The Sebastian Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to grant a variance allowing a 12-by-30-foot (360-square-foot) tiki hut to remain at 851 Wascena Avenue, despite the property already reaching the city's 30% maximum building coverage.

Staff said the house and attached garage were built to the maximum allowed coverage for the RS-10 zoning district and that the tiki hut had been erected without a permit. Dori Bosworth, community development staff, told the board the state statute the contractor cited earlier exempts such structures only from the Florida Building Code — not from local zoning controls such as setbacks and maximum building coverage. Bosworth recommended approval with the condition that the additional 360 square feet of coverage apply only to the existing tiki hut and not as a general increase that would allow any future accessory structure to be added.

Board members discussed whether homebuilders or contractors should notify buyers when a model home reaches the maximum buildable area. Vice Chair Jones said the city should contact contractors who erect tiki huts to make clear they must obtain local reviews and permits. A neighbor who lives directly behind the property, Kim Papadopoulos, spoke in favor of keeping the tiki hut, saying, “this tiki hut is absolutely amazing. It does so much for my property to go out and look at this beautiful tiki hut.”

The board voted by roll call: Vice Chair Jones — yes; Councilman Dodd — yes; Councilman Nunn — yes; Chairman McPartland — yes. The board included the standard two-month removal window as an alternative if the variance had been denied, but instead approved the variance with the limiting condition.

The board's approval allows the homeowner to keep the existing structure but does not create a precedent for adding any other accessory structures that would put the lot over allowable coverage.