House Bill 1209 amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning land use, development regulations, and homeowners' associations. The bill emphasizes the protection of agricultural landowners' property rights by allowing owners of agricultural enclaves to seek administrative approval for development without amending local comprehensive plans, thereby removing the presumption of urban sprawl for these developments. It introduces new definitions, such as "infill residential development" and "extraordinary circumstance," while revising existing definitions related to agricultural enclaves. The legislation also mandates that local governments cannot impose more burdensome regulations on agricultural enclaves compared to other applications for similar densities and requires that local land development regulations establish minimum lot sizes to accommodate authorized maximum densities.

Additionally, the bill modifies the financial reporting requirements for developers and owners of recreational facilities, changing terminology from "mandatory maintenance or amenity fees" to "amenity dues" and establishing new public disclosure protocols. It clarifies the requirements for recreational covenants in communities with both residential and commercial parcels, ensuring transparency regarding amenity dues and responsibilities. The bill also allows local governments to allocate up to 15% of surtax proceeds for economic development projects and updates definitions related to homeowners' associations. Overall, HB 1209 aims to streamline development processes, enhance property owner rights, and improve transparency in financial obligations within communities governed by recreational covenants.

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