The bill seeks to promote affordable housing development in Florida by amending existing statutes to allow county commissioners and municipal governing boards to approve affordable housing projects on parcels owned by religious institutions, irrespective of the underlying zoning. It mandates that at least 10% of units in these developments must be affordable and restricts non-residential use in mixed-use projects to no more than 10% of total square footage. Additionally, the bill revises regulations concerning density, floor area ratios, and building heights, ensuring that local governments cannot impose restrictions below specified thresholds. It streamlines the approval process by allowing administrative approvals for developments that comply with existing land regulations, reduces parking requirements near transit stops, and allows for the inclusion of adjacent parcels in proposed developments.

Moreover, the bill introduces provisions to prevent counties from enforcing building moratoriums that would delay the permitting or construction of multifamily or mixed-use residential developments unless specific conditions are met. It allows for temporary moratoriums of up to 90 days under certain circumstances and requires counties to report annually on litigation related to these developments. The legislation also emphasizes the need for affordable housing for employees of hospitals and governmental entities, encouraging developers to create housing preferences for these workers. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with provisions allowing applicants who submitted applications before this date to proceed under previous regulations.

Statutes affected:
S 1730 Filed: 380.0552, 760.26
S 1730 c1: 380.0552, 760.26
S 1730 c2: 380.0552, 760.26
S 1730 e1: 125.01055, 166.04151, 380.0552, 760.26