Green Development Standard

Green Land Developments Making A Difference in Florida

A salute to FGBC certified green land developments that through covenant and deed restrictions, ensure ongoing sustainability by requireing all homes within the development be certified to the FGBC 'Florida Green' Home Standard:

Aly's Beach - Walton County
Babcock Ranch - Charlotte County 
Granada Park - Sarasota County
Lakewood Ranch - Manatee County
Oakland Park - Orange County
River Creek Preserve - Alachua County

Why should you support a Green Development Designation?

Many property purchasers are desiring, and some insisting, that their community be earth friendly, affordable to operate, and pleasant to live in. FGBC’S Green Development Standard is a tool that will guide you and your design team through the process of selecting green features that benefit the environment while providing long-term value to the project. The standard has been developed so that it is achievable by everyone who is willing to make an effort; and yet stringent enough that it will be recognized as a statewide standard for the industry, as verified by an independent organization (FGBC). If your local municipality does not already provide incentives for developments meeting the standard, encourage them to do so.

Benefits of Achieving the Green Development Standard to...

How the Program Works

For each listed green feature incorporated into the development, points are awarded. Developments that acquire a minimum number of points qualify to receive the green development designation and will be able to take full advantage of the designation?s incentives. The Green Development Designation Standard Checklist and Application contain a list of the topics considered for earning points, while the Green Development Designation Standard Reference Guide explains each of the criteria in detail including benefits, associated environmental implications, how to earn points and examples. Anyone can suggest changes using the Modification Request Form available in the download section on this page.

Certification Process

The developer should contact the Florida Green Building Coalition as early in the process as possible to apply for the green standard and be assigned a project evaluator. The project evaluator will interpret any questions regarding qualifying for the standard to the development team, and if desired, may be able to facilitate on-site training. The Green Development Application Form or Pre-Submittal Application will need to be completed along with an application fee. If a project is to be completed in phases, it is best to plan the project in its entirety and have the entire development certified at one time. The fee will cover the continued development of the program as well as cover expenses associated with verification and publicity of the designated development. This fee is for certifying the land development as green, referring to the horizontal development, not the vertical construction. Homes, commercial buildings and schools are evaluated under their own standards with their own processing fees. You can submit a pre-application form without having completed a full submittal. The development team is responsible for defining and describing, in paragraph form, which points, as described in the reference guide, are earned for the development. Submittals must include a site plan, any covenants and deed restrictions, and any material necessary for verifying points as described in the Reference Guide.

Modification Process

• Suggested revisions shall be submitted to the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. using the Modification Request Form available in the download section on this page.

• Applications shall be compiled and circulated to the Florida Green Building Coalition Green Development Committee, past applicants, and project evaluators for comments. The comment period shall be at least thirty days.

• Following the public comment period, each application and its public comments shall be reviewed by the Florida Green Building Coalition Green Development Committee, which will make written consensus recommendations to the Board of Directors for suggested revisions to the standard along with the original applications.

• The Board of Directors of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. shall adopt, adopt with modification, or reject each application for change.

• Revision Cycle for the Green Development Designation Standard:

• Periodic review. At least triennially, the provisions set forth in these Green Development Standards shall be reviewed by the Standards Committee of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. in collaboration with other stakeholders. At a minimum, this review shall include consideration and evaluation of changes in the law, technological innovations, and comments and requests received from interested parties.

• All applications for revision shall be disposed of on an annual cycle such that applications received prior to the last working day of June 15 are included in the application review cycle that concludes no later than September15.

• The Board shall approve any changes to the standard by the last day of October in any year in which it is to be revised.

• Any new standard shall be in placed on the web site (along with the current standard) no later than November 15.

• The effective date of any new Green Development Designation Standards shall be January 1. Only those proposals to change these Green Development Designation Standards that are received on or prior to June 15 shall be considered for the revisions to these Green Local Government Designation Standards that may become effective on January 1 of the following year.

The reference guide and module text, graphics and examples may be updated at anytime by FGBC; so long as they are of a clarifying nature.