Lehigh Acres is at a crossroads: do we continue as an unincorporated area of Lee County, or do we take charge of our own future?
A Growing Community
Lehigh Acres is no longer a “bedroom community” on the edge of Fort Myers—it’s a thriving, diverse, and rapidly growing home to more than 140,000 residents. With miles of canals, open spaces, and a strong sense of neighborhood pride, Lehigh is one of the largest unincorporated communities in the United States.
For decades, residents here have built families, businesses, and community life in a place that feels like a town—but without the benefits of city governance. Today, Lehigh Acres is at a crossroads: do we continue as an unincorporated area of Lee County, or do we take charge of our own future?
Lehigh Acres is one of the largest communities in Florida — yet for decades, we’ve lived without the local control and infrastructure we deserve. Roads, sidewalks, drainage, parks, and planning have too often been left behind. The big question facing us now is: how do we fix it?
There are two main ideas on the table:
Both options are about giving Lehigh the tools to improve, but they take very different paths.
Incorporation would transform Lehigh Acres into its own city. That means a mayor, city council, and full authority to make decisions locally. Supporters believe incorporation is the bold step needed to take charge of our future instead of relying on Lee County to set priorities.
With incorporation, Lehigh could:
Of course, incorporation comes with higher taxes and more government overhead. The question is whether the benefits of city-level control are worth the additional cost.
LAMSID already has a powerful set of tools. It can build sidewalks, add streetlights, manage stormwater and drainage, maintain parks, and even provide water and sewer services.
Some argue that if the real issues are infrastructure, LAMSID is already positioned to deliver — without creating a new layer of government.
Under this approach:
Advocates say this path keeps taxes lower, while still addressing the most pressing needs. Over time, if LAMSID proves effective, it could even take on more planning authority and act as Lehigh’s community planning panel
This is seen as a middle ground — a way to improve services without changing the entire form of government.
The third option is to remain unincorporated, with Lee County retaining all authority over services and governance. Under this path:
It’s the option of least disruption — but also least improvement.
This is our moment to shape the future of Lehigh. Every person has a role to play, and every action pushes our community forward. Stand with us by giving your time, lending your voice, and sharing your passion. Whether you contribute through donations, stay engaged and informed, spread the word, or show up at meetings, your involvement fuels the momentum for real change. Together, we can build the Lehigh we all believe in.
Help fund the feasibility study:
– Facebook: Unite Lehigh
– Venmo: @UniteLehigh
– PayPal: @UniteLehigh
– CashApp: $UniteLehigh
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