Create an MSBU

Click HERE for more information about active and in-process street lighting MSBUs.

The MSBU Program provides an alternative funding opportunity for owners of property in unincorporated Seminole County to obtain street lighting for their neighborhoods. When an MSBU assessment district is created, each property owner within the MSBU shares in the cost of the lighting equipment and the utility cost. Interested property owners or developers may apply though the MSBU Program for creating a new street lighting MSBU.  The MSBU Street Lighting Application Packet provides an overview of the application process. The creation of an MSBU requires community involvement and support, and the basic steps include: (1) Apply, (2) Review, (3) Petition, (4) Create, and (5) Implement.

Applications to create an MSBU will be considered given the following criteria is met:

• The properties that are to be benefited by the public service are located within the unincorporated area of Seminole County;
• The property upon which the services are provided are publicly owned, leased or granted easement;
• The proposed assessment boundary contains a minimum of two distinct assessable parcels;
• The proposed service is a service type authorized by the BCC; and
• The proposed service components meet the MSBU Program guidelines for public property and/or serves acceptable public purpose.
  Equipment installation and the initial assessment levy are coordinated with fiscal year and property tax year. Applications received from January 1 through March 31 are processed for service implementation as soon as feasible after October 1 of the same calendar year. The initial assessment levy with be scheduled with the first availble property tax year. Applications submitted from April 1 through December 31 will be processed for implementation in the following calendar year.
   

The MSBU Street Lighting Application Packet may be printed from this website, or may be obtained by emailing or contacting the MSBU Program as follows: 

Phone : (407) 665-7178
Office: 1101 East First Street, Sanford, FL 32771.

 5 Step Process to Create an MSBU

MSBU Program Brochure

MSBU Application Packet

UPGRADING or ADDING EQUIPMENT to an ACTIVE MSBU

Equipment change (additions and/or upgrades) requests are evaluated by the MSBU Program according to the nature of the change and the potential financial impact to the MSBU. Equipment changes associated with established MSBUs are defined as either "essential" or "elective". An essential change is safety related; while an elective change carries a more discretionary nature and is not safety related. To be safety related, the requested equipment change (generally adding a light or changing the illumination output) must be approved by the power company lighting engineer and justified on a safety related basis.

Essential equipment modification may be implemented with limited community involvement, providing the financial impact on the MSBU would yield an assessment increase not to exceed 20%. Requests for essential changes meeting the combined criteria (safety related and = 20% increase) can be accommodated through the equipment change application process without implementing a petition process. Essential equipment change requests yielding a greater increase in assessment require submittal of an equipment change application and the distribution of a petition document. To honor an equipment change under this criteria (safety related and >20% increase), the petition must be supported by at least 55% of the property owners included in the boundaries of the MSBU.

Elective equipment changes, such as upgrades to decorative equipment styles, and other non-safety related changes require submittal of an equipment change application and the distribution of a petition document. To honor an elective equipment change, the petition must be supported by at least 55% of the property owners included in the boundaries of the MSBU. If so supported, the equipment change will be implemented with the next fiscal year budget.

Equipment change applications are accepted throughout the year. Applications for equipment change that require the petitioning process must be received between January 1 and March 1 to be eligible for implementation in the first available fiscal year or October 1 of the same calendar year. Applications received after March 1st will be eligible for implementation in the next available fiscal year (October 1 of following calendar year).