Senate Bill 180 (SB 180), a comprehensive act related to emergencies, includes restrictions on county or municipal regulations after certain natural emergencies. In particular, SB 180 provides that...more
On June 20, 2025, Governor DeSantis approved the final version of SB 784 which removed certain timing requirements. In our article titled "SB 784: Platting Reform in Florida," published on June 18, 2025, we included two...more
Senate Bill 1730 (SB 1730) contains amendments to the Live Local Act which will have significant effects on local government implementation of the Act. Importantly, SB 1730 provides that the Live Local Act will no longer...more
Senate Bill 784 (SB 784) will simplify and accelerate the approval of plats and replats throughout the state by shifting responsibility from local governing bodies to administrative staff. The intent of the bill is to reduce...more
As an update to our April 1, 2025, article, the Leesburg City Commission voted on April 14, 2025, to deny the proposed annexation and residential development moratorium....more
The City of Leesburg has experienced significant growth over the past few years and has reported that over 30,000 single-family residential lots have been approved and remain undeveloped. In response, a draft moratorium is...more
On Tuesday, voters approved several Charter amendments on the ballot in Orange County and Seminole County that will significantly affect development in these areas....more
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 28, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance aimed at “preventing further damage to the local economy.” The ordinance amended the county’s impact fee code and will allow...more
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
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor DeSantis has issued Executive Order No. 20-51 declaring a state of emergency for all 67 counties in the state of Florida....more