FAQs
- Variance
- Additional Variance (New)
- Special Exception
- Special Exception Communication Tower
- Re-advertisement
- Minor Modification/Extension (New)
- Additional Zoning Variance Fee: When more than one variance is requested for a property, staff must conduct a separate analysis for each additional variance, increasing the review and processing time.
- BZA Variance Minor Modification/Extension: When an approved variance requires an administratively reviewed minor modification, or when an applicant requests an extension to prevent the approval from expiring, staff must review and process the request. The Zoning Manager must then review the request and issue a determination.
- Fence Permit Resubmittal Fee: A resubmitted fence permit requires additional staff review and processing.
- Paver Permit Fee: The installation of pavers requires a permit, which involves staff review and processing.
Which application fees have been updated?
The Orange County Zoning Division is updating the following Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application fees:
Why is Orange County proposing to update these fees?
The affected fees have not been reviewed or updated since 2014. Current fees no longer reflect the County’s cost to provide permit and application reviews, site inspections, and advertisements required for public hearings. The fee update is intended to better align fees with the actual cost of providing these services.
How were the proposed fees developed?
Staff conducted an internal cost analysis of the application and permitting processes. The analysis identified each step in the process and calculated the average amount of staff time required to complete those steps. Direct costs were then calculated based on the salaries of the staff members involved. Reasonable indirect costs associated with processing applications, including printing notices, postage, and newspaper advertisements, were also included.
What is driving the addition of the four new zoning fee categories in the resolution: Additional Zoning Variance Fee, BZA Variance Minor Modification/Extension, Fence Permit Resubmittal Fee, and Paver Permit Fee?
The same analysis of direct and indirect costs was conducted for each of these application processes.
Why are the proposed fees significantly higher than the current fees?
Because the fees have not been updated since 2014, the current amounts no longer reflect the staff time and resources needed to provide these services.
When would the updated fees go into effect?
The updated fees will go into effect on October 1, 2026.