The Florida Senate

Any landowner or occupier may file a petition with the board of adjustment alleging that there are great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship in the way of her or his carrying out upon her or his lands the strict letter of the land use regulations prescribed by ordinance approved by the supervisors and praying the board to authorize a variance from the terms of the land use regulations in the application of such regulations to the lands occupied by the petitioner. Copies of such petition shall be filed by the petitioner with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall have the right to appear and be heard at such hearing. Any owner or occupier of lands lying within the district who shall object to the authorizing of the variance prayed for may intervene and become a party to the proceedings. If the board shall determine that there are great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship in the way of applying the strict letter of any of the land use regulations upon the lands of the petitioner, it shall have power by order to authorize such variance from the terms of the land use regulations, in their application to the lands of the petitioner, as will relieve such great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship and will not be contrary to the public interest, and such that the spirit of the land use regulations shall be observed, the public health, safety, and welfare secured, and substantial justice done.