Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Sopchoppy, Florida

Sopchoppy’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Development, including construction, inside Sopchoppy city

  • Application is filed with the city clerk
  • Minor repairs not affecting structural integrity may be approved by the city clerk or building official

  “No development shall begin without the appropriate development permit.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Sopchoppy city limits

  • Chapter 119 Zoning of the Land Development Code defines R-1 to R-4 residential districts

  “The provisions of this section apply to the R-1 High Density Residential District.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Sopchoppy city

  • Residential districts R-1 to R-4 plus an RV Park Commercial supplemental district; full district list not reviewed

  “The provisions of this section apply to the R-4 Highway Residential District.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 High Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

  • Minimum lot dimensions width 60 feet, depth 100 feet

  minimum lot size: >= 10890 sq ft

  “Minimum lot size: One-fourth acre (10,890 square feet).”

  3 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 Medium Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

    “Minimum lot size: One dwelling per one acre.”

  • Specified — R-3 Low Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

    “Minimum lot size: One dwelling per five acres.”

  • Specified — R-4 Highway Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

    “Minimum lot area: Single-family dwelling or mobile home; one dwelling per acre.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-3 Low Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

  • Front yard 15 feet
  • Existing encroaching structures may be rebuilt in the same footprint only

  rear yard principal: >= 20 ft · rear yard accessory: >= 10 ft

  “Front yard: 15 feet. b. Rear yard: 20 feet for principal structures and ten feet for accessory structures.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 High Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

  • R-2, R-3 and R-4 also set 35 feet
  • Section 119-211 cross-reference not reviewed

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “Maximum building height: 35 feet in height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV occupancy inside Sopchoppy city; RV Park Commercial District

  • RV parks need a minimum 25-acre development area
  • Rental for longer periods allowed with only one RV unit stored per lot
  • RV use outside RV parks not addressed in the sections reviewed

  typical stay: <= 180 days (longer rentals allowed under stated limits)

  “Recreational vehicle parks generally accommodate transitory and seasonal visitors who reside in the park for periods of 180 days or less.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  R-4 Highway Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

  • Mobile homes must be secured by tie-downs, skirted and have the tongue removed
  • One dwelling per acre; lot side abutting highway at least 300 feet
  • Code is inconsistent on R-3: it lists mobile homes as permitted and as prohibited

  “The intent of this district is to provide areas suitable for single-family and mobile home dwelling units and to reduce urban sprawl.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — R-1 High Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

    “All uses not specifically or provisionally permitted herein including mobile homes.”

• Septic permitRequired

  R-3 Low Density Residential District inside Sopchoppy city

  • Health department and DEP permits must precede the city development permit in R-3
  • Other districts not confirmed in sections reviewed

  “Appropriate permits from the state department of health and DEP must be obtained prior to issuance of city development permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  New development inside Sopchoppy city where county sewer cannot be reached

  • Private septic must be fully approved by state and local authorities including F.A.C. ch. 64E-6

  “If connection to the county sanitary sewer system cannot be achieved a private septic tank may be used instead.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  New development inside Sopchoppy city

  • Applies to development requiring sanitary sewer or potable water
  • Septic tank allowed if county sewer connection cannot be achieved
  • No distance threshold stated

  “All new development within the city requiring sanitary sewer must hook-up to the county sanitary sewer system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside Sopchoppy city

  • Chapter 117 Subdivisions sets design standards; lot sizes may not fall below local, state or federal minimums

  “Where septic tanks will be used in a subdivision, the minimum lot size preferred shall be one acre.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development within flood hazard areas inside Sopchoppy city

  • Applies including to structures exempt from the Florida Building Code

  “shall first make application to the floodplain administrator, and the building official if applicable, and shall obtain the required permit(s) and approval(s).”

• Permit processPartial

  Development permits inside Sopchoppy city

  • Application describes the work, its location and proposed use; signed by owner or agent

  “Each application for a permit and, where required, the appropriate fee, shall be filed with the city clerk on a form furnished for this purpose”

Rules another office applies inside Sopchoppy

Sopchoppy 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 (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage systems inside Sopchoppy city; the city code sends them to the Florida Department of Health (county health unit)

  • Governed by section 381.0065, F.S. and chapter 64E-6, F.A.C. as cited by the city code

  “Florida Department of Health for onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; section 381.0065, F.S. and chapter 64E-6, F.A.C.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Sopchoppy city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Sopchoppy city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Sopchoppy city
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Sopchoppy city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Sopchoppy 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.