Planning

The Planning Division focuses on community development; regulating and enforcing the vast number of codes, laws, acts, regulations and ordinances related to development and construction within the City of Winter Haven; and maintains high standards throughout and after the development process.

Additionally, the following entities are managed by the Planning Division:

• Planning Commission
• Development Review Committee (DRC)
• Development Special Magistrate

Zoning & Future Land Use Maps

• Zoning Map
• Future Land Use Map

Planning Documents

• 2025 Comprehensive Plan
• Landscape Ordinance and Regulations

Planning Meetings & Deadlines Schedules

• Planning Commission Meeting Schedule 2021
• Development Special Magistrate Meeting Schedule 2021

Development Special Magistrate Agenda & Action Taken

Typically, the agenda is posted one week prior to the Development Special Magistrate meeting date.  The action taken is posted on the day of a Development Special Magistrate meeting.  Below are the most recent  Development Special Magistrate agendas and actions.  For past agenda and actions, contact the Planning Division to request a copy.

• 2021-04-16 DSM Agenda
• 2020-11-06 DSM Action Taken

Site Plans and Plats

All applications and plans should be submitted to the Planning Division.  If you have any questions, please contact Sean Byers.

Planning Fee Schedule

• 2020-2021 Planning & Zoning Fee Schedule

Planning Applications

• Application for a Planned Unit Development
• Application for a Sidewalk Cafe
• Application for a Variance
• Application for a Zoning Change
• Application for Appeal of Special Use Approval Decision
• Application for Communication Tower Special Use Approval
• Application for Development Review Committee
• Application for Site Plan Approval
• Application for Special Approval
• Application for Subdivision Plat
• Application for Vacating Streets Alleys and Public Ways and Redirecting Traffic
• Application to Amend a Planned Unit Development
• Application to Amend Future Land Use Map
• Application to Vacate a Plat
• Application for Petition Consent for Annexation
• Application for Vacating Public Easements

City of Winter Haven’s Unified Land Development Code

The City’s Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), which includes the zoning and the land development regulations for properties located within Winter Haven can be accessed in Winter Haven’s Code of Ordinances.  The ULDC is located in Chapter 21.  If you have any questions or have trouble accessing the Code provisions, please contact staff and we can assist you.

Planning References

County

• Polk County
• Polk County Property Appraiser
• Polk County Clerk of Courts

State

• Department of Transportation
• Florida Chapter of American Planning Association
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Florida Department of State
• Florida Division of Historical Resources
• Florida League of Cities
• Florida Legislature
• Florida Planning and Zoning Association
• Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
• Southwest Florida Water Management District
• State of Florida
• University of Florida: Bureau of Economic & Business Research (BEBR)

National

• American Planning Association (APA)
• Geographical Information Systems
• International City/County Management Association
• National Arbor Day Foundation
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Planners Web (Planning Commissioners Journal)
• United States Census Bureau

Regional

• Central Florida Regional Planning Council
• Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)