FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:     Mary Gibbs, Lee County Community Development Department,
                    (941) 479-8345

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 8, 2000) – A simple citizen guide to permitting and development rules in unincorporated Lee County is now available on the county’s web site www.lee-county.com.

The guide is put out by the county’s Community Development Department and includes, in simple language, information on approvals needed for starting a new business, development permits and processes, explanations of development advisory committees, and telephone numbers for local and state permitting agencies.

To view the guide you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4, which can be downloaded at the county’s web site. The Permitting and Development Guide is located at www.lee-county.com/PermitGuide.asp or go to the county’s web site and scroll down to "Lee County Documents Online."

"This is one more way to help citizens understand and navigate the development process, which sometimes can be confusing," says Mary Gibbs, director of Lee County’s Community Development Department. Topics in the 68-page booklet include building permits, code enforcement complaints/violations, contractor licensing, development orders, inspections for buildings, rezonings, special exceptions and variance requests, to name just a few.

The booklet supplements other county documents that have been placed online, including:

• Lee County Ordinances – all locally adopted laws from 1971 through 1999. The site includes an index by the year the law was enacted.
  
• Land Development Code – the rules and regulations that need to be followed to use and develop land in Lee County, including land uses, zoning and restrictions. This information is of particular interest to attorneys, developers and real estate brokers.
  
• Comprehensive Plan – Lee County’s blueprint for growth, including sections on housing, parks and recreation and transportation.
  
• Administrative Code – the rules by which the county government operates and does business.
  
• County Commission Agendas and Minutes – to see when issues, projects and policies were discussed or voted upon.
  
• Budget Information – county revenue and debt manuals, and the annual budget in brief.