Walton County board orders house mover to correct placement after second‑floor balcony intrudes into setback

The Walton County board on an appeal hearing ordered the contractor who moved a home to correct the structure’s placement after staff found a second‑floor balcony and roof overhang intruded into the county’s 7.5‑foot side setback, and the board did not grant the property owner’s requested variance.

The issue arose when Edmund Zlotem, the property owner, applied for building permits for additions and a new porch and reported that Walton County planning and zoning staff told him “the Second Floor balcony is overhanging on my setback,” meaning the balcony extended into the required 7.5‑foot side yard, Zlotem told the board.

County staff told the board they reviewed the request as a variance from the Walton County Land Development Code and recommended against granting it. “The requested variance does not appear to satisfy the minimum requirements of section 1.16.0.03 of the land development code,” a staff member told the board and asked to enter the staff report into the record. The director’s determination, dated March 22, 2023, also stated that once the structure was relocated out of the…