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.