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 by allowing them to apply for administrative approval of development without needing to amend the local comprehensive plan, thus removing the presumption of urban sprawl for such developments. It introduces new definitions for terms like "infill residential development" and "contiguous," and mandates local land development regulations to establish minimum lot sizes to accommodate authorized maximum densities. Additionally, the bill outlines requirements for comprehensive plans, including prohibiting certain mandates and ensuring consistency among required and optional elements, while allowing property owners affected by amendments to file civil actions for relief.

The bill also addresses homeowners' associations and local government infrastructure surtaxes, permitting local governments to allocate up to 15% of surtax proceeds for economic development projects, provided this is indicated on the ballot. It modifies the definition of "homeowners' association" to align with updated statutory references and clarifies the liability of associations regarding unpaid assessments when acquiring title through foreclosure. Furthermore, it includes provisions for the abandonment of roads and rights-of-way in residential subdivisions, allowing homeowners' associations to convert subdivisions into gated communities. The bill 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