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
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
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
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
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 5, 2020, the Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to table the public hearing on the Mobility Fee Ordinance to its next regularly-scheduled meeting. If adopted, the new mobility fee...more
8/6/2020
/ Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Impact Fees ,
Infrastructure ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Local Ordinance ,
Public Hearing ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rural Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development
On July 1, 2020, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued Amended Emergency Order 2020-09 to provide additional detail about when, and under what circumstances, vendors may sell alcoholic...more
7/4/2020
/ Alcohol Beverage Control ,
Amended Rules ,
Bars ,
Business & Professions Code ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Orders ,
Florida ,
Public Safety ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Social Distancing ,
Vendors ,
Wine & Alcohol
Governor Ron DeSantis has extended Executive Order 20-69, which permits local governments to conduct meetings remotely by utilizing “communications media technology, such as telephonic and video conferencing.”...more
On June 26, 2020, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued Emergency Order 2020-09, which orders “vendors who derive more than 50% of gross revenue” from on-premises alcohol sales to suspend the...more
6/29/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Business Interruption ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Direct to Consumer Sales ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Florida ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
Virus Testing ,
Wine & Alcohol
Seminole County has commissioned a study to replace the county's road impact fee with a mobility fee. If adopted, the new mobility fee program would result in a substantial increase in impact fees for most developments....more
On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference to announce the first step of his multi-step plan for reopening the State of Florida in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing statewide...more