House Bill 1209 amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning land use and development regulations, particularly focusing on agricultural enclaves. The bill emphasizes the protection of agricultural landowners' property rights, allowing them to seek administrative approval for development without amending local comprehensive plans, thereby removing the presumption of urban sprawl for these developments. It also establishes that local governments cannot impose more burdensome regulations on agricultural enclaves compared to other applications with similar densities. Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions, prohibits certain policies in comprehensive plans, and requires local land development regulations to accommodate minimum lot sizes to support authorized densities.

Furthermore, the bill addresses recreational covenants in communities with both residential and commercial parcels, mandating that new covenants detail specific financial obligations and conditions for amenity dues. It emphasizes transparency in financial reporting for developers and requires disclosure in contracts involving the sale of parcels subject to recreational covenants. The legislation also updates the definition of "homeowners' association," clarifies the liability of first mortgagees regarding unpaid assessments, and allows local governments to allocate infrastructure surtax proceeds for economic development projects. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1209 Filed: 163.3184, 720.302, 720.3086, 212.055, 336.125, 479.01, 558.002, 617.0725, 718.116, 720.3085