This bill seeks to enhance affordable housing in Florida by amending existing statutes to facilitate the development of multifamily and mixed-use residential projects. It requires counties and municipalities to permit these developments in flexibly zoned areas, mandating that at least 40% of the residential units be affordable rentals for a minimum of 30 years. The bill prohibits local governments from imposing excessive restrictions on these developments, such as limitations on density, floor area ratios, and building heights, while streamlining the approval process to allow for administrative approvals without further local board action. Additionally, it reduces parking requirements under certain conditions and establishes clear policies for administrative approvals.

The legislation also introduces provisions to expedite legal actions against municipalities for violations related to affordable housing, ensuring that courts prioritize these cases and award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing parties, capped at $200,000. It prohibits counties from imposing building moratoriums that would delay permitting for multifamily or mixed-use developments, with limited exceptions. Furthermore, the bill modifies hurricane evacuation clearance times for permanent residents in the Florida Keys and establishes a new policy to support affordable workforce housing for employees of hospitals and governmental entities. Overall, the bill aims to alleviate the housing shortage in the Florida Keys and improve access to affordable housing for essential workers, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1730 Filed: 380.0552, 760.26
S 1730 c1: 380.0552, 760.26
S 1730 c2: 380.0552, 760.26