Code Enforcement

Game Day Yard Parking Permit Information & Requirement in Residential Neighborhoods

• Renters offering parking must provide a permission letter from the homeowner

• The current annual cost is $58.00 for the period August 1 - July 31

• Applications are available online or they can be picked up at the Code Enforcement Division, Thomas Center B, Room 158, 306 NE 6th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, (352) 334-5030

• Paid parking is allowed only on the special events listed above, as designated by the City of Gainesville.

• Parking is allowed only on the day of the event starting at 8 AM and ending at midnight, or 3 hours after the end of the event, whichever is later

• One temporary, on-site sign advertising parking is allowed

• All trash, signs, and other items must be removed by 6 PM the day after the event

• Parking is allowed only on private property and shall not extend into any public area

• The permit must be displayed conspicuously through each event.

On April 17, 2014, the City of Gainesville adopted new parking regulations for College Park and University Heights. For the full version of the adopted ordinance please visit www.cityofgainesville.org and select “Municipal Code” found under the Government tab or contact the Code Enforcement Division.  The Ordinance is found under Sec. 30-7.7.B.

In June, 2014, an information packet which included the parking plan application was mailed to all affected property owners.  Parking plans are to be returned to the City of Gainesville Code Enforcement Division no later than August 1, 2014. Once the parking plan is approved, the plan is to be implemented within 90 days. The parking plan should clearly show:

• The location and extent of the proposed parking area;
• A general circulation plan showing how vehicles will safely access the parking are from a legal driveway connection; and
• The location and type of borders and parking area coverage materials to be uses.

Drawings do not need to be professionally done but they must be completed in a manner that will allow the reviewer to clearly understand the aforementioned details. Different options are available for parking areas consisting of 1-4 spaces and those that have 5 or more spaces. Those who feel they have an existing parking area that meets the conditions provided will need to return a completed parking plan application demonstrating that the parking area includes the bulleted items above.

For questions, please feel free to contact the Code Enforcement Division at (352) 334-5030 or codes@cityofgainesville.org. 

Code Enforcement Division
Thomas Center B
306 NE 6th Ave, Room 158
Gainesville, FL 32601

Office Number:  352-334-5030

Sec. 30-5.36  allows for the keeping or raising of fowl or livestock within the RSF-1 through 4, RC, U1, and U2 districts as an accessory use, subject to the following standards:

Limitations:

A limit of 10 (ten) hens, which are kept or raised for personal use only, are allowed per single family residence.  Horses and other equine animals, cattle, goats and sheep, pigs and rabbits are not permitted.

Prohibited Activities:

1. On-premise sales of fowl or livestock or fowl or livestock byproducts (e.g. eggs, milk).

2. Commercial raising or keeping of fowl or livestock.

3. The keeping of roosters (defined as a male chicken of any age and generally characterized by an ability to crow) and any other crowing chickens are prohibited, as well as the slaughtering of hels in the RSF-1 through 4, RC, U1, U2 districts.

Nuisance Prohibited:

The raising and keeping of all fowl or livestock shall be done in such a manner so as not to create a public nuisance as set forth in chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances.

Chicken coops within the RSF-1 through 4, RC U1, U2 districts:

1. Hens shall be contained within a covered chicken coop or fenced pen area. The coop and fenced pen area shall be located in the rear half of the residential lot behind the principal structure. It shall be unlawful for any person to allow hens to run at large upon the streets, alleys or other public places of the city, or upon the property of any other person. 

2. The coop and fenced pen area shall meet the setback requirements for an accessory structure in the applicable zoning district.

3. The coop and pen area shall be kept in a clean sanitary manner, free of insects and rodents, offensive odors (which shall not be detectable at property boundaries), excessive noise, or any other condition that could potentially cause a nuisance. Stored feed shall be secured in rodent-proof and raccoon-proof enclosed containers.

4. A building permit is not required for the coop if it is movable or prefabricated, and 12 square feet or less in size. 

Landlord Permits are required for full house rentals including short-term rentals such as Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. if they are located in a single family residential zone (RSF-1; RSF-2; RSF-4; RC; all PD’s designated for residential use at a density of more than eight dwelling units per acre; and all other PD’s as may be specified in the rezoning ordinance).

Currently, this subject is being discussed by the City Commission.  Additional information will be provided as it is received.

Every rental, as well as every residential property within the city limits of Gainesville, Florida, is subject to the City’s Code of Ordinances. These departments can assist with the following issues:

• Code Enforcement - (352) 334-5030 - Junk, trash, debris in the yard, also yard parking in yard  within the University Context Area
  
  
• Gainesville Police Department - (352) 955-1818 - noise or on street parking issues
  
  
• Solid Waste - (352) 334-2330 - Trash on the right-of-way, trash receptacles remaining at the curb, or overflowing garbage 

Issues can be reported through Gainesville's 311GNV AP which can be downloaded from your AP store or complaints can be submitted through the city's website at 
http://www.cityofgainesville.org/openGNV/311GNV.aspx 

The following sign regulations are contained in the City Code of Ordinances:

Residential Districts:
Section 30-9.5 (a) of the Code of Ordinances allows temporary signs on residential zoned properties as follows:

• No electrical parts or usage unless ULI listed
• Signs cannot exceed 6 square feet.
• Maximum height is 4 feet on single family properties, 8 feet for multi-family properties which includes apartment complexes.
• Multi-family properties can have a maximum number of 6 signs per property total including their own.
• Setback must be 10 feet from side property lines

Non-residential Districts:
Section 30-9.5(a) of the Code of Ordinances allows temporary signs on non-residential zoned properties as follows:

• Signs cannot exceed 32 square feet with a maximum height of 8 feet.
• Setback must be 10 feet from side property lines
• The maximum number of signs is 4 per property including their own

Non-residential Districts:
Section 30-9.5(a) of the Code of Ordinances allows temporary signs on non-residential zoned
properties as follows:

• Signs cannot exceed 32 square feet with a maximum height of 8 feet.
• Setback must be 10 feet from side property lines 
• The maximum number of signs is 4 per property including their own

Public Right of Way:
No sign is permitted on any public right-of-way per Section 30-9.4(a) (3) of the Code of Ordinances. Such signs are subject to removal and disposal by the City of Gainesville without notice or compensation. Parties responsible for the placement of these signs are subject to Civil Citations.

Public right-of-way generally includes medians, roundabouts, and the land adjacent to streets that include public infrastructure (utility poles, water meters, traffic signal boxes, utility boxes, sidewalks, etc.).

Vision Triangle Obstructions:
Signage should be posted on private property, away from intersections so as to not impede the view of oncoming traffic.

Removal of Signs:
The City of Gainesville requires removal of signs in no more than 10 calendar days after the election.