The City of Sanford, Lee County and the Town of Broadway each maintain a Board of Adjustments. The purpose of this Board is to:

• Hear and decide on requests for variances (exemptions) from the terms/standards of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO); or
• Hear and decide on requests for special use permits (wherein a specific land use is only permitted with approval by the Board of Adjustment subject to criteria as set forth in the UDO); or
• Hear and decide appeals from the decisions of the Department of Community Development in which it is alleged there is an error in an order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Department of Community Development in the enforcement of the UDO; or
• Interpret the Official Zoning Map and make decisions regarding disputed questions of lot lines or district boundary lines and similar questions.

Persons desiring to submit an application for a variance or special use permit, or to request an appeal or interpretation, shall complete an appropriate application and file with the Current Planning section of the Community Development Department.

Application for a Variance
Application for a Special Use Permit
Application for an Appeal/Interpretation

The Board of Adjustment, in each jurisdiction, meets once a month.

Sanford Board of Adjustment – 2nd Tuesday of month
Lee County Board of Adjustment – 3rd Monday of month
Broadway Board of Adjustment – 4th Monday of month

Complete applications must be submitted to the Current Planning staff by the second Friday at 5:00 pm of the preceding month to which an applicant desires to have an application considered by the appropriate Board. A public hearing is required for any and all applications to the Board. Please note that the hearings as conducted by the Board of Adjustment are quasi-judicial in nature.

These decisions involve two key elements: 1.) the finding of facts regarding the specific proposal and 2.) the exercise of some discretion in applying the standards of the ordinance. Due process requirements for quasi-judicial decisions mandate that certain standards be observed when these decisions are made. This includes a hearing with the right of the parties to offer evidence, have sworn testimony, and have findings of fact supported by competent, substantial, and material evidence.