Introduction
Destin is renowned for its sugar-white beaches, emerald-green waters, and reputation as one of America's premier coastal destinations. What's less known is that beyond the millions of visitors who enjoy our shores each year, Destin is home to nearly 15,000 residents. Behind our postcard landscape is a close-knit community built on family, hard work, and neighbors helping neighbors. Visitors know Destin as a world-class getaway. But those of us who live here know it as a place where people still care about one another and take pride in where they live. More than a destination, Destin is a hometown.
Destin is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan to guide the city's growth and development through 2050. This long-range document establishes the goals, objectives, and policies that will shape Destin’s future, encompassing key areas such as land use, coastal management, transportation, housing, infrastructure, conservation, and parks and recreation.
We invite Destin residents, businesses owners, and other stakeholders to share their perspectives and help shape a unified vision for the City’s future.
We want to hear from you!
FAQs
A comprehensive plan is a state-required document designed to guide the future actions of a jurisdiction. The Comprehensive Plan also serves to:
- Coordinate local decision making
- Provide guidance to landowners and developers
A Strategic Plan outlines specific, short-to-medium-term goals and places a strong emphasis on implementation, while a Comprehensive Plan provides a long-term, policy-focused framework for growth and development, mandated by state law. Click on the link below to view the current Strategic Plan:
https://www.cityofdestin.com/DocumentCenter/View/15358/FY2024-STRATEGIC-PLAN-SUMMARY?bidId=
As required by Florida Statutes, the Comprehensive Plan serves as Destin’s long-term blueprint for growth and development, establishing policies to guide future change and preserve the community’s character. You can review the adopted City's 2020 Comprehensive Plan at the link below:
There are numerous reasons why the City desires to update its Comprehensive Plan, some of which are listed below.
- Empowering the community to plan, rather than react, to new development
- Providing an opportunity for the community to reexamine its current decision-making practices
- Analyzing and updating level of service standards for public facilities and services
- Identifying and addressing existing and projected opportunities facing the community
- Regularly updating the Plan is required by Florida Statutes – every seven years
- Extending the plan's horizon year from 2020 to 2050
The Comprehensive Plan is organized into chapters, called Elements, with each Element addressing a specific topic to guide future growth and development.
The Elements included within Destin's Comprehensive Plan are:
- Future Land Use
- Property Rights
- Transportation
- Housing
- Public Facilities
- Conservation
- Coastal Management
- Recreation & Open Space
- Intergovernmental Coordination
- Capital Improvements
- Economic Development
- Public School Facilities
The Future Land Use Map (FLUM) shows the community's long-term vision for how land should be used and developed. It identifies where different types of uses, densities, and intensities are allowed. View the future land use map by using the link below.
There are several ways to provide your input on the Comprehensive Plan. One option is to participate in the survey available on the website or to contact us directly using the email or phone number provided on this webpage. You may also attend the upcoming workshop, where the Project Team will host engagement activities designed to get your feedback on the Plan's direction and content.
The update process is expected to take approximately 12 months, with completion anticipated in late spring 2027. For additional information, please refer to the project timeline provided on this page.
