Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed an update to the state’s Live Local Act, expanding where qualifying affordable housing projects can be built and limiting local governments’ ability to regulate them. The new law takes effect July 1 and builds on the original Live Local Act approved in 2023.
Changes to the Law
The updated law broadens the types of property eligible for the law’s zoning preemptions and clarifies limits on municipal development regulations. One of the largest changes involves public land, allowing affordable housing projects that meet Live Local requirements to qualify on property owned by a county, municipality, or school district, provided the public owner participates in the application.
The legislation also creates a new pathway for certain religious institutions. Churches and other religious organizations with more than three acres of land that have maintained a house of public worship for at least 10 years may qualify for Live Local development rights if the place of worship remains in operation after construction.
The law also strengthens the state’s height preemption, specifying that local governments cannot use setbacks, stepbacks, or other dimensional regulations to effectively reduce the height of qualifying Live Local developments.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
