Fire Rescue Fact Sheet

Marion County Fire Rescue Services Impact Fee
This fact sheet has been prepared to provide answers to commonly asked questions about these fees. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Marion County Planning Department Impact Fee Coordinator at
(352) 438-2610.

On October 18, 2001, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 01-26, which established impact fees for fire rescue services. The impact fee became effective on January 1, 2002.

What is the purpose of the Fire Rescue Services Impact Fee?
The rapid rate of new development in Marion County has a direct impact on the demand for fire-rescue services. The Fire-Rescue Impact Fee is designed to assess new development and new construction a fair share of the costs directly associated with supplying added fire-rescue services due to new development. The fee is intended to provide capital facility needs in the form of infrastructure (fire stations), vehicles (trucks) and associated equipment.

Who must pay the impact fee?
Marion County Fire Rescue serves in both the unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County excluding the City of Ocala and the City of Dunnellon. After the effective date of the ordinance, all new development and construction (including residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) in Marion County, excluding areas within the City of Ocala and City of Dunnellon, must pay a Fire-Rescue Impact Fee. The categories of land development activities that are subject to the fees are listed in the fee schedule available from the Marion County Planning Department Impact Fee Coordinator, 2631 Se 3rd Street, Ocala, Florida.

When must the impact fee be paid?
The impact fee must be paid before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Building Department. No temporary or permanent Certificate of Occupancy or clearance for establishing permanent electrical power shall be issued until the applicable impact fee has been paid.

What will the fees be used for?
The impact fees will be used for the purpose of capital improvements for the County’s Fire Rescue System. Impact fees will not be used for maintenance or operations of the Fire Rescue System. Impact fees may be used for the following purposes, including, but not limited to: