County Service Directory

St Johns County Housing Counseling Program is granted HUD (Housing and Urban Development) Approval as a certified Housing Counseling Program.  For the past several years St Johns County Health and Human Services has been moving forward to provide St Johns County residents the availability of housing and credit counseling based on HUD (Housing and Urban Development) standards. In December of 2018, the Department received this approval.

The Housing Finance Authority of St. Johns County (HFA) was established for the purpose of alleviating a shortage of affordable housing facilities and to provide capital for investment in such facilities for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families in St. Johns County.

Certain St. Johns County Public Schools approved by the Department of Emergency Management serve as evacuation shelters for hurricane situations. Before opting for a shelter, consider evacuating to a friend or family member’s home or a hotel outside your designated Evacuation Area. Shelters are intended to be available if you have no other options.

Butler Beach Reach Portion of FEMA Dune Enhancement Project Completed – St. Johns County has completed the Butler Beach Reach portion of the FEMA Dune Enhancement Project, the first of several major fortifications for the County’s invaluable coastline. Butler Beach Reach Project Completion Press Release | Butler Beach Restoration Video | Emergency Management Director Joseph Giammanco FEMA Dune Enhancement Project Status Presentation to BOCC

Are you prepared for a hurricane? Being prepared, can greatly reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. St. Johns County Emergency Management provides an extensive Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Download a copy.

St. Johns County Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Download your copy and be prepared!

The Solid Waste Division encourages residents to reduce litter and illegal dumping in our communities by helping keep St. Johns County beautiful! St. Johns County’s facilities and programs are designed to promote recycling; eliminate illegal dumping, and ensure the environmentally-sound management of Solid Waste.

Information from the St. Johns County Geographic Information System is provided for general reference purposes only and is not to be construed as a survey or legal document. Errors from non-coincidence of features from different sources may be present. The St. Johns County Geographic Information System makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the information provided herein is current and accurate. However, St. Johns County provides no warranties, expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of this data for any particular use or purpose. St. Johns County assumes no liability whatsoever associated with the use or misuse of such data.

Pursuant to Florida Statues, Chapter 406, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners is responsible for the disposition of indigent or unclaimed persons who expire in St. Johns County. The Indigent status is met if a deceased household income is less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Unclaimed status is met when there is no legally responsible person who has accepted responsibility for the body.

Founded in 1980, the St. Johns County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) consists of a 5-member board appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.

The District 23 Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) supports the education of students interested in forensic pathology, medicolegal death investigation, medicine, and forensics by providing relevant learning opportunities, and work experience, as well as serving as mentors and role models. The District 23 MEO provides interns with the opportunity to observe in autopsy examinations, shadow forensic investigators at death scene investigations, and assist in the various other duties this office is responsible for, giving the student a wide range of experience in the job duties employed by this office.

Invasive species are introduced plants and animals that cause harm to the environment, the economy, and/or human health. Often displacing native species, these invaders skew the delicate native balance between animals, plants, and important processes such as water flow and fire. Florida is a good breeding ground for invasives due to tropical weather conditions and rising temperatures which allow certain plants to spread prolifically.

The St. Johns County Junior Lifeguard program is open individuals 9-16 years old. The program is staffed by St. Johns County certified Open Water Lifeguards. We focus on providing water safety education in an environment that is fun while building teamwork, physical conditioning and respect for each other and the environment.

Commissioner Krista Joseph has lived in Florida since 2007 – ten of those years in St. Johns County.

The Land Acquisition Management Board (LAMP) established by Ordinance 2021-38 serves as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners on issues involving the acquisition, conservation and management of Environmentally Sensitive Lands, Archaeological Sites, Historic Sites, recreational lands, and Aquifer Recharge Areas.

Time Travel Through St. Johns County’s Efforts to Preserve Natural Lands

The Land Development Code contains most of the land development regulations governing the development of property within unincorporated St. Johns County. The following are the Articles contained within the St. Johns County Land Development Code.

Land resource management is the process of managing the use and development (in both suburban and rural settings) of land resources in a sustainable way. Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which interact and may compete with one another, so it is desirable to plan and manage all uses in an integrated manner. The County owns over 8,000 acres that are either wetland mitigation sites or other green spaces like parks that need to be maintained for the public.

Buying a House? Want to keep livestock? Build a deck or retaining wall? Knowing what is allowable and what is not can save you time and money.

The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs provides legislative updates during the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners’ meetings throughout Legislative Committee Weeks and Sessions.

The St. Johns County Public Library System serves the community by providing access to technology, facilities, collections, programs, and services that help people meet our mission: Connect, Learn, Enjoy @ Your Library

Hatchlings emerging from a nest will instinctively be drawn to a light source along the beach. On a natural beach with no artificial light the light of the seaward horizon guides the hatchlings to the waters edge. Artificial light can disorient the hatchling. As a result they will travel towards the light source rather than the ocean.

Limited rental and utility assistance is available for St. Johns County residents if you have a documented financial crisis. Assistance can only be provided once in an 18 month period.

The Live Local Act is a comprehensive, statewide workforce housing strategy, designed to increase the availability of affordable housing opportunities for Florida’s workforce, who desire to live within the communities they serve. This Act, also known as SB 102, provides historic funding for workforce housing. In addition to a multitude of new programs, incentives, and opportunities, this legislation works to refocus Florida’s housing strategy in ways that make housing more attainable. The St. Johns County Development Review Manual Section 7.A.0 provides guidance for projects developing according to the Live Local Act, Florida Statute 125.01055(7).

A special St. Johns County Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group meeting will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at the Emergency Operations Center. A draft of the 2025 Local Mitigation Strategy Plan will be presented. All interested persons are invited to attend. For more information please call (904) 824-5550 or email LNelson@sjcfl.us.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing special accommodations to participate in the proceedings should contact St. Johns County Emergency Management at (904) 824-5550.

Above All… Remain Paws-itive!

• Report to Animal Control.
• Report to local rescues.
• Contact veterinarian practices in your area.
• Use social media.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue holds annual tryouts for Seasonal Lifeguards. Highly motivated and qualified personnel are encouraged to apply each year. We provide all the required training during a paid Marine Rescue Academy.

The Social Services Medical Program covers a variety of medically related services needed in life-threatening and critical care situations. St. Johns County Social Services attempts to provide all necessary services to ensure the health of clients is such to assist in remaining work ready. However, there may be a medical service desired by a client (or client’s doctor) that cannot be covered. In some cases, specialty physician services or other related medical service may not be offered in St. Johns County.