Voter Approved On Tuesday, November 2, 2004!

Amendment To The Seminole County Home Rule Charter Which Establishes A Rural Area And Preempts Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Authority Within The Rural Area.

What does this mean?

"maintain a consistent policy for the Rural Area...one governing body to have final authority..."

The amendment establishes within the Home Rule Charter a rural boundary, defines rural lands and provides authority to amend the boundary and land use designations within the rural area to the Board of County Commissioners. This means that the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners has final decision making power on land use amendments on all lands within the rural area as established by this amendment whether located in unincorporated Seminole County or within any of the cities. The intent of the amendment is to maintain a consistent policy for the Rural Area by designating one governing body to have final authority on proposed land use changes and development within the rural area.

An informative single page handout of the Home Rule Amendment issue is useful for printing and sharing. Home Rule Amendment Handout - 11"x17" (PDF) [203KB]

Frequently Asked Questions are available to give you straight-forward answers to common questions about the Home Rule Charter Amendment.

Map Options

View As PDF[518KB]

Establish & Preserve The Rural Area

Additional Information

• Home Rule Amendment Slideshow Presentation (PDF) [2.5MB]
• Ballot Language
• Ordinance Authorizing Referendum
• BCC Home Rule Charter Agenda Item
• County Home Rule Charter
• Map of Special Area Boundaries (PDF) [376KB]

Recreational Resources In The Rural Area

Wilderness Areas

• Black Hammock Wilderness Area
• Chuluota Wilderness Area
• Geneva Wilderness Area
• Lake Jesup Wilderness
• Lake Proctor Wilderness Area

Parks and Trails

• C.S. Lee Park
• Florida National Scenic Trail
• Lake Mills Park
• Little Big Econ State Forest
• Mullet Lake Park

Environmental Resources In The Rural Area

• Geneva Lens Water Quality & Levels Monitoring Information (PDF) [676KB]
• Seminole County Watershed Atlas (St. Johns River Watershed Information)
• American Heritage River Website (St. Johns River Information)
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection Middle St. Johns Basin Study (Search Page for 'Middle St. Johns River')