile homes, RVs and modular homes set up for dwelling

  • Building permit is defined as a development permit
  • The ordinance applies to mobile homes, recreation vehicles and modular homes
  • Electrical service may not be connected until the permit is issued and sewage and water approvals are obtained

  “it shall be unlawful for any mobile home, recreation vehicle or modular home to be brought into and/or set up for dwelling purposes in the city of bristol, until such mobile home, recreation vehicle or modular home has been inspected by the city of bristol bullding official or his agent, and a pennit has been issued for such mobile home, recreation vehicle, or modular home.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Used mobile homes, RVs and modular homes brought into Bristol city

  • Inspection by the city building official or agent before permit issuance
  • General inspection rules for site-built homes not found

  “prior to the issuance of a pennit as required by this ordinance, all used mobile homes must be inspected and approved by the city of bristol building official or his agent and must meet the standards set forth herein.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Bristol city limits

  • Zoning is implemented as land use districts tied to the comprehensive plan future land use map

  “land use districts of the city of bristol are established in the comprehensive plan, future land use element.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land use districts inside Bristol city

  • Districts are the future land use map categories, including town center, rural village, mixed use suburban residential, mixed use rural residential, commercial, industrial, agriculture and conservation

  “for purposes of this development code, city of bristol is hereby divided into land use categories or districts as follows:”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Mobile homes, RVs and modular homes occupied as a residence inside Bristol city; no minimum for site-built homes was found

  • Minimum 10 feet wide
  • Excludes garages, carports, porches, balconies, storage areas and cabanas

  minimum net living area: >= 600 sq ft

  “no mobile home, recreation vehicle or modular home shall be issued a pennit for occupancy as a residence unless it has a minimum of 600 square feet of net living area (not including garages, carports, porches, balconies, storage areas or cabanas).”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family lots in subdivisions inside Bristol city (Chapter 5 subdivision design standards)

  • Lots of 15,000 sq ft or more need 100 ft average width; lots between 10,000 and 15,000 sq ft need 80 ft
  • Density also capped by land use category (for example rural village up to 4 dwelling units per acre with central water)
  • Per-district lot size table not found

  minimum lot size single-family: >= 10000 sq ft

  “minimum lot size for single family dwelling units shall be 10,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Low density residential (0-6 units per acre) building setbacks inside Bristol city, Schedule 1.0

  • The table text extracts with garbled column alignment; low density residential values appear to be front 20 ft, corner 20 ft, side 5 ft, rear 20 ft
  • Schedule is by use type, not by named land use district
  • Verify against the PDF table

  front yard building setback (low density residential): >= 20 ft · side yard building setback (low density residential): >= 5 ft · rear yard building setback (low density residential): >= 20 ft

  “front yard building 20 20 20 parking -- 20 20 building 20 20 20 parking -- 20 20 building 5 5 10 parking -- 5 10 building 20 20 20 parking -- 10 10 35 45 45 corner yard side yard rear yard maximum requirements (feet) height”

• Building heightSpecified

  Low density residential (0-6 units per acre) maximum building height inside Bristol city, Schedule 1.0

  • The table text extracts with garbled alignment; low density residential appears to be 35 ft, with 45 ft for the other columns
  • Verify against the PDF table

  maximum height (low density residential): <= 35 ft

  “front yard building 20 20 20 parking -- 20 20 building 20 20 20 parking -- 20 20 building 5 5 10 parking -- 5 10 building 20 20 20 parking -- 10 10 35 45 45 corner yard side yard rear yard maximum requirements (feet) height”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreation vehicles occupied as a residence inside Bristol city

  • Minimum 10 feet wide including additions
  • Must meet ANSI, federal mobile home, HUD or state standards
  • Permit must be displayed in the window next to the front door
  • The LDC defines a recreational vehicle as 400 square feet or less, so the 600 sq ft rule effectively bars RVs as residences (inference)

  minimum net living area for residential occupancy permit: >= 600 sq ft

  “no mobile home, recreation vehicle or modular home shall be issued a pennit for occupancy as a residence unless it has a minimum of 600 square feet of net living area”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes set up for dwelling inside Bristol city

  • Permit required before set-up
  • Must be at least 10 feet wide
  • Must meet ANSI, federal, HUD or Florida chapter 15C-1 standards and condition requirements
  • Skirting or enclosed foundation within 60 days of permit
  • Used mobile home compliance agreement required

  minimum net living area: >= 600 sq ft · maximum age of unit at application: <= 10 years

  “no mobile home manufactured prior to ten years from the date of application shall be permitted in the city of bristol.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Bristol city

  • Plat approval by city council
  • Improvement security or bond required before final plat action

  “(d) access no subdivision will be approved unless its street system is connected to a city, county or state road which has been approved for maintenance.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Development access and circulation inside Bristol city

  • Standards set number of access points by development type, for example residential under 75 units needs 1 access point
  • Individual driveway permit rules not found

  “(c) access management all proposed development shall meet the following standards for vehicular access and circulation:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bristol or Liberty County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Bristol city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Bristol city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Bristol city
• Lot coverage — Residential lot coverage inside Bristol city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Bristol city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.