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Town rules put the squeeze on storage sheds

Families need more storage space, officials hear, but they vote to limit the size and placement of sheds nevertheless.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published July 10, 2005

REDINGTON BEACH - Earlier this year, following complaints that storage sheds were beginning to rival garages in size, the city slapped a moratorium on permits for installing new sheds.

Last week, the town commission moved to lift that moratorium when it approved a new set of shed regulations that sharply restrict their size and placement in residential yards.

This was the seventh draft of an ordinance that commissioners struggled with during recent months in an attempt to control but not ban new storage sheds.

Commissioners did not clarify if the new ordinance automatically nullifies the moratorium, which is set to expire next month. "Our demographics are changing," said Robert Epstein, chairman of the town's planning board. "We have a lot more young families with children who need more storage." Epstein said the moratorium resulted after a resident obtained a legal permit for a large shed placed in his front yard. "It looked like it was large enough to use as a garage," Epstein said.

Under the new rules, sheds no longer can be placed in front yards or be visible from the street if located in side yards.

The new rules restrict homeowners to no more than two sheds with a maximum total footprint of 100 square feet. No shed can occupy more than 65 square feet. Also, a shed cannot be more than eight feet tall or 15 feet long.

Owners of homes not on the waterfront cannot put their sheds in side or rear yards within 2.5 feet of their property lines. Owners of waterfront homes must adhere to the same rules for side yard sheds but cannot put rear yard sheds within 15 feet of their rear property line.

"People need the storage, and we've got to deal with it," said Commissioner Alberto Baraybar, who said the town has many sheds that violate even previous building codes.

In other action, the Redington Beach commission appears ready to actively pursue enforcement of its ban on short-term rentals of residential properties.

Vice Mayor Linda Wilson urged the town to cite any property owners renting out their homes for less than 180 days.

In addition to the formal zoning code violation, she wants the town to notify both county and state departments that property owners who do so may owe sales and tourist taxes. The commission asked the town attorney to draw up a formal policy on such short-term rentals for commission approval.

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 23:34:17]