A newly updated Orange County ordinance that provides better protection to valuable wetlands has received the Excellence in Conservation and Countryside Diamond Award from the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC).
The award recognizes the County’s innovative revisions to its outdated Wetland Protection Ordinance, which was approved unanimously by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in December 2023 and took effect on June 1, 2024.
The ordinance aims to reduce the rate of wetland loss, mitigate flooding risk, and promote responsible development while streamlining permitting processes.
This marks the second consecutive year Orange County has received a Diamond Award for outstanding environmental achievements. In 2024, it won the Executive Award of Regional Significance for its commitment to land conservation through acquisition and management as part of the Green PLACE Program.
“I’m honored that the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council has recognized Orange County’s commitment to protecting our wetlands,” said Tim Hull, Environmental Programs Administrator for the County’s Environmental Protection Division. “I’m also grateful to our Mayor and County Commissioners for their leadership in supporting these policy improvements.”
The ECFRPC recognized the project for its data-driven approach and its robust public engagement.
Wetlands and surface waters are unique natural formations that foster rich, diverse ecosystems and play an important role in hydrological regulation. In Orange County, they can take the form of wet prairies, wetland forests, scrub wetlands, water bodies and others, and together they make up roughly one-quarter of the County’s total area. Orange County’s original Wetland Conservation Areas Ordinance, Chapter 15, Article X, was adopted in 1987.
Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous Orlando theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide.
