Montverde board approves tighter rear setback option, amends accessory-structure rules

The Town of Montverde Planning & Zoning Board on April 2 approved Ordinance No. 2025-55, an amendment to Chapter 10 of the town’s Land Development Code that adjusts setback options for accessory structures. The board voted 5-0 to adopt a version that retains a 7½-foot setback option for small sheds (120 square feet or less) while specifying a 15-foot rear setback for larger accessory structures in many cases; the ordinance preserves existing 25-foot protections where applicable, including wetland and lake buffers.

Associate Town Planner Lisa Busto reviewed the staff presentation and specified dimensional limits, saying, "it is 14 feet" for the acceptable height of an accessory structure. Town Manager Paul Larino added a practical limit for fences, noting the "maximum height for a fence is 6 feet," and staff reiterated that wetland or lake-adjacent properties must generally observe a 50-foot buffer from the property line (pools are treated as a 25-foot exception). During the public hearing, residents asked how larger accessory uses — for example a one-car garage or a mother-in-law suite — would be treated and where an 800-square-foot structure could be sited; the board and staff responded that different standards apply depending on size and use and that zoning requirements would control placement.

The motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-55 with a 15-foot rear setback for larger accessory structures carried 5-0. The ordinance language allows multiple scenarios (7½ feet, 15 feet or the existing 25 feet) depending on square footage, adjacency to wetlands or lakes, and whether the structure is a pool or an accessory dwelling.