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Cedar Key business owner asks Levy County for consistent sign enforcement and reconsideration of primitive campground closure
Summary
Daniel Smith, a Cedar Key resident and small-business owner, told the board he relied on county guidance to develop a low-impact "primitive campground" and keep a longstanding charter sign; he asked commissioners to apply sign rules uniformly and to weigh his documented investments if the county denies campground permits.
Daniel Smith told the Levy County Board of County Commissioners that he had invested years of labor and capital in a primitive, low-impact campground and asked the board to apply sign and permitting rules consistently.
Smith, who identified himself as a Cedar Key resident and fishing-charter operator, said the fishing-charter sign at 9850 Southwest State Road 24 has stood on his property since about 2007, is located roughly 30 yards inside his property line and is not on county property. He said county staff told him to remove the sign and later ordered closure of his campground. "If signage rules are being enforced, they should be enforced uniformly across Levy County," Smith said, adding he is "not asking for any special treatment" but for "fairness, consistency, and the opportunity to operate responsibly under the same standards applied to everyone else." (Daniel Smith)
Smith described the campground as a "green primitive" model designed for self-sufficient campers who supply their own water, sanitation and power systems and do not seek RV hookups. He said he sought guidance from zoning and permitting before investing and was told he did not need permits for the model he planned. He recounted speaking with county zoning and permitting staff in 2019 and again in March 2025 before spending money on site preparation, equipment, business registration and opening plans.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the complaint and asked county staff to follow up. A county representative told Smith staff would "look into this and contact some staff." The chair thanked him for coming.
The public comment period also included requests from others for more open access to meeting agendas and time to finish remarks; commissioners said the audio record would preserve speakers' full statements. No formal board action was taken during the public comment itself; Smith's request was recorded for staff follow-up.
The county's next steps are to review the permitting history and follow up with the speaker and relevant staff; Smith asked the board to consider his documented reliance and investments if the county decides the campground cannot operate under existing guidance.
