On September 9, 2024, the Osceola Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an increase to County mobility impact fees, which will substantially increase the cost of development in the County. Impact fees are a one-time...more
The Live Local Act (Act), originally passed on March 29, 2023, was modified by SB328 on May 16, 2024. While the Act has been heralded as a solution to Florida’s affordable housing shortage, it has faced roadblocks since its...more
8/27/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
Mixed-Use Zoning ,
Municipalities ,
Real Estate Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Laws
Recently enacted House Bill 1335 (HB 1335) makes significant administrative changes to the process for obtaining, and maintaining, alcohol and tobacco licenses in Florida....more
Osceola County and St. Cloud have proposed increases to some of their impact fees as further discussed in “Osceola County, St. Cloud, and Mt. Dora Propose Massive Increases to Impact Fees”. After hosting required public...more
Osceola County, City of St. Cloud, and City of Mt. Dora are all set to vote on proposed increases to impact fees that, if approved, will substantially increase the cost of development in these jurisdictions.
Below is...more
6/12/2024
/ Building Permits ,
Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Housing Developers ,
Impact Fees ,
Local Ordinance ,
Property Owners ,
Public Hearing ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Urban Planning & Development
Vision 2050 -
As one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, Orange County has been working to amend their state-required Comprehensive Plan called, “Vision 2050.” Vision 2050 is drafted with two of Orange...more
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the 2024 Area Median Income (AMI) and Rent Limits for counties statewide. These numbers are impactful on a number of levels, but are extremely important...more
4/9/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
California ,
Community Development ,
Construction Project ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
HUD ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rent ,
Rental Property ,
Urban Planning & Development
The Florida Legislature continues to modify the proposed changes to the Live Local Act (Act) through the latest version of Senate Bill 328 (SB 328), passed on February 7, 2024. For background on the original Act, see “Live...more
2/22/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Housing Market ,
Low Income Housing ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Rent Control ,
Rental Property ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development
Recently proposed Florida legislation, HB 1053, seeks to increase the distance requirement between businesses providing on-premise consumption of alcohol and both schools and religious centers....more
A newly proposed piece of Florida legislation, HB 1053, aims to triple the required “buffer” distance between schools and medical marijuana treatment centers that cultivate, process, or dispense medical cannabis....more
2/8/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Commercial Real Estate Contracts ,
Dispensaries ,
Educational Institutions ,
Florida ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Patient Access ,
Property Owners ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Retailers ,
State and Local Government ,
Zoning Maps
The 2024 Florida Legislature is contemplating revisions to The Live Local Act (“Act”) which took effect on July 1, 2023. These changes are being considered in Senate Bill No. 328 and Florida House Bill No. 1239....more
1/18/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Housing Market ,
Multi-Family Development ,
Municipalities ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Rental Property ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development
Good news is on the horizon for developers and property owners, as a statute correcting a misguided court decision is set to go into effect on October 1, 2023.
On February 8, 2023, the Fourth District Court of Appeal...more
Looking for a lottery ticket that could win you a highly coveted and valuable liquor license? If so, and you have $100 to spare, then you too can apply for the state’s “quota” liquor license lottery....more
Until recently, Florida restaurants needed to maintain 2,500 square feet of service area and be able to serve meals to 150 persons at one time (i.e., 150 or more patron seats on the premises) to hold a non-quota full-service...more
On March 29, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 102 (Live Local Act) that becomes effective July 1, 2023. The Live Local Act, among other things, seeks to provide available and affordable housing to the...more
4/6/2023
/ Affordable Housing ,
Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Housing Market ,
Low Income Housing ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Mixed-Use Zoning ,
New Legislation ,
Rent Control ,
Rental Property ,
State and Local Government ,
State Funding
The long-awaited expansion of Florida’s medical cannabis industry appears to finally be in the works, with a potential major expansion of licenses on the horizon. Florida health regulators announced that the state is...more
Governor DeSantis allowed Executive Order No. 20-51 to expire on April 27, 2021. Permit holders must now notify the responsible agency or local government within 90 days of the termination of the order (no later than...more
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed into law HB 487, which increases the maximum acreage of a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment from 10 acres to 50 acres. It also increases the maximum acreage for a small-scale...more
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed HB 1647 allowing smaller restaurants to be eligible for Special Food Service (4COP SFS) liquor licenses. Owners with businesses and properties that fall within the Orlando Main...more
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed an amendment to the Bert Harris Act, CS/CS for HB 421 & HB 1101, making it easier for property owners to challenge local government regulation that burdens, restricts, or limits...more
Local governments may face challenges as a new proposed legislation regarding relief from burdens on real property rights awaits the approval of Governor DeSantis. An amendment to the Bert Harris Act, CS/CS for HB 421 & HB...more
Want a margarita with your Mexican dinner to-go? Then you’re in luck. What started out as a COVID-era ease on businesses was signed into law yesterday. CS/SB 148, a bill that allows restaurants with liquor licenses to...more
On December 1, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance updating the County’s school impact fees for residential development....more
County and city governments will have one more month to hold meetings remotely after Governor DeSantis—through Executive Order 20-246—issued a final extension to the social distancing precaution before in-person meetings must...more
On August 14, 2020, the Orange County Public Schools ("OCPS") School Impact Fee Study Advisory Committee ("the Committee") held its final meeting. The Committee, which first convened in October 2018, was tasked with making...more