Board of Adjustment and Appeals

Conducts hearings on appeals and variances for the City of Tallahassee and Leon County.  BOAA members are required to review the staff reports on the requested appeals and variances cases, conduct hearings in order to make findings of fact and, with the assistance of the BOAA attorney, make conclusions of law to make a determination on the requested appeal or variance.

Appeals: Certain decisions made by City or County officials are appealable to the BOAA. For example, an applicant for a proposed development may appeal a decision made by a County official to apply a particular parking standard to the proposed development. The BOAA is responsible for conducting the hearings and making a final decision on the appeals.  

Variances: Variances to the City and County’s Land Development Codes may be granted under certain circumstances. The BOAA is responsible for conducting hearings on variances and determining whether the variance meets the applicable requirements. The BOAA will be required to consider factors such as whether the variance would be contrary to the public interest. For example, an applicant may request a variance on a minimum setback requirement. 

The BOAA is supported with staff of the Leon County Department of Development Support and Environmental Management and the City of Tallahassee's Growth Management Department.  The BOAA receives legal advice from its own attorney.

Members must file a Financial Disclosure Form 1 from the Florida Commission on Ethics within 30 days of being appointed and annually by July 1 thereafter. In addition, when leaving the committee members must file a final Form 1F within 60 days of leaving their public position. The final Form 1F covers the disclosure period between January 1 and your last day of office within that year.

• 3 members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
• 1 alternate member appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
• 3 members appointed by the City Commission
• 1 alternate member appointed by the City Commission
• 1 rotating member appointed alternately by BOCC and City - (County to appoint in 2021; City appointed in 2018; County appointed in 2015; City appointed in 2012)