General standards.

Tampa City Code § 27-129

in effect

Sec. 27-129. - General standards. (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the following general standards shall be met by all applicants for special use permits: (1) The use will ensure the public health, safety and general welfare, if located where proposed and developed and operated according to the plan as submitted. (2) The use, which is listed as a special use in the district in which it is proposed to be located, complies with all required regulations and standards, including the provisions of Articles II, VI, and IX of this chapter, unless greater or different regulations are contained in the individual standards for that special use. (3) The use is compatible with contiguous and surrounding property or the use is a public necessity. (4) The use is in conformity with the Tampa Comprehensive Plan. (5) The use will not establish a precedent of or encourage more intensive or incompatible uses in the surrounding area. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to present evidence in the form of testimony, exhibits, documents, models, plans and the like to support the application for approval of a special use permit. (b) As appropriate to the nature of the special use permit involved and the particular circumstances of the case, the following considerations and standards shall apply generally, in addition to any other standards and requirements set forth concerning the class or kind of permit being considered. (1) Ingress and egress. Due consideration shall be given to adequacy of ingress and egress to the property and structure and uses thereon, with particular reference to automotive and pedestrian safety and convenience, traffic flow and control, and access in case of fire or other emergency. (2) Off-street parking and loading. Due consideration shall be given to off-street parking and loading facilities as related to adjacent streets, with particular reference to automotive and pedestrian safety and convenience, internal traffic flow and control, arrangement in relation to access in case of fire or other emergency, and screening and landscaping. (3) Refuse and service areas. Due consideration shall be given to the location, scale, design and screening of refuse and service areas; to the manner in which refuse is to be stored; to the manner of refuse collection, deliveries, shipments or other service activities, in relation to the location and nature of uses on adjoining properties; and the location and character of adjoining public ways. (4) Lighting. Due consideration shall be given to the number, size, character, location and orientation of proposed lighting for premises, with particular reference to traffic safety, glare, and compatibility and harmony with adjoining and nearby property and the character of the area. (5) Utilities. Due consideration shall be given to utilities required, with particular reference to availability and capacity of systems, location of connections, and potentially adverse appearance on other adjoining and nearby property and the character of the area. (6) Drainage. Due consideration shall be given to provision for drainage, with particular reference to effect on adjoining and nearby properties and on general drainage systems in the area. (7) Control of potentially adverse effects generally. In addition to consideration of detailed elements indicated above, as appropriate to the particular class or kind of special use permit and the circumstances of the particular case, due consideration shall be given to potentially adverse effects generally on adjoining and nearby properties, the area, the neighborhood or the city, of the use or occupancy as proposed, or its location, construction, design, character, scale or manner of operation. Where such potentially adverse effects are found, consideration shall be given to special remedial measures appropriate in the particular circumstances of the case, including screening or buffering, landscaping, control of manner or hours of operation, alteration of proposed design or construction of buildings, relocation of proposed open space or alteration of use of such space, or such other measures as are required to assure that such potential adverse effects will be compatible and harmonious with other development in the area. (c) The general standards set forth in section 27-129(a) and (b) and referenced in the preamble to section 27-132 shall not be considered or applied in connection with the review or determination of an application for a S-1 special use permit for constitutionally protected first amendment activity. The specific standards set forth in section 27-132 shall be the only standards considered or applied in connection with the review or determination of an application for a S-1 special use permit relating to constitutionally protected first amendment activity. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision, if the sale of alcoholic beverages does not constitute a change of use, as defined in this chapter, then the application shall not be reviewed for compliance with the general land development regulations, with the exception of sections 27-129(a)(1), (3)—(5) and 27-132.

Source: City of Tampa, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH27ZOLADE_ARTIIADGEPR_DIV5SPUSPEPR_S27-129GESTFetched: 10/28/2026