[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6610282,"mediaKeyId","2904556-5214277e1f0adef76fcebf87dffead76","parentId",2904556,"title","Marion County adopts animal‑related land‑use definitions; waives $1,000 special‑use fee for high‑volume owners through April 30, 2026","audioSeconds",3988,"startMs",1098000,"endMs",5086000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904556-5214277e1f0adef76fcebf87dffead76&start=1098&end=5086","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904556-5214277e1f0adef76fcebf87dffead76/thumbnail_1098000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610282/Marion-County/Florida/Marion-County-adopts-animalrelated-landuse-definitions-waives-1000-specialuse-fee-for-highvolume-owners-through-April-30-2026","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610282-bc8d5fd2259eff8d2e9ad0dc719ce8ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150091&Signature=UP4babuitqhJI2SIXtZKnmZgwYiWME8trMQMH5xLt8GPaTr7RnJZtjSv568lVByTYd1iVZKQMKUagwhPaGtzTkjH-L2~iEPLZDSDjcKRcuCFoU8mU~R9d5u7~1wW6gD4jJrtr1B0aTM-XasX3FE~aUd85-5K~qLFpgyGI48EXs5a7d1wU1m1mQwg0CVsNR~PdyQ9qHVHVYM7F1sXvCMkEoR2GnPWD12jIArKU3EL1~D1PHLkgKKNcaS0n2Z~rQsGVVhBXsPjU0Osy6e8Fovb2~6CrexDG~npZNBID92b-xGkvi3WdW65~SNEqJo7GQJ-4u71sgPiea735-sHUw5PqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion County","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Marion County Board of County Commissioners on March 25 approved amendments to Land Development Code Article 1, Division 2 definitions that clarify terms for animal‑related business, animal‑related organization, commercial breeder and a new “high‑volume owner” designation. The board also adopted a policy that will require a special‑use permit for personal owners with 30 or more dogs and/or cats and agreed to waive the $1,000 special‑use application fee for qualifying high‑volume owners who apply by April 30, 2026.

Assistant county attorney Dana Lasky and county staff told the board the changes align the Land Development Code with recent changes to the county’s animal ordinance and make explicit which activities already require special‑use review. Lasky explained the practical effect: “What this language does is that it increases that if you have 30 or more dogs or cats in aggregate, you now would also need a special use permit.” Staff emphasized the amendments do not remove existing permit or inspection requirements already in the animal ordinance for owners with 15 or more animals.

The amendments and board discussion focused largely on thresholds and fees. County staff listed current fees and inspection practices: the animal‑permit application is $100; staff said inspection fees start at $45 for lower‑volume operations and increase for larger operations; a special‑use permit application is $1,000, with typical advertising costs of $50–$100 per notice and administrative renewals of $300. Stephanie Owens, animal control manager, told the commission: “Today, for any animal permit, the application fee is a hundred dollars.” County staff also said annual inspections are now expected (the animal ordinance previously required semiannual inspections).

Public comment ran more than an hour and a half and included breeders, fox‑hound clubs, hobby breeders, rescue operators and other residents. Speakers who operate rescues urged the board to avoid fees or processes that would make small rescues unsustainable. “They are front porch operations that are fueled by classroom bake sales, strangers pocket change, and animal loving community,” said Rachel Perez, describing local rescue groups. Several hobby breeders said the proposed fees and permit requirements could be financially burdensome for small, noncommercial operations. Fox‑hound and field‑sport representatives asked whether national‑association oversight (for example, membership in the Masters of Fox Hounds Association or American Kennel Club) could be recognized in the permitting process.

Board members debated the tradeoffs between a public special‑use review (which includes mailed notice to neighbors, public hearings and the ability to attach site‑specific conditions) and administratively issued animal permits. Commissioners who favored retaining the special‑use requirement at a higher threshold said it preserves neighborhood notice and gives the board the ability to impose location‑specific conditions. Commissioners concerned about fee impacts proposed a one‑year amnesty for existing high‑volume owners so they could come into compliance without paying the $1,000 special‑use fee.

The motion the board approved (mover not specified in the transcript; seconded by Commissioner Curry) adopted the definitions as proposed, set the high‑volume owner trigger at 30 animals for the special‑use requirement for personal owners, and directed staff to prepare a resolution granting a temporary waiver of the $1,000 special‑use application fee for qualifying high‑volume owners who apply by April 30, 2026. Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance language and the amnesty approach.

County staff said that regardless of the special‑use decision, the animal ordinance already requires owners of 15 or more animals to obtain an animal permit that includes proof of rabies vaccination and county licensure, a contingency plan in case of owner death or incapacitation, a working relationship with a licensed veterinarian, and inspections. Staff noted the director of animal services can deny, modify or revoke animal permits based on capacity to care and standards of care in the ordinance.

The board asked staff to publish clear guidance and frequently asked questions explaining the difference between the animal permit and the special‑use process, and to advise high‑volume owners about the amnesty and how to apply. Commissioners said they would revisit the matter if enforcement data or additional applications suggested the threshold or fees needed adjustment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marion County - Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing Meeting on 2025-04-08 6:00 PM - The Second of Two Public Hearings to Consider an Ordinance to Amend the Marion County Land Development Code - Apr 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Marion County Board of County Commissioners on March 25 approved amendments to Land Development Code Article 1, Division 2 definitions that clarify animal‑related terms and set a special‑use permit trigger at 30 or more dogs and/or cats for personal owners.","taxTitle","Marion County, Florida","taxId",4897,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610286,"Marion County commissioners approve spacing and height limits for multifamily near single‑family homes",224,835000,1059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2904556-5214277e1f0adef76fcebf87dffead76&start=835&end=1059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2904556-5214277e1f0adef76fcebf87dffead76/thumbnail_835000.jpg","/articles/6610286/Marion-County/Florida/Marion-County-commissioners-approve-spacing-and-height-limits-for-multifamily-near-singlefamily-homes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610286-571e8df68afc07f12208c162727ae10b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150091&Signature=QwRYV1ADSdgusisjCcCR~yJfV1LKweTJWgoUtWJYIT8PrwOcmBWhinzXbY6bjUjRiXsHNmWPCCPWoaRBSOkDywJDC46m3~jA3rIdV00deJsGVsYJeYuhgL8yQ-7c28Dru0wbv00b5Y7FZ1At6EMM0mKQrVLFOsfd6BxZE6kgT77QER7AlnZUky1nKip38jSF0kjaSV1~NNWU-jZDXrSsoRS-GbeKa4AJ~FyZi6ycYtPjsw~gHojyZytHoX4Q0tV~lxG32mnzCw-t7A43APFUoVclmIdIGm41lvOqFb7~0eDe~kaV-STag~CF8h9meI-qUchpflq-4SNY73awMjm9Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners voted unanimously March 25 to amend the county Land Development Code for section 4.2.11 to set spacing and relative height limits when multifamily buildings are adjacent to single‑family homes.

The change, approved after the second of two public hearings, requires a 100‑foot buffer and limits multifamily buildings within that buffer to no greater than twice the height — measured in stories — of adjacent single‑family structures, with a minimum multifamily height set at two stories.

Kenway Rocker of Growth Services presented the measure, telling the board, “This is the second of 2 public hearings for section 4.2.11, multiple family, multiple family dwelling dwellings. . . . staff presented the proposed, spacing when it's multiple family up against single family homes of 100 feet, and within that 100 feet, the multifamily cannot be anything more than twice the height of what's adjacent or cannot be higher than what's allowed if the land is vacant.” The proposal moved from an earlier numeric‑foot limit to a measure tied to number of stories to reduce ambiguity about building height.

David Tillman, chairman of the Land Development Regulation Committee, told the board the change tracks the committee’s intent. “The primary change that y'all have made here is at 30 feet and going to the 2 stories. I think that's very similar to what we were trying to accomplish,” Tillman said, adding the revised language “follows suit” with previous committee work.

Commissioner Stone made the motion to adopt the amendment to section 4.2.11 (R‑3 multiple family dwelling classification); Commissioner Curry seconded. With all commissioners present voting in favor, the motion passed unanimously.

No members of the public addressed this specific item during the hearing. After the vote the board closed that portion of the agenda and moved on to a separate public hearing on definitions in Article 1, Division 2 of the Land Development Code.

The ordinance change formalizes the 100‑foot spacing and story‑height approach in the county code; county staff said the change was intended to provide clearer, measurable standards for developers and neighbors when multifamily housing is sited next to single‑family neighborhoods.","After a second public hearing, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to Land Development Code section 4.2.11 setting spacing and story‑height limits for multifamily developments adjacent to single‑family homes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Marion County adopts animal‑related land‑use definitions; waives $1,000 special‑use fee for high‑volume owners through April 30, 2026

Marion County commissioners approve spacing and height limits for multifamily near single‑family homes