2023 Florida Statutes › Title XI - County Organization and Intergovernmental Relations › Chapter 125 - County Government › Part I - County Commissioners: Powers and Duties (Ss. 125.001-125.59) › 125.01055 - Affordable housing.

125.01055 Affordable housing.—
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a county may adopt and maintain in effect any law, ordinance, rule, or other measure that is adopted for the purpose of increasing the supply of affordable housing using land use mechanisms such as inclusionary housing or linkage fee ordinances.
(2) An inclusionary housing ordinance may require a developer to provide a specified number or percentage of affordable housing units to be included in a development or allow a developer to contribute to a housing fund or other alternatives in lieu of building the affordable housing units.
(3) An affordable housing linkage fee ordinance may require the payment of a flat or percentage-based fee, whether calculated on the basis of the number of approved dwelling units, the amount of approved square footage, or otherwise.
(4) In exchange for a developer fulfilling the requirements of subsection (2) or, for residential or mixed-use residential development, the requirements of subsection (3), a county must provide incentives to fully offset all costs to the developer of its affordable housing contribution or linkage fee. Such incentives may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Allowing the developer density or intensity bonus incentives or more floor space than allowed under the current or proposed future land use designation or zoning;
(b) Reducing or waiving fees, such as impact fees or water and sewer charges; or
(c) Granting other incentives.
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(5) Subsection (4) does not apply in an area of critical state concern, as designated in s. 380.0552.
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(6) Notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance or regulation to the contrary, the board of county commissioners may approve the development of housing that is affordable, as defined in s. 420.0004, including, but not limited to, a mixed-use residential development, on any parcel zoned for commercial or industrial use, so long as at least 10 percent of the units included in the project are for housing that is affordable. The provisions of this subsection are self-executing and do not require the board of county commissioners to adopt an ordinance or a regulation before using the approval process in this subsection.
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(7)(a) A county must authorize multifamily and mixed-use residential as allowable uses in any area zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed use if at least 40 percent of the residential units in a proposed multifamily rental development are, for a period of at least 30 years, affordable as defined in s. 420.0004. Notwithstanding any other law, local ordinance, or regulation to the contrary, a county may not require a proposed multifamily development to obtain a zoning or land use change, special exception, conditional use approval, variance, or comprehensive plan amendment for the building height, zoning, and densities authorized under this subsection. For mixed-use residential projects, at least 65 percent of the total square footage must be used for residential purposes.
(b) A county may not restrict the density of a proposed development authorized under this subsection below the highest allowed density on any unincorporated land in the county where residential development is allowed.
(c) A county may not restrict the height of a proposed development authorized under this subsection below the highest currently allowed height for a commercial or residential development located in its jurisdiction within 1 mile of the proposed development or 3 stories, whichever is higher.
(d) A proposed development authorized under this subsection must be administratively approved and no further action by the board of county commissioners is required if the development satisfies the county’s land development regulations for multifamily developments in areas zoned for such use and is otherwise consistent with the comprehensive plan, with the exception of provisions establishing allowable densities, height, and land use. Such land development regulations include, but are not limited to, regulations relating to setbacks and parking requirements.
(e) A county must consider reducing parking requirements for a proposed development authorized under this subsection if the development is located within one-half mile of a major transit stop, as defined in the county’s land development code, and the major transit stop is accessible from the development.
(f) For proposed multifamily developments in an unincorporated area zoned for commercial or industrial use which is within the boundaries of a multicounty independent special district that was created to provide municipal services and is not authorized to levy ad valorem taxes, and less than 20 percent of the land area within such district is designated for commercial or industrial use, a county must authorize, as provided in this subsection, such development only if the development is mixed-use residential.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a development authorized under this subsection must comply with all applicable state and local laws and regulations.
(h) This subsection does not apply to property defined as recreational and commercial working waterfront in s. 342.201(2)(b) in any area zoned as industrial.
(i) This subsection expires October 1, 2033.
History.—s. 16, ch. 2001-252; s. 1, ch. 2019-165; s. 1, ch. 2020-27; s. 1, ch. 2022-176; s. 3, ch. 2023-17.
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Note.—Section 43, ch. 2023-17, provides:
“(1) The Department of Revenue is authorized, and all conditions are deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s. 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, for the purpose of implementing provisions related to the Live Local Program created by this act. Notwithstanding any other law, emergency rules adopted under this section are effective for 6 months after adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing the subject of the emergency rules.
“(2) This section expires July 1, 2026.”