The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning local government land regulation, particularly focusing on the processing of development permit applications and the imposition of fees by school districts and local governments. It mandates that counties and municipalities specify the minimum information required for certain applications and establishes strict timeframes for processing these applications. If a county fails to meet these deadlines, it is required to issue refunds to applicants based on the length of the delay. The bill also introduces a definition for "substantive change" in relation to applications and outlines conditions for extending timeframes. Additionally, it sets forth new requirements for municipalities to confirm receipt of applications and review them for completeness within specified timeframes, enhancing efficiency in the development approval process.

Moreover, the bill revises regulations regarding impact fees, allowing local governments and school districts to increase these fees under extraordinary circumstances, provided they conduct a need study and hold publicly noticed workshops. Any fee increase must be approved unanimously and implemented in equal annual increments. The bill also clarifies that municipalities cannot require state or federal permits as a condition for local development permits unless those permits have been denied. It emphasizes that obtaining a development permit does not guarantee the applicant's ability to secure necessary state or federal permits and includes a disclaimer to inform applicants of this requirement. The legislation aims to streamline the application process and improve transparency in local government fee structures, with an effective date set for October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1080 Filed: 125.022, 166.033
S 1080 c1: 125.022, 163.3162, 163.3164, 166.033
S 1080 e1: 125.022, 166.033
S 1080 e2: 125.022, 553.80, 166.033
S 1080 er: 125.022, 553.80, 166.033