back to county council home page

Mission: To nourish good citizenship by promoting democratic values and earning public trust; to respond effectively to citizens' needs for health, safety and general welfare; to allocate limited public resources fairly and efficiently; to provide leadership and high quality service by consistently communicating with the citizens about their needs and aspirations.

How county government works

Volusia County government provides a wide variety of services to residents and visitors, from beach management to road repair, fire protection and law enforcement.

The county operates under a Council/Manager form of government. Voters elect a seven-member County Council, five of whom are elected by district. The County Chair and the At-large representative are elected countywide, and all serve four-year terms.

The County Council serves as the legislative and policy-making body for Volusia County government. The County Manager, who is hired by the County Council, works with its members to assist in formulating policies and programs. The County Manager also is top administrator for approximately 2,500 full-time county employees and is responsible for the ongoing operations of all county services as set forth by the County Council.

Previous County Council members

Government organizational chart Viewable gif format Printable pdf format Need the Acrobat pdf Reader? download one for free.

Volusia County's Home Rule Charter

The Volusia County Home Rule Charter is the foundation for Volusia County's Council/Manager form of government. It provides the framework for self government within the guidelines of Florida law.

The Home Rule Charter was approved by Volusia voters in a special countywide referendum on June 30, 1970. The Charter was created by a 21-member citizens committee which spent nine months of intensive study developing the framework for local government in Volusia County.

The passage of the Home Rule Charter set a precedent as Volusia was the first County in Florida to adopt home rule powers, pursuant to the 1968 Florida Constitution. Today, most of Florida's urban counties have followed Volusia's leadership and have approved their own versions of home rule charters.

The Home Rule Charter created a Council/Manager form of government which took effect January 1, 1971. The County Council is the legislative arm of Volusia County and sets policy for the government.

The County Manager, who serves at the pleasure of the County Council, executes the policies established by the County Council and oversees the daily operations of the government. County employees work under the direction of the County Manager within the structure of the system of merit rules and regulations.

The Charter was amended by voters during a special referendum election Tuesday, November 5, 2002. Some of the changes included County Council term length and making the County Chair an elected (not appointed), four-year position.
Amendment to the Volusia County Home Rule Charter
(pdf format)

The Home Rule Charter mandates a review at least every 10 years by a Charter Review Commission. Proposed amendments to the Home Rule Charter must be approved in a countywide referendum. The Charter was reviewed in 1975, 1985, and 1995 and 2005. For more information on the last review, click here.

To view the Home Rule Charter in its entirety, click here. If you have any questions about the Home Rule Charter, please write the County Manager's Office at 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, Florida 32720-4612 or call at 386-736-5920.

Live broadcast 
meetings/workshops (only those meetings held in Council Chambers, TCK training room, or the Beach Services training room).

Click here for previous meeting audio

If you do not see the player below, you may need to download the Flash plug-in at: get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

County employees must use the Intranet. Please click here.

County Code of Ordinances
This link takes you to a database of local government codes of ordinances from around the United States. To access Volusia County Government, scroll to Florida and select Volusia County.
Municipal Code of Ordinances

ADA Notice
In accordance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in the proceedings, or an interpreter to participate in any proceedings, should contact the county’s ADA Coordinator at 386-248-1760 for assistance, at least two business days before any meeting date.

Assisted listening system receivers are available for the hearing impaired, and can be obtained from the Deputy Clerk by contacting the county’s ADA Coordinator at 386-248-1760.

Read the full ADA Notice under The American with Disabilities Act (Title II)

Read the County of Volusia Grievance Procedure under The Americans with Disabilities Act (Title II)

Comments or questions?
E-mail the