House Bill 1209 amends several sections of Florida Statutes concerning land use, development regulations, and homeowners' associations, with a particular focus on agricultural enclaves. The bill allows owners of agricultural enclaves to seek administrative approval for development without needing to amend local comprehensive plans, thereby removing the presumption of urban sprawl for these developments. It also ensures that local governments cannot impose more burdensome regulations on agricultural enclaves compared to other applications with similar densities. Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions, such as "infill residential development" and "extraordinary circumstance," and mandates that local land development regulations accommodate minimum lot sizes to support maximum densities.

Moreover, the bill modifies the financial reporting requirements for developers and homeowners' associations, changing terminology from "mandatory maintenance or amenity fees" to "amenity dues" and enhancing transparency in financial reports. It requires detailed disclosures regarding amenity dues in recreational covenants and mandates that any new covenants recorded after July 1, 2025, must specify the parcels subject to mandatory dues and the responsible party for maintaining recreational facilities. The bill also allows local governments to allocate a portion of infrastructure surtax proceeds for economic development projects and clarifies the liability of homeowners' associations regarding unpaid assessments. Overall, HB 1209 aims to streamline development processes, enhance consumer protection, and clarify the obligations of developers and homeowners in Florida.

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