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Seminole County adopts Land Development Code amendment to allow reasonable accommodations for certified recovery residences
Summary
The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted an amendment to the county Land Development Code adding a definition for certified recovery residences and establishing a 30-day reasonable-accommodation review process to comply with state direction and federal FHA/ADA criteria.
The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners on Monday unanimously adopted an ordinance amending the county Land Development Code to add a definition for certified recovery residences and a reasonable-accommodation review process.
Deputy County Attorney Naysa Borker told the board the change implements a state legislative requirement and aligns the county code with federal fair-housing and disability law. "Everyone that's in a certified recovery residence is considered disabled under the FHA and ADA," Borker said, describing certified recovery residences as facilities that hold a state-issued certificate of compliance and are actively managed by a certified administrator.
Under the adopted amendment, applicants for reasonable accommodation can be either individuals with a disability or providers serving them. Borker said the application must include verification of disability from a medical or social-services professional and supporting documentation. "The Development Services Director is authorized to review these applications when they come in, and they have to do so within 30 days," she said, calling the 30-day review a statutory deadline.
Commissioners raised operational and neighborhood concerns during a short question-and-answer period. Commissioner Herr asked whether certification would change a home's tax status; after discussion staff said a certified residence that operates as a business would likely lose a homestead exemption. Staff also emphasized CRRs remain subject to county building and occupancy codes.
There was no public comment on the item. After staff presentation, a motion to approve the ordinance was made and seconded; the board voted by unanimous voice to adopt the amendment.
The ordinance places the county in compliance with the state requirement and establishes a local administrative pathway for people in recovery or providers seeking accommodations. The Development Services Director will now receive and act on any reasonable-accommodation requests for certified recovery residences under the adopted code amendment.
