​​What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan describes how Broward County will provide required services to meet the current and future needs of the community and economic development, while protecting the natural environment. This policy document provides a coordinated approach to making many decisions regarding land use and the location of development, the extension of urban services, the placement of community facilities, adaptation to climate change impacts and others.

Broward County and each of its 31 municiaplities have a Comprehensive Plan for their jusidiction. These plans are required to comply with  Chapter 163.3177, Florida Statutes.  Article VII of the Broward County Charter requires municipal land use to be in “substantial conformity" with the Broward County Land Use Plan.

Broward County Planning Council administers the Broward County Land Use Plan. The Urban Planning Division adminsiters the Broward County Comprehensive Plan, including the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD) Future Land Use Map. These documents are adopted by the Board of County Commissioners after public hearings.CommunityPlanFlowChart.jpg

Broward County Comprehensive Plan

In 2019, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a new Comprehensive Plan which includes Goals, Objectives, and Policies to guide the County's future development.

The Comprehensive Plan has several components:

  1. Broward County Land Use Plan (BrowardNEXT)*
  2. Broward County Land Use Plan Map – designating land use Countywide*
  3. Broward County Comprehensive Plan (BrowardNEXT 2.0) – including Elements required by State Statute; planning policies for the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD) and other unincorporated areas; and a map series showing existing or future conditions related to the plan's Elements. 
  4.  BMSD Future Land Use Map​ – designating land use for properties in BMSD.  
  5. Supporting data and documentation.

*Administered by the Broward County Planning Council

 

How is the Comprehensive Plan updated?

The Comprehensive Plan is updated every seven (7) years to respond to changing conditions in matters such as land use, population, technology, the economy, and climate impacts. The process of developing and updating the Plan is a community-wide effort that requires compiling and analyzing new data, developing strategies, and amending the GOPs. Amendments may occur at any time to add or update policies or change land use designations.

 

Evaluation and Appraisal Review

Local governments must evaluate their comprehensive plans at least once every 7 years and notify FloridaCommerce if plan amendments are necessary to reflect changes in state statute.  In 2020, Broward County sent this notification to the State: 2020 Letter to FDEO / acknowledgement.

Broward County must submit the next notification by December 1, 2027.  If plan amendments are necessary, the County must prepare and transmit them to FloridaCommerce within one (1) year.  

Future Land Use Map Amendments

The Land Use Designation in the Comprehensive Plan determines how a property may be used.  Map amendments may be required when a new use is  proposed for a property that is not permitted by the future land use designation for that property. Map amendments are typically initiated by the property owner.

The Broward County Charter requires that municipal future land use maps must be consistent with the Broward County Land Use Plan, however they may be more restrictive. Similarly, in the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD), future land use designations must substantially conform with the Broward County Land Use Plan.

For more information please review the Future Land Use Map amendment applications or email your questions to the Urban Planning Division.

 

BMSD Flexibility Unit Allocations

Increases in density and small changes in land uses may be achieved through an allocation of Flexibility Units . Within the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD), Flexibility Units may be assigned to properties by the County Commission through rezoning or through an amendment to the BMSD Future Land Use Map. These allocations do not require any action by the Planning Council.

For more information please email your questions to the Urban Planning Division.

 

Compatibility Review for Allocation of Flexibility 

To ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses (BCLUP Policy 2.10.1), written notification and additional review may be required where an application for flexibility units is for property:

  1. East of the Intracoastal Waterway which impact access to public beaches;
  2. Contiguous to a municipality, upon request of the contiguous municipality;
  3. Adjacent to an Environmentally Sensitive Land; or
  4. Adjacent to a Broward County park.

If a Compatibility Review is requested, an application must be submitted to the Urban Planning Division for review based on the criteria in Appendix 3 of the Broward County land Use Plan's Administrative Rules Document. 

For more information please email your questions to the Urban Planning Division.

 

Local Planning Agency

The Local Planning Agency (LPA) holds public hearings and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Map Series. These meetings are open to the public and notices are published at least 10 days in advance in the Sun Sentinel and on the County's  Public Meetings web page. Public comments are incorporated into the staff report that is forwarded to the Commission. 

LPA Agendas are posted 7 to 10 days before each meeting at https://www.broward.org/Planning/Pages/LPA.aspx

 

Workshops

From time to time, the Urban Planning Division holds workshops to discuss and receive input on planning issues of interest to the community, local governments, regional and state agencies, and other interested parties. Future workshops will be posted on our Public Meetings page.​


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