Board Appearance, Public Comment & Testimony

Board meetings have returned to in-person public comment, presentations, and public testimony for public hearings as of June 1, 2021. There will no longer be any virtual participation. Everyone will address the Board from the podium in our Chambers, and Room 105 will return to additional seating for our meetings.

Appear Before The Board

Choose this option if you would like to appear before the board in person at the BCC Chambers.

Helpful Terminology

  • Public Comment

    Public Comment refers to the period scheduled during the beginning of the morning session of the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting. It is a time that is set aside each BCC meeting for members of the public to speak regarding general topics of interest or concern that are within the BCC’s authority. However, certain matters are not appropriate for discussion during the public comment period. These matters include pending procurement or land use issues, public hearings that will be heard later by the BCC, or concerns that should properly be heard by a different board or agency.

  • Public Testimony

    During the afternoon session, the Board of County Commissioners holds different types of public hearings. Usually, the majority of these public hearings are referred to as quasi-judicial hearings, and they are denoted as such in the BCC’s agenda with a checkmark. Quasi-judicial hearings are typically cases involving the use of land where the BCC decides whether it will issue a development permit for the proposed use of land. If you would like to participate in a quasi-judicial hearing, you will need to:

    1. Participate in Person
      • Attend the afternoon BCC session in person by arriving 30 minutes prior to the hearing and fill out a Notice of Intent to Speak form or pre-register to appear before the board.
      • Send documents related to your presentation by 5 p.m. the day before the BCC Meeting.
      • Send documents to Public.Comment@ocfl.net and note which public hearing for which you will provide testimony.

How to Watch

To watch Orange TV’s live stream of the BCC meeting go to www.ocfl.net/OrangeTV, or Orange TV (Channel 488 on Spectrum (formerly Bright House), Channel 9 on Comcast, 1081 Century Link Prism TV, and 10.2 Digital Over the Air).

Orange County Government reserves the right to modify, amend, or discontinue these temporary procedures for public comment, with or without notice, in order to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; to rectify technological or logistical difficulties; or to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public.