Department of Development Support
and Environmental Management
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Environmental Services

The mission of Environmental Services is to preserve the natural resources and protect the citizens of the community, while improving quality of life, by promoting and permitting responsible development.

  

Contact

  • Development Support and Environmental Management
  • 435 N. Macomb Street
    Renaissance Center, 2nd Floor
    Tallahassee, FL  32301
  • FAX: 850-606-1302

The Environmental Services Division provides environmental permitting and inspection services, oversees the Stormwater Operating Permit program, undertakes the environmental code enforcement process, implements the Petroleum Storage Tank Regulation Program, and assists citizens by serving as a Service Advisor.

The environmental permitting review process verifies compliance with Leon County’s Land Development Code (LDC) for various types of projects within unincorporated Leon County including residential structures, commercial projects, subdivisions, demolition, grading, tree removal, vegetation management, etc. During this process staff verify all applicable LDC standards are met, such as natural feature delineation, stormwater management, flood protection, tree removal, landscaping, natural area preservation, sediment and erosion control, and tree protection. Upon issuance of the permit, staff routinely inspect the site to verify compliance with the LDC and any special conditions of the permit.

Environmental Services staff oversee the Stormwater Operating Permit program for all stormwater management facilities within unincorporated Leon County. The Stormwater Operating Permits are renewed every three years. During the renewal period, staff conduct a compliance inspection of the facility and manage the paperwork and records updates.

All violations of the environmental portions of the LDC are handled by Environmental Services staff. The code enforcement process includes on-site inspections, notices of violations and stop work orders, as well as hearing before Code Enforcement Board or the Circuit Court. Alleged environmental violations can be reported directly to the Environmental Services or Code Compliance Services Divisions.

Leon County Environmental Services staff, contracted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), administer the Petroleum Storage Tank Regulation Program within Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties. This program ensures compliance with state and federal storage tank regulations and provides aquifer protection and emergency management. By having tank inspectors locally, staff can respond quickly to reports of petroleum product discharges, and are able to witness the removal and installation of all local storage tank systems.

Environmental Services has a Service Advisor available to answer questions by phone or in person. The Environmental Service Advisor can assist with questions related to environmental features on a property, if a permit is required, the subdivision and/or development process, and the environmental permitting process. In addition, the Service Advisor can provide more information not shown on this page. To speak to a Service Advisor, please contact our office at 850-606-1300 and ask for the Service Advisor for Environmental Services.

Did you know?
On October 13, 2021, the State Division of Historical Resources (DHR) notified the City of Tallahassee and Leon County it would cease providing cultural resource clearance letters as of November 23, 2021.  In the past, DHR has performed desktop cultural resource reviews free of charge for development applicants within Leon County.  Since learning about this change, City and County staff developed cultural resource procedures to ensure an appropriate level of cultural resource review while not delaying development applications. 

For more Environmental Services information not shown on this page, please contact our office at 850-606-1300 and ask for the Service Advisor for Environmental Services.

 

Services Provided

Environmental Management Permit

Document used to capture the construction specification for a project, and that demonstrates compliance with County Ordinances.

Natural Features Inventory

Document utilized to identify and document site specific natural features.

Environmental Impact Analysis

Document completed to conceptually verify compliance of a project with applicable stormwater standards

Stormwater Operating

Document that memorializes the completed stormwater management improvement, and is to be renewed in a 3-year cycle.

Vegetation Management

Document used to identify specific tree removal, or other vegetation control desired by the applicant.

SAC

The Science Advisory Committee (SAC) is a joint County and City Board-appointed nine-member committee tasked with evaluating and reporting findings to the County Commission on the scientific evidence and making recommendations concerning policies and programs that pertain to environmental issues in developed and developing areas, and evaluating the need for further data collection and analysis on issues approved by the Board of County Commissioners or the appropriate administrator.  They meet the first Friday of each month at the DSEM office, located at 435 N. Macomb St.

GRACE Program

The GRACE program provides the ability for developers within the Urban Services Area (USA) of unincorporated Leon County to reduce the amount of area on their project site that must be committed to landscaping, or to natural area if the areas are not preservation features.  In exchange, the developer is required to convey to the County other environmentally sensitive lands, specifically floodprone lands, that are vested or allowed to be developed.  The program allows developers to meet 25% to 95% of their landscaping and 75% to 100% of their natural area requirements "off site" by conveying an area equivalent to twice the amount of land area that would otherwise be devoted to landscaping or natural area.  The program allows the greatest amount of flexibility for development within those zoning districts intended to be the most intensely developed, and provides less flexibility for districts intended to be developed at more moderate intensities.  The GRACE Program regulations are found in Section 10-4.346 of the Leon County Land Development Code.  For a listing of potential floodprone lands that would qualify for the program, please contact the Environmental Services Division at 850-606-1300.

Contact us

Development Support and Environmental Management
435 N. Macomb Street, 2nd Floor
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Tel: +1 850 606 1300
Fax: +1 850 606 1301

 

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