Development Review

 What is Concept Plan Review?

The Conceptual Review process is a way to bring you into the City and meet virtually with the primary Department personnel responsible for reviewing and permitting your development project. This is a discovery meeting where we discuss your general plans, needs, constraints, and goals for the property. Development projects are often affected by multiple City ordinances, codes, and requirements of various Departments within the City. In this meeting, we will provide you with the codes, ordinances and requirements that are applicable to your development.

The purpose of the Design Review Team is to review any changes which may affect the visual quality and functionality of City property, including interior and exteriors of buildings, streets and sidewalks, parking lots, parks, playgrounds and open spaces.

 On March 15, 2017 the City of Lakeland adopted the mandatory usage of iMS and ePlan (Project Dox) for application and plan submittals. Paper plans will not be accepted and will be rejected. You will be referred to submitting online. To avoid any delays, please familiarize yourself or your agent with our online submittal system.

The Development Review Team (DRT) is comprised of representatives from reviewing departments including Community & Economic Development, Public Works, Water Utilities, Fire Prevention, Lakeland Electric, Telecommunications, and Parks and Recreation.  

Development Reviews include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan
• Compliance with Zoning Requirements
• Compatibility with Adjacent and Nearby Land Uses
• Availability of Adequate Infrastructure, i.e. streets, water, wastewater, electricity, etc.
• Vehicle and Pedestrian Access and Circulation
• Parking
• Landscaping and Irrigation
• Parks and Open Space
• Environmental Impacts, i.e. lakes, stormwater management, etc.
• Accessibility and ADA Compliance

• 2026 Concept Review Schedule

   

  Application Deadline (5 pm)	Meeting Date	Comments Distributed to Applicants
  December 15, 2025	January 7, 2026	January 5, 2026
  January 5, 2026	January 28, 2026	January 26, 2026
  January 26, 2026	February 11, 2026	February 9, 2026
  February 9, 2026	February 25, 2026	February 23, 2026
  February 23, 2026	March 11, 2026	March 9, 2026
  March 9, 2026	March 25, 2026	March 23, 2026
  March 23, 2026	April 8, 2026	April 6, 2026
  April 6, 2026	April 22, 2026	April 20, 2026
  April 20, 2026	May 6, 2026	May 4, 2026
  May 4, 2026	May 20, 2026	May 18, 2026
  May 18, 2026	June 3, 2026	June 1, 2026
  June 1, 2026	June 17, 2026	June 15, 2026
  June 15, 2026	July 1, 2026	June 29, 2026
  June 29, 2026	July 15, 2026	July 13, 2026
  July 13, 2026	July 29, 2026	July 27, 2026
  July 27, 2026	August 12, 2026	August 10, 2026
  August 10, 2026	August 26, 2026	August 24, 2026
  August 24, 2026	September 9, 2026	September 8, 2026
  September 8, 2026	September 23, 2026	September 21, 2026
  September 21, 2026	October 7, 2026	October 5, 2026
  October 5, 2026	October 21, 2026	October 19, 2026
  October 19, 2026	November 4, 2026	November 2, 2026
  November 2, 2026	November 18, 2026	November 16, 2026
  November 16, 2026	December 16, 2026	December 14, 2026
  December 21, 2026	January 13, 2027	January 11, 2027

   

Site Plan Review

All site plan projects are being processed electronically by the City of Lakeland. Please follow the same steps to apply for Site Plan Review as you would Concept Review. 

What is Site Plan Review?

Site plan review is a formal detailed review of a project or proposal for development, redevelopment or for changes of use at a given location. This process takes into careful consideration the proposed design (massing, scale, materials, etc.), function, location, operational aspects, type of use, and compatibility of the proposal with the surrounding area to ensure that individually, and cumulatively, any potential adverse impacts are addressed and mitigated early to protect land values, and to protect and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare in support of the goals and objectives for which this chapter is established.

Substantial public responsibility is created by each new development, involving the maintenance of streets and drainage facilities, and the provision of additional public services. As the general welfare, health, safety, and convenience of the community are thereby directly affected by the development of land, it is in the direct interest of the public that site development be conceived, designed, and developed in accordance with minimum standards of the Land Development Code and in accordance with sound engineering practices. It is advisable that the applicant, their engineer and architect meet with the Development Review Team (DRT) to discuss the proposed development prior to submitting a formal application. An approved site plan is required prior to the issuance of any building permits. It shall be considered unlawful for any person to construct, erect, or alter a building or structure or to develop, change, or improve land for which a site plan is required except in accordance with an approved site plan. Upon site plan approval and issuance of a building permit, the development shall be built in accordance with the approved site plan and site plan regulations.

Note: The reader is advised to review the City of Lakeland Land Development Code for full technical specification, regulations and zoning requirements, which shall be addressed in the Site Plan approval process. For additional information pertaining to each site plan requirements, please refer to the Site Plan Regulations. In the event an applicant decides to withdraw their application after it has been submitted, the City of Lakeland will assess the refund amount based on the value of the service rendered.