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Click for a list of Hurricane Milton Recovery Resources. Residential Hurricane Milton Debris Hotline (833) 843-1920 active 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For details on Hurricane Milton debris pickup and dropoff or Hurricane Milton Debris Removal Dashboard.

Polk Government Offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. There will be no residential waste collection services on Monday for customers of unincorporated Polk. Holiday collection schedule.

Policies and Permits

The Environmental Lands Acquisition Ordinance (County Ordinance #94-40) states that properties are purchased under this Ordinance “for the purpose of acquiring, preserving, protecting, managing…restoring endangered and environmentally sensitive lands, water resources and important wildlife habitat…”

Also, “Properties purchased through this Ordinance may be used for passive outdoor recreational purposes, such as, but not limited to, hiking, canoeing or wildlife photography provided that such uses will not disturb or degrade the environmental quality of the site and are compatible with and supportive of the stated purposes of this Ordinance.”

The following is a list of Environmental Lands that are currently open to the public for compatible, nature-based recreation. The Environmental Lands Public Use Ordinance and Photographer Code of Ethics provides guidelines for the public to follow while visiting the Polk County environmental reserves.


Completed permit applications can be faxed to (863) 668-4677.
Applications can also be mailed or delivered to 4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803.
Please be sure to include a copy of a state issued ID.