REVIEW PROCESS & STANDING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOCC FOR REZONING (RZ) REQUESTS,
AND MAJOR MODIFICATIONS (MM) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS
The Land Development Code (LDC) requires that a public hearing be conducted on certain land development
requests (RZ, MM) prior to final decision by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
(BOCC). Land Use Hearing Officers (LUHOs) conduct hearings. LUHOs do not make final decisions, but
instead render recommendations to the BOCC. Final decisions by the BOCC are made at a public meeting
governed by the requirements of the LDC.
The BOCC considers the recommendation of the LUHO at a public meeting. The BOCC can, by law, consider
only the record of the proceedings before the LUHO. Additional evidence requests may be filed pursuant to the
criteria in the LDC. The BOCC will consider the requests and may grant them if the appropriate criteria are met
by the party making the requests.
Those persons wishing to speak before the BOCC at the public meeting may only do so if they qualify as a Party
of Record. A Party of Record is a person that meets one of the following criteria:
A. A person who was present at the hearing before the Land Use Hearing Officer (LUHO) and presented with
oral testimony or documentary evidence.
B. A person who was notified by Proof of Mailing on the hearing before the LUHO. This includes the
Designated Representative(s) of the registered Neighborhood Organizations within 1 mile of the site for which
the request was made.
C. A person who submitted documentary evidence to the master file two (2) business days prior to the LUHO
hearing or by proxy during the LUHO hearing.
Testimony from Parties of Record will be permitted at the BOCC public meeting for those applications placed
on the Regular Agenda. Applications that do not meet the criteria for placement on the Regular Agenda are
placed on the Consent Agenda. Testimony is not provided on Consent Agenda items. As no new evidence or
testimony is permitted at the BOCC Land Use Meeting, qualifying Parties of Record can only speak to the oral
testimony and/or documentary evidence submitted at the LUHO hearing or placed into the master file two (2)
business days prior to the LUHO hearing. The BOCC Land Use Meeting Agenda can be viewed at
HCFLGov.at least 5 days prior the meeting.
Requests for Additional Evidence must be filed on the appropriate forms within ten (10) calendar days after the
date of the filing of the LUHO’s recommendation. All requests for Additional Evidence must be filed with the
Clerk to the BOCC no later than close of business on 01/16/2026. You can file Request for Additional Evidence
with the Clerk via email boccrec@hillsclerk.com or in person at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33601 or 419
Pierce Street, Room 140, Station 14 and 15, Tampa, FL 33602; fax (813) 272-5044; telephone: (813) 276- 8100,
ext. 4567. The appropriate forms will be available at the LUHO Hearing.
