Department Overview

Get a birds eye view of the Department of Growth Management and learn how all of our staff work together to implement the community’s vision for quality of life and a sustainable community that promotes economic opportunity, protection of natural resources, and social equity in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of the public.

The purpose of this handbook is to serve as a roadmap and compass to enable you to navigate through the services of this department to achieve your desired outcome as a customer.
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Land Development Code

The Land Development Code (ULDC) is a collection of zoning, subdivision and other regulations that implement the policies of the Comprehensive Plan. New development in the unincorporated area is required to meet the standards of the ULDC. View the code

Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP-3)

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was established through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 in an effort to stabilize neighborhoods adversely impacted by escalating foreclosure rates. Alachua County was awarded funding under this program through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to acquire and rehabilitate single family units in designated areas of the County.

Twenty homes were either sold to qualified homebuyers or made available as affordable rental housing in the first round of NSP. Additional foreclosed homes will be acquired in designated neighborhoods using a second round of NSP funding and the net proceeds from NSP home sales. View homes for sale..

Innovation Partners"Great Partnerships lead to great communities"

We are dedicated to providing the information and assistance you need for relocating a company, starting a business, or helping your existing business achieve success. We can guide you through local regulatory requirements, and present available state and local incentives.

Learn about starting a home based business or if you qualify for incentives through the State's Qualified Target Industry (QTI) program.
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Award of Excellence for Comprehensive Plan

The Alachua County Commission was presented an Award of Excellence for its Comprehensive Plan on September 27, 2011, by Allison Megrath, AICP, Chair of the Awards Committee for the American Planning Association Florida Chapter.

The award is based on five criteria: innovation, transferability, implementation, quality and comprehensiveness, said Ms. Megrath. “The Alachua County Comprehensive Plan exceeded the requirements that are provided by the State for a Comprehensive Plan, and so I am pleased to present this award to you.
View the Comprehensive Plan Overview Poster

Better Community Award

Alachua County has received the 1000 Friends of Florida’s "Better Community Award" for adopting and implementing an innovative plan and implementing ordinances to promote multimodal transportation and sustainable patterns of development.

“Alachua County is taking important steps to provide a wider range of transportation options for its residents,” 1000 Friends President and CEO Charles Pattison, FAICP, explains. “With its mobility plan, urban services area, and multimodal transportation mitigation ordinance, Alachua County has taken a significant step to promote smarter growth.”

The Mobility PlanLearn More

• Multimodal Transportation Mitigation Program (MMTM):
  Three MMTM agreements have been approved by the BOCC.
• SW Transportation Improvement District:
  The BOCC directed Staff to continue with a Southwest Transportation Improvement District Ordinance.
• Celebration Pointe Developer’s Agreement:
  Staff is continuing the negotiations at the direction of the BOCC.
• Developments implementing the Mobility Plan:
  Staff continued to work with the developers?of several Transit Oriented Development projects in the design of their projects and proposed developer’s agreements.
• FDOT County Incentive Grant Program Application:
  This $2.5 Million grant was awarded to the County.

Large Scale Transit Oriented Developments

Celebration PointeDocuments | Contact Staff

• Status: Preliminary Development Plan Approved

Newberry VillageDocuments | Contact Staff

• Status: Land Use Change Adopted (CPA-02-10)

SpringhillsDocuments | Contact Staff

• Status: Land Use Change Adopted (CPA-04-10)

Santa Fe VillageDocuments | Contact Staff

• Status: Land Use Change Adopted (CPA-06-04)

Disaster Recovery Initiative Grant

This $475,822 Grant was awarded by Florida Department of Community Affairs for disaster relief due to Tropical Storm Fay. All activities will primarily benefit low to moderate income persons.

Projects include: storm water projects in the Cities of Newberry and Archer to alleviate flooding in low to moderate-income neighborhoods; weatherization and roof repair of public housing units. The City of Archer enlarged a basin to alleviate flooding. The City of Gainesville began its roof replacement project this quarter, replacing two roofs for low-income families. The City of Newberry began the design process with the assistance of Alachua County Public Works for its drainage project.

Scenic Roads

The Scenic Road Ordinance was established in 1980. The ordinance creates a protected area along designated roadways. The protected area extends 100 feet from the right-of- way line. There are currently portions of five roads designated as scenic roads. In 1980, Old Bellamy Road, Millhopper Road and Crown Road were designated as scenic roads. In 1987, Fort Clarke Church Road was designated as a Scenic Road . In 2004, Dusty Trail was designated as a Scenic Road.

Visit our website to request a scenic road designation, view the requirements that must be met, and browse a photo gallery of current scenic roads.