Bolthole Index

Sumter County, Florida

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Webster, Florida

The City of Webster, Florida adopts its own land development code and zoning1, but the city does not process building permits: Sumter County's Planning & Zoning office handles them2. Septic permits inside Webster come through the state health system, not city hall3. RV living on a city lot is tightly limited4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required, but Sumter County processes them for the city52
Zoning
Webster's own land development code applies inside city limits1
Septic
State rules; only where central sewer is not available36
RV living
One RV as a temporary second residence, 5 days per 60-day period4
Tiny homes
Only in Mixed-Use areas, through PUD rezoning in a pocket neighborhood7
Floodplain
Development permit or approval required in flood hazard areas8

Who to call

Planning & zoning

City of Webster City Hall

City contact point for Webster; the city's own page says building permits are processed by Sumter County

(352) 793-2073

[email protected]

85 E. Central Ave. Webster, FL 33597

Building permits

Sumter County Planning & Zoning

Building permits for addresses inside Webster, as stated on the city's permit page

(352) 689-4400

7375 Powell Rd. Wildwood, FL 34785

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in Sumter County, Environmental Health

Septic permits and inspections in Sumter County, including addresses inside cities

352-569-3102

P.O. Box 98, Bushnell, FL 33513

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Webster means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Webster, FL have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

Yes. The City of Webster, Florida has its own land development code, with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) district for residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use projects1. Inside Webster, the PUD district caps building height at 60 feet, with the exact limit set during rezoning9. We could not confirm the lot sizes, setbacks or minimum home sizes for Webster's ordinary residential districts, so ask city hall for the district table for your parcel2.

RVs are limited: Webster allows one RV as a temporary second residence for 5 days per 60-day period, and the RV may not connect to the water or sanitary systems serving the main home4. Longer RV occupancy is possible only in RV parks, which require rezoning to PUD4.

Tiny homes are allowed in Webster only in the Mixed-Use future land use category, through a rezoning to PUD in a pocket neighborhood7.

Do you need a building permit in Webster, and who issues it?

Yes. Building permits are required for residential principal structures and accessory buildings inside Webster, and the principal structure's permit must come first5. Webster's own code says accessory buildings need permits even when another section exempts them5.

The city does not issue them. Webster's permit page states that the city does not process building permits and that the Sumter County office of Planning & Zoning assists the city with all permits2. Contact Sumter County Planning & Zoning at (352) 689-4400, 7375 Powell Rd., Wildwood, FL 3478510. Building-permit rules for unincorporated land are the county's, not the city's; see the Sumter County page for those.

How do septic permits work inside Webster?

Septic is a state matter in Webster. The city's code says primary responsibility for deciding whether wastewater facilities comply lies with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the Florida Department of Health3. In Sumter County, the county health department still does the septic permitting and inspection11, so call the Florida Department of Health in Sumter County at 352-569-310212.

A septic system is the exception inside the city. New development must connect to central sewer where sewer lines are available13, and an individual septic tank and drainfield is allowed only where sewer is not available and the system meets state rules6. Sumter County's soils also rate poorly for conventional drain fields (about 6% of soils are rated not limited), so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system14. We could not confirm well rules inside Webster; ask the health department.

Building a home in Webster: the steps, in order

  1. Ask Webster City Hall for your parcel's zoning district and what the land development code allows there2.
  2. Check whether central sewer is available at the address; if it is, connection is required13.
  3. Check flood hazard status: development in flood hazard areas needs a floodplain development permit or approval8.
  4. Apply for the building permit through Sumter County Planning & Zoning at (352) 689-440010.
  5. If you will use septic, apply through the Florida Department of Health in Sumter County at 352-569-310212.
  6. Subdivision proposals inside the city are reviewed under Webster's code, so ask before splitting a parcel15.

What stays with Sumter County, and what to check before you buy in Webster

Land outside Webster's limits follows Sumter County's rules, not the city's. Sumter County's zoning code applies only to unincorporated land16, so confirm that the address you are buying is inside city limits before relying on anything here.

Sumter County statistics: the typical home value is about $388,59917, and the effective property tax rate is 0.8%18. Sumter County Building Services lists a certificate of occupancy as required for residential projects it permits19; ask the county whether the same steps apply to a Webster address.

Watch-outs

  • Webster's own page says the city does not process building permits, so a call to city hall alone will not start a permit; contact Sumter County Planning & Zoning2.
  • We could not confirm Webster's building code, inspection, owner-builder, permit fee, driveway or well rules; ask city hall and Sumter County Planning & Zoning before you buy2.
  • Webster allows an RV as a temporary second residence for only 5 days per 60-day period, so living in one while you build is not allowed under that rule4.

Sources

  1. Webster LDC Sec. 13-420 PUD purpose and intent (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Webster City Hall (websterfl.com)
  3. Webster LDC Sec. 13-713 Sewage disposal systems (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  4. Webster LDC Sec. 13-533 RV as temporary dwelling (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  5. Webster LDC Sec. 13-517 Storage buildings (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  6. Webster LDC Sec. 13-713 Sewage disposal systems (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  7. Webster LDC Sec. 13-423 Tiny house pocket neighborhood requirements (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  8. Webster LDC Sec. 13-1106 Inspections (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  9. Webster LDC Sec. 13-422 PUD standards (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sumter County Planning & Zoning (websterfl.com)
  11. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  12. Florida Department of Health in Sumter County, Environmental Health (sumter.floridahealth.gov)
  13. Webster LDC Sec. 13-713 Sewage disposal systems (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  14. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  15. Webster LDC Sec. 13-1111 Subdivisions (Webster), quoted and re-checked
  16. Sumter County Land Development Code Update, quoted and re-checked
  17. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Building Services, quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Webster

Webster’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential principal structures and accessory buildings inside Webster city

    • Building permit for the principal structure must precede the accessory building
    • Accessory buildings need permits even if exempted under other Code sections
    “building permits must be obtained for the accessory building, even if that unit is exempted under other sections of this code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Webster city limits

    “The purpose and intent of the PUD zoning district is to provide lands which are suitable for well-designed residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use developments”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Planned Unit Development (PUD) district inside Webster city

    • Height set through PUD rezoning, capped at 60 feet

    max building height: <= 60 feet

    “Maximum building height shall be determined through the PUD rezoning process. However, in no event shall building height exceed 60 feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RV as second residence on a parcel inside Webster city; longer occupancy only in PUD RV parks

    • RV must not connect to water or sanitary systems serving the principal unit
    • RV parks require rezoning to PUD

    max RV stay: <= 5 days per 60-day period

    “the use of one recreational vehicle as a temporary second residence is allowed on a parcel for a period of not more than five days in any sixty-day period. the rv shall not connect to any of the water or sanitary systems serving the principal residential unit.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny homes inside Webster city

    • Only in Mixed-Use future land use category
    • Requires rezoning to PUD in a pocket neighborhood
    • 4 to 12 homes per pocket neighborhood; up to 25 percent may be THOWs
    “Tiny homes are only permitted within the Mixed-Use future land use category and through a rezoning to PUD in a pocket neighborhood setting.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sewage disposal inside Webster city

    • Individual septic tank/drainfield allowed only if sewer not available and system complies with s. 381.0065 F.S. and F.A.C. ch. 64E-6
    “sewage disposal systems shall be provided that consist of: (i) individual septic tank/drainfield, or (ii) central collection system with septic tank/drainfield, or (iii) central collection system with aerobic or higher level treatment”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New development inside Webster city must connect to central sewer where available

    • Applies if sewer lines are available as defined in s. 381.0065(2)(a), F.S.
    • Water connection rule not found
    “development shall be required to connect to the central sewer system if sewer distribution and collection lines are "available," as defined in section 381.0065(2)(a), f.s.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals inside Webster city

    • Floodplain review of subdivisions and PUDs
    “Subdivision proposals, including proposals for manufactured home parks and subdivisions, and planned unit developments, shall be reviewed to determine that:”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood hazard areas inside Webster city

    • Floodplain development permit or approval required; subject to inspection by floodplain administrator
    “Development for which a floodplain development permit or approval is required shall be subject to inspection.”

Rules another office applies inside Webster

Webster does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicState

    Septic systems inside Webster city; state agencies review wastewater system compliance

    • City approving authority may rely on preliminary state review
    “Primary responsibility for determining whether proposed wastewater facilities comply with applicable state regulations lies with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) or the Florida Department of Health.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder inside Webster city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Webster city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Webster city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Webster city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Main residential districts inside Webster city
13 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Camping on your land
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Webster publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Sumter County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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