Growth FAQ - Planning & Zoning

What land use regulations affect my property?

The Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code (Chapter 10 of the Tallahassee Land Development Code) are two of the key documents that affect the development of land. Whatever you propose must be consistent with both documents. The Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code assign a Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map designation, respectively, to each parcel. Both map designations identify the allowable land use for the site. Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. First, the Comprehensive Plan is the controlling document. If the Comprehensive Plan's Future Land Use Map designation is residential, for example, the Zoning Map designation cannot be commercial. Second, the Future Land Use Map designation is always a broader category, while the Zoning Map designation is much more detailed. For example, the Future Land Use Map has a single category for commercial, while the Zoning Map has a wide range of commercial categories that reflect the diversity of potential commercial uses. The two documents are different because of the purposes that they serve. The Comprehensive Plan is a long range planning document for the next 20 years. The Future Land Use Map therefore uses broad categories. The Zoning Code, on the other hand, is focused on what may be built today and what development standards should apply to different uses. That's why there are many more land use designations in the Zoning Code than in the Comprehensive Plan. Of course, there may be other documents that you need to know about depending on the unique characteristics of your land. For example, Chapter 5 of the Tallahassee Land Development Code would apply to your property if it has environmental resources. It also includes standards concerning site grading and stormwater management.