The Comprehensive Planning Section regulates the orderly expansion of the City through long-range planning activities as well as studying the established uses to ensure their continued benefit. This Section analyzes requests to ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and makes recommendations on development proposals and changes of zoning that affect the general welfare of the City of New Smyrna Beach.

The Comprehensive Plan provides the guidance for development in the City for the next twenty years. The plan serves as our guide in making short-term land use decisions and informs our work in preparing development regulations.

The Land Development Section is responsible for providing information and guiding developers, architects, and the general public through the site development approval process. The Section analyzes requests to ensure compliance with the City’s Land Development Regulations and makes recommendations on development proposals, special exceptions, variances, and changes of zoning that affect the general welfare of the City of New Smyrna Beach. This section also reviews requests for tree removal permits and works with neighborhood residents, community organizations, business owners and City staff to better understand their needs in order to implement necessary amendments to existing regulations as may be required.

The New Smyrna Beach Planning and Zoning Board is the Local Planning Agency and a citizen board that reviews subdivisions and site plans for compliance with City codes. They advise the City Commission on long-range planning issues, special problems, and proposed revisions to the City’s development codes.  

The Board of Adjustment considers variances from the rules when a hardship exists and considers special exception uses for specific properties.

The Plan Review Committee is a staff level committee that brings all of the people involved in development review together in one place to work with applicants on project review.