Affordable Housing

Added provision allowing counties to approve affordable housing development on land owned by religious institutions, regardless of zoning, if at least 10% of units are affordable.

Revised density and height restrictions to reference 'highest currently allowed, or allowed on July 1, 2023' standards instead of previous definitions.

Added new parking reduction requirements including elimination of parking for mixed-use developments in transit-oriented development areas.

Added new section 420.5098 establishing policy to support affordable housing for employees of hospitals, health care facilities, and governmental entities.

Added requirement for administrative approval of demolition of existing structures associated with proposed developments.

Added annual reporting requirements beginning November 1, 2026, for counties and municipalities to report on litigation and approved affordable housing projects.

Created new definitions for 'commercial use,' 'industrial use,' and 'mixed use' to clarify what activities qualify under the affordable housing provisions.

Added expiration date of October 1, 2033, for the expanded affordable housing provisions.

New exemptions were added to the affordable housing requirements for airport-impacted areas, recreational waterfront property, the Wekiva Study Area, and the Everglades Protection Area.

New provisions allow developments on golf courses, tennis courts, or swimming pools to use the streamlined administrative approval process regardless of zoning category.

Parking reduction requirements were clarified with specific percentages (10% for transit stops, 20% for major transportation hubs, and elimination for transit-oriented developments).

New provisions require counties and municipalities to eliminate parking requirements for mixed-use residential developments in recognized transit-oriented development areas.

New section creates policy supporting housing for employees of hospitals, health care facilities, and governmental entities, allowing developers to create preferences for such employees.

New section prohibits discrimination in land use decisions based on the nature of a development as affordable housing.

Courts must give priority to civil actions against counties or municipalities for violating affordable housing provisions and must render decisions expeditiously.

Attorney fees and costs awarded to prevailing parties in enforcement actions are capped at $200,000.

New definitions were added for 'commercial use,' 'industrial use,' 'mixed use,' and 'planned unit development' to clarify what activities fall under each category.

Transitional provisions allow applicants who submitted applications before July 1, 2025, to notify local governments by that date of their intent to proceed under the new provisions.

Added municipalities to the list of jurisdictions required to authorize multifamily and mixed-use residential developments under affordable housing provisions.

Added specific definition for 'story' in developments located within municipalities in areas of critical state concern, limiting habitable space above base flood elevation to ensure flood safety compliance.

Created new section establishing policy to support housing for employees of hospitals, health care facilities, and governmental entities, allowing developers receiving tax credits to create preferences for such workforce housing.

Added specific provisions prohibiting discrimination in land use decisions based on the nature of a development as affordable housing, protecting developers from bias against affordable housing projects.

Clarified parking reduction requirements for developments near transit stops, major transportation hubs, and transit-oriented development areas.

Strengthened enforcement provisions by requiring courts to give priority to civil actions challenging county or municipality violations of affordable housing requirements and limiting attorney fee awards to $200,000.

Changed the administrative approval process for counties from redesignating paragraph (l) to (o) and adding new paragraphs (m) and (n), while municipalities now get redesignated to (p) with new paragraphs (m), (n), and (o).

Added new requirements for parking reductions (20% for transit access, elimination for transit-oriented developments) and adjacent parcel inclusion in multifamily developments.

Modified height restrictions to include specific exceptions for developments adjacent to single-family residential areas, with new 10-story maximum limits.

Added new section prohibiting building moratoriums on affordable housing developments, with specific exceptions for public facilities, stormwater, and flood management.

Added new section creating s. 420.5098 to establish policy supporting workforce housing for hospital, healthcare, and governmental employees.

Added new section amending s. 760.26 to prohibit discrimination in land use decisions based on the nature of a development as affordable housing.

Added new requirements for counties and municipalities to allow adjacent parcels to be included in multifamily developments.

Added new provisions requiring courts to prioritize civil actions against counties/municipalities for violations and award attorney fees up to $200,000 to prevailing parties.

Added comprehensive definitions for 'commercial use,' 'industrial use,' 'mixed use,' and 'planned unit development' to clarify what types of developments are covered.

Modified applicability dates to allow applicants who submitted applications before July 1, 2025, to proceed under previous rules if they notify by that date.