Hernando County delays Development Services lobby opening on Wednesdays

Hernando County moved the Wednesday opening of its Development Services lobby to 9 a.m., a change that can delay permit drop-offs, zoning questions and other walk-in tasks for builders, homeowners and contractors who plan their mornings around county counters.

The adjustment began April 22 and applies across Code Compliance, Building, Planning and Zoning. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday lobby hours remain 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but Wednesday now starts later, forcing anyone needing in-person help to wait until the doors open at 9 a.m.

That matters in a county where timing at the counter can decide whether a project stays on track. The Planning Department handles rezoning, master plan review, special exception permits, conditional use permits and concurrency. The Zoning Division administers zoning codes, reviews site plans for residential and commercial building and zoning permits, and provides zoning information to the public. For residents following up on a permit status or contractors trying to clear a paperwork issue, a missed morning trip can mean another day lost.

The county’s permitting system has also been in transition. Hernando County said its Civic Access system went live March 4, replacing the previous platform for permitting and licensing services. The Building & Development page says the online contractor portal was temporarily reinstated only for legacy permits from the earlier system, and no new permits may be issued through that portal. The permit application status tool allows users to view current permit statuses, property history, contractor information and legacy permits submitted before March 3, 2026.

County officials have been adjusting in-person access as well. On April 2, Hernando County said Development Services lobbies would be closed on April 9 from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for staff training. An archived county notice said Development Services had previously extended office hours to 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “for better service for customers” and to leave enough time to help walk-ins before the end of the workday.

The county’s Planning and Zoning page says the temporary modified operations period has concluded and all services, including online services, are fully operational. Still, the Wednesday lobby delay is a reminder that anyone dealing with permits, site plans or zoning issues should check the clock before heading to Brooksville. The county lists its contact number as (352) 754-4000, and recent development notices name Reagan Brady, Public Information Coordinator, as the public information contact.