About the Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan is a translation of community values and aspirations into public policy. The Plan includes Goals, Objectives, and Policies intended to guide economic, social, physical, environmental, and fiscal development of the community over the next twenty years. To ensure a unified vision, the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan is a joint document adopted by both the City of Tallahassee and Leon County.
Tallahassee and Leon County jointly developed their first comprehensive plan in 1981. As a result of growth management legislation at the State level, the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan was rewritten in 1990.The Comprehensive Plan is a dynamic document and can be amended on an annual basis. Information concerning the amendment process is available in the Comprehensive Plan Amendments section.
Online Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan is comprised of multiple Elements, each addressing certain aspects of the community. Each Element is made up of aspirational goals, measurable objectives, and strategic policies. Goals are the long-term ends to which programs and activities are ultimately directed. Objectives are specific, measurable, intermediate ends that are achievable and mark progress towards goals. Policies are programs and activities conducted to achieve identified objectives and goals.
The Complete Comprehensive Plan
Download Complete Comprehensive Plan -
Please note: The Table of Contents and General Index contained within this PDF of the Complete Comprehensive Plan are for reference only and are not adopted.
Download A Citizen's Guide to the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan
Individual Comprehensive Plan Elements
Table of Contents
Introduction
Land Use Element and Land Use Addendum
Mobility Element
Utilities Element
Conservation Element
Parks and Recreation Element
Housing Element
Historic Preservation Element
Intergovernmental Coordination Element
Capital Improvements Element and Capital Improvements Schedule
Economic Development Element
Public School Facilities Element
Property Rights Element
Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Procedures
Glossary
Comprehensive Plan General Index
DISCLAIMER: This online version of the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan is posted for the convenience of the public. Effort has been made to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate and up-to-date. However, neither the City of Tallahassee nor Leon County provide any guarantee, express or implied, as to the accuracy and/or completeness of the information contained herein; nor shall either the City of Tallahassee or Leon County be liable for any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions, represented by the information contained herein. Furthermore, in no event will the City of Tallahassee or Leon County be liable for any lost profits or any damages, including direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or any other types of damages, arising out of the use of this electronic version of the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan on the Internet.
If you are relying upon the Comprehensive Plan to make a legal decision or a decision regarding purchase of property, you are urged to contact the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department directly and to review an official printed copy of the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan.
Comprehensive Plan Amendments
The City of Tallahassee and Leon County hold an annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cycle. Holding an annual cycle makes it easier for citizens to monitor and participate in the public review process and provides for efficient use of staff, outreach, and advertising resources. Information on current and recent amendment cycles is provided below.
2025 Amendment Cycle Information and Applications
Pre-Application Deadline: Thursday, September 12 (5:00 pm) - Prior to submitting a Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application, you must schedule and attend a mandatory pre-application conference. You can schedule a pre-application conference by calling the Planning Department at 850-891-6400. An application may not be submitted without a completed pre-application conference form.
Application Deadline: Friday, September 20 (5:00 pm) - Applications must be complete and upon submittal to the Department. The department has 10 workdays to determine if the application is complete and sufficient. Incomplete or insufficient documented applications will be returned to the applicant. Applications received after the deadline will be scheduled for the next available amendment cycle. If you have any questions regarding the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan amendment process, please call the Planning Department at 850-891-6400.
How to file a Comprehensive Plan Amendment - Application forms for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cycle are available below. To request an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, you must:
- Be the owner of the subject property or a legally authorized agent of the owner.
- Attend a pre-application conference.
- Submit a completed application.
All citizen-initiated text amendments must be approved by the City or County commission prior to incorporation into the plan amendment cycle. Staff will coordinate seeking this direction from the Commissions.
2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application Process and Map/Text Amendment Application Packages - The Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application Packages below includes information on the amendment process, preparing a complete application, the application form, and copies of forms need for several of the required attachments to your application.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Meeting Descriptions -The Comprehensive Plan amendment process includes a series of meetings. Descriptions of these meetings are below.
- Public Open House - This open house occurs soon after the application deadline. The primary purpose of this meeting is to inform the public of the applications received and provide an opportunity for preliminary comments.
- Local Planning Agency Workshop – This meeting provides information and an opportunity for the Local Planning Agency (LPA) to discuss proposed 2025 Cycle Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Interested citizens may attend but no formal public comment is taken.
- Local Planning Agency Public Hearing - This is a statutorily required public hearing with the Local Planning Agency. At this hearing, the LPA receives Planning Department staff recommendations on each of the proposed amendments and moves their own recommendations for City and County Commissions. Each interested citizen has up to three minutes to speak.
- Transmittal Public Hearing - This is a statutorily mandated public hearing for text amendments and large-scale amendments with the City and County Commissions. A Transmittal hearing is not required for small-scale map amendments. The Commissions vote on whether to transmit the proposed amendments to the state land planning review agencies. Each interested citizen has up to three minutes to speak.
- Adoption Public Hearing – This is a statutorily mandated public hearing for amendments with the City and County Commissions. The Commissions review comments received from State agencies regarding each of the proposed amendments and vote on whether to adopt the proposed amendments. At public hearings, each interested citizen has up to three minutes to speak.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Tentative Meeting Schedule - The 2025 Tentative Meeting Schedule includes a community open house, a Local Planning Agency workshop, and public hearings. The Local Planning Agency, City Commission, and Board of County Commissioners appreciate information that would be useful to them in their deliberations on amendment requests.
Date |
Meeting |
Purpose |
Time |
Location |
December 5
(Thursday) |
Planning Department Staff |
Open House 2025 Cycle Amendments
|
5:30 PM |
Renaissance Center
2nd Floor
435 North Macomb Street |
January 7
(Tuesday) |
Local Planning Agency |
Local Planning Agency /Planning Commission Workshop
|
6:00 PM |
Renaissance Center
2nd Floor
435 North Macomb Street |
February 4
(Tuesday) |
Local Planning Agency |
Local Planning Agency/Planning Commission Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezoning |
6:00 PM |
Renaissance Center
2nd Floor
435 North Macomb Street |
April 8
(Tuesday) |
County Commission |
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Transmittal |
6:00 PM |
County Commission Chambers
5th Floor, County Courthouse |
April 9
(Wednesday) |
City Commission |
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Transmittal |
6:00 PM |
City Commission Chambers
2nd Floor City Hall |
June 10
(Tuesday) |
County Commission |
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Adoption |
6:00 PM |
County Commission Chambers
5th Floor, County Courthouse |
June 11
(Wednesday) |
City Commission |
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Adoption |
6:00 PM |
City Commission Chambers
2nd Floor City Hall |
2024 Comprehensive Plan Amendments Submitted and Under Review
Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)
The State of Florida requires local governments to periodically assess the effectiveness of their Comprehensive Plan to adequately address changes in local conditions and changes in the State's policy regarding planning and growth management. The latest EAR was reviewed and approved June 14, 2022 at a joint commission meeting.
Adopted Evaluation and Appraisal Report (PDF)