Collier County : Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay Program

The Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) program was established by Collier County's Land Development Code (LDC) 4.08.00 in conformity with the Growth Management Plan (GMP). The purpose of the program is to encourage smart growth patterns in rural areas of the county per the GMP. Collier County's objective is to create an incentive based land use overlay system, herein referred to as the Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay, based on the principles of rural land stewardship as defined in Chapter 163.3177.(11), Florida Statutes.

The Stewardship Sending Area (SSA) is used to issue designated Sending Area Stewardship credits to property owners which may be used to entitle Stewardship Receiving Area (SRA) which can be in the form of self-contained planned urban developments in the RLSA. The SSA Program within the RLSA establishes a method for protecting and conserving the most valuable environmental land, including large connected wetland systems and significant areas of bibitat for listed species.

The Policies that will implement this Goal and Objective are set forth in groups relating to each aspect of the Goal. Group 1 policies describe the structure and orgainzation of the Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay. Group 2 policies relate to agriculture, Group 3 policies relate to natural resource protection, and Group 4 policies relate to conversion of land to other uses and economic diversification. Group 5 are regulatory policies that ensure that land that is not voluntarily included in the Overlay by its owners shall nonetheless meet the minimum requirements of the Final Order pertaining to natural resource protection.

Have questions about the RLSA program?

Contact: ThomasGreenwood@colliergov.net

APPROVED STEWARDSHIP SENDING AREAS LOG:
Stewardship Sending Area Log - Approved SSA's

RLSA Overlay Map

Program information:

RLSA Procedures Guide
Attachment A - Stewardship Credit Worksheet
Attachment B - Land Use Matrix
Attachment C - Stewardship Receiving Area Characteristics
Rural & Agricultural Area Assessment Stewardship Overlay Map
RLSA Natural Resource Index Map Series Entire Study Area Map:
Northeast Study Area Map
Northwest Study Area Map
Southwest Study Area Map
East Central Study Area Map
West Central Study Area Map