Plain-English government glossary
Florida Government & Zoning Glossary
What does setback variance actually mean? CDD? Quasi-judicial hearing? Every term here is written at an 8th-grade reading level. We pull these definitions from real Florida public filings — search them on our public-records search.
Zoning & Land Use
comprehensive plan
A long-term blueprint that guides how a city or county will grow and develop over the next 10 to 20 years.
concurrency
A requirement that adequate public services — roads, schools, water — must be available before a new development can be approved.
conditional use
A use that is allowed in a zoning area only with special approval and specific conditions imposed by the government.
CPUD
Commercial Planned Unit Development — a zoning category for planned commercial projects that follows a custom set of rules.
density
The number of homes or housing units allowed per acre of land. Higher density means more homes in a smaller area.
DRI
Development of Regional Impact — a large-scale development project that affects more than one jurisdiction and requires extra state-level review.
FAR
Floor Area Ratio — a number that limits how much floor space a building can have relative to the lot it sits on. A FAR of 2.0 means 2 sq ft of floor for every 1 sq ft of lot.
FLUE
Future Land Use Element — the section of a comprehensive plan that describes policies for how land should be used in the future.
FLUM
Future Land Use Map — an official map showing what types of development are allowed or planned for each area of a county or city.
GMP
Growth Management Plan — a county or city's official long-term plan for managing development, infrastructure, and natural resources.
grandfathered
Allowed to continue even though it no longer meets current rules. A grandfathered structure or use pre-dates the current regulations.
intensity
The scale of commercial or industrial activity allowed on a property, measured by traffic, square footage, or hours of operation.
LDC
Land Development Code — the local rulebook for how land can be developed, covering setbacks, density, height limits, and permitted uses.
LDR
Land Development Regulations — same as LDC. The local rules governing how property can be developed and used.
lot coverage
The percentage of a lot that can be covered by buildings and paved surfaces. Limits how much of your property can be built on.
MHO
Mobile Home Overlay — a zoning layer applied on top of existing zoning that allows mobile homes in an area.
MPUD
Mixed-Use Planned Unit Development — a zoning category that allows housing, shops, and offices to coexist in one planned project.
nonconforming use
A land use that was legal when it started but no longer meets current zoning rules. It is usually allowed to continue under special rules.
plat
An official map that divides a piece of land into individual lots, streets, and common areas. Required before a new subdivision can be built.
PPL
Preliminary Plat — an early-stage map showing how land will be divided into lots for a new development.
PSP
Preliminary Subdivision Plat — same as PPL. An early map dividing land into lots before final approval.
PUD
Planned Unit Development — a zoning designation that allows a flexible mix of housing, shops, and open space in one planned project.
rezoning
Changing the official zoning designation of a piece of land, which changes what can be built or done on it.
RPUD
Residential Planned Unit Development — a zoning category for planned housing developments with flexible design rules.
setback
The minimum distance a building must be placed from the street, property line, or other feature as required by zoning rules.
special exception
Similar to a conditional use — permission to do something that isn't normally allowed in a zone, granted with specific conditions.
TTRVC
Travel Trailer / RV Campground — a zoning category designating land for RV parks and campgrounds.
variance
Permission to build something that doesn't follow the normal zoning rules for an area — for example, building closer to the street than normally allowed.
zoning
The set of rules that determine what can be built or done on land in a specific area — for example, residential, commercial, or industrial use.
Permits & Inspections
building permit
Official permission from the local government to start construction or renovation on a property. Required before most construction work can begin.
Certificate of Occupancy
Official government approval that a building is safe and ready to be occupied or used after construction or major renovation is complete.
CO
Certificate of Occupancy — official government approval that a building is safe and ready to be used or lived in after construction.
permit
Official permission from the local government to build, renovate, or change a property. Usually filed before construction starts.
permit_report
A summary of building or development permits issued during a period, often used to track construction activity across a jurisdiction.
SDP
Site Development Plan — a detailed drawing showing how a property will be built out, including buildings, parking, and landscaping.
SDPA
Site Development Plan Amendment — a change to an already-approved site development plan.
site plan
A drawing showing the layout of buildings, parking areas, landscaping, and utility connections on a property.
Process & Procedure
abstention
When a board member chooses not to vote on an item, often because of a conflict of interest. An abstention is not counted as yes or no.
agenda
The list of items a board or council plans to discuss and vote on at an upcoming meeting. Published in advance so the public can see what's coming.
agenda packet
The collection of reports, staff memos, and supporting documents given to board members before a meeting for review.
agenda_packet
The full bundle of staff reports, memos, and supporting documents given to board members before a meeting so they can review the agenda items.
annexation
When a city officially expands its boundaries to include land that was previously outside city limits.
consent agenda
A group of routine, non-controversial items that a board votes on all at once without individual discussion, to save meeting time.
continuance
A delay granted in a hearing or proceeding — the board agrees to take up the item at a future meeting instead of deciding now.
deferred
Postponed to a specific future meeting. Similar to tabled, but usually with a scheduled follow-up date.
document
A government filing that doesn't fit the other common categories — miscellaneous records, letters, or correspondence.
ex parte
Communication with a decision-maker that happens outside the official public hearing. Usually restricted or required to be disclosed in quasi-judicial cases.
first reading
The first time a proposed law is formally presented to a council for consideration. Most laws require two readings before becoming official.
impact_score
A 1-10 rating of how significant a government document is. Higher scores flag major decisions like zoning changes, big budgets, or close votes. Use this to choose how noisy your alerts should be.
meeting_transcript
A word-for-word written record of what was said during a meeting — more detailed than the minutes.
minutes
The official written record of what happened at a meeting — who attended, what was discussed, and how members voted.
moratorium
A temporary halt ordered by the government — for example, a freeze on new building permits in a certain area.
motion
A formal proposal made by a board member to take a specific action. A motion must be seconded before the board can vote on it.
notice
An official public announcement about an upcoming hearing, meeting, or government action — required by law for many decisions.
public hearing
A meeting where community members have the right to speak for or against a proposed government action before a decision is made.
quasi-judicial
A government hearing that works like a mini court case — with sworn testimony, evidence, and a decision that affects specific people or properties.
quorum
The minimum number of board members who must be present for a meeting to be legally valid and for votes to count.
recusal
When a board member formally removes themselves from voting on an item due to a conflict of interest — like owning nearby property.
remanded
Sent back to a lower board or staff for more work, additional study, or a new recommendation before coming back to the full board.
report
A staff or consultant document prepared for the board that analyzes an issue, project, or proposal and often includes a recommendation.
roll call vote
A vote where each member's name is called one by one and their individual yes or no vote is recorded in the minutes.
second
When another board member agrees to let a motion be considered and voted on. A motion without a second is dropped.
second reading
The second and usually final time a proposed law is presented before a vote. Passage on second reading makes it official.
sine die
Latin for 'without a day.' Means the meeting or session is adjourned with no scheduled follow-up date.
tabled
Postponed. The board voted to delay discussion or a decision on this item, usually to a future meeting.
tie vote
When the votes for and against are equal. A tie vote usually means the motion fails.
unanimous
A vote where every member present votes the same way. A unanimous decision shows complete agreement.
voice vote
A quick vote where members say 'aye' or 'nay' without individual names being recorded. Used for routine or uncontested items.
Legal
easement
A legal right for someone to use part of another person's property for a specific purpose, like running a utility line or using a path.
EIS
Environmental Impact Statement — a detailed study required for major projects that examines how construction will affect the environment.
eminent domain
The government's legal power to take private property for public use, as long as it pays the owner fair market value.
FIRM
Flood Insurance Rate Map — an official map showing which areas have the highest risk of flooding and what flood insurance rates apply.
legal sufficiency
A formal review by the county or city attorney confirming that a proposed law or action meets all legal requirements.
lien
A legal claim placed on a property when the owner owes money. A lien must usually be paid off before the property can be sold.
ordinance
A law passed by a local government, like a city or county. Ordinances cover things like noise limits, building rules, and land use.
resolution
A formal decision voted on by a government body. Resolutions are often used to approve contracts, policies, or official positions — they're less permanent than ordinances.
right-of-way
A strip of land the government controls — usually for roads, sidewalks, or utility lines — even if it runs through private property.
ROW
Right-of-Way — a strip of land the government controls for roads, sidewalks, or utility lines, even when it crosses private property.
SFHA
Special Flood Hazard Area — a zone with a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. Flood insurance is usually required here.
STRAP
Property Identification Number — the unique parcel number used by Lee County to identify individual pieces of property in tax and permit records.
sunshine law
Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law, which requires most government meetings to be open to the public and properly noticed in advance.
Government Bodies
ALS
Advanced Life Support — a higher level of emergency medical care that includes paramedics and advanced equipment like defibrillators.
BCC
Board of County Commissioners — the elected governing body of a county. They vote on budgets, land use, ordinances, and major contracts.
BOCC
Board of County Commissioners — same as BCC. The elected group that governs the county.
CCPC
Collier County Planning Commission — a board that reviews land use and zoning requests and makes recommendations to the county commissioners.
CDD
Community Development District — a special local government that manages and funds infrastructure like roads, water, and parks in a planned community.
city manager
A professional administrator hired by the city council to handle day-to-day government operations. Not elected.
community development district
A special local government (also called a CDD) that manages and funds infrastructure like roads, water systems, and amenities in a planned community.
county administrator
A professional administrator hired by the county commissioners to run day-to-day county operations. Not elected.
CRA
Community Redevelopment Agency — a local government body that uses tax money to improve blighted or underdeveloped areas.
DEO
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity — the state agency that handles workforce development and local government planning compliance.
dependent district
A special district whose governing board is appointed by or controlled by a city or county government.
EAC
Environmental Advisory Council — a local advisory board that reviews development projects for potential environmental impacts.
EMS
Emergency Medical Services — the ambulance and paramedic services that respond to medical emergencies.
FDEP
Florida Department of Environmental Protection — the state agency that protects Florida's air, water, and land from pollution.
FDOT
Florida Department of Transportation — the state agency responsible for roads, bridges, and public transit across Florida.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency — the federal agency that coordinates disaster response and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
HOA
Homeowners Association — a private organization that sets and enforces rules for a neighborhood and collects fees to maintain shared areas.
independent district
A special district with its own elected board and independent taxing authority, separate from city or county control.
mayor pro tem
A council member who is designated to act as mayor when the mayor is absent or unavailable.
MPO
Metropolitan Planning Organization — a regional group that coordinates transportation planning, including roads, transit, and bike paths.
PDB
Planning and Development Board — an appointed board that reviews development applications and makes recommendations to the county commission.
POA
Property Owners Association — a private organization similar to an HOA that manages rules and shared spaces for a neighborhood.
SFWMD
South Florida Water Management District — the state agency that manages water supply, flood control, and wetlands across South Florida.
special district
A local government unit created for a specific purpose like managing water, fire protection, or drainage in a defined area.
TPO
Transportation Planning Organization — same role as MPO, used in some Florida regions to plan roads and transit.
Finance & Taxation
ad valorem
Means 'according to value.' Refers to taxes based on the estimated value of property — the main source of local government funding.
budget
A government's yearly plan for how it will raise and spend money on services, staff, and projects.
CIP
Capital Improvement Program — a multi-year plan for building or upgrading public infrastructure like roads, parks, and government buildings.
contract
A legal agreement between the government and an outside company or person to provide goods, services, or construction work.
homestead exemption
A Florida tax break that reduces the taxable value of a homeowner's primary residence by up to $50,000.
IFB
Invitation for Bids — a document asking contractors to submit prices for a specific government job or purchase.
impact fee
A one-time charge paid by developers to help cover the cost of roads, schools, parks, and other public services their new project will need.
ITB
Invitation to Bid — same as IFB. A formal call for companies to submit pricing for a government contract.
millage
The property tax rate — one mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
NFIP
National Flood Insurance Program — the federal program that provides flood insurance to homeowners in participating communities.
RFP
Request for Proposals — a government document asking companies to submit detailed plans and prices for a project or service.
RFQ
Request for Qualifications — a document asking companies to describe their experience and skills before being invited to bid on a project.
Save Our Homes
A Florida law that limits how much a homestead property's assessed value can increase each year — currently capped at 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
special assessment
An extra fee charged to property owners in a specific area to pay for a public improvement that benefits them, like a new sidewalk or drainage upgrade.
TIF
Tax Increment Financing — a funding method that uses future property tax increases in an area to pay for improvements in that area today.