Florida legislature passes bill to circumvent local zoning for residential development

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that would require local governments in the state’s most populous counties to allow residential development on parcels of least 5 acres.

The Infill Redevelopment Act requires cities to allow development on brownfield lots of the qualifying size that are adjacent to parcels zoned for residential use. The bill aims to increase the state’s housing supply and applies to counties with more than 1.475 million residents. 

The legislation also preempts some local government restrictions on certain multifamily and mixed-use affordable housing. Local governments are permitted to require a proposed development to comply with local regulations relating to architectural design if review by a board is not required.  

The bill would apply to South Florida’s Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties if signed into law by Gov. Ron Desantis.