Florida lawmakers approved an expansion of the Live Local Act on Mar. 22, allowing developers to build projects on land owned by counties, municipalities, and school districts if the sites are within their jurisdictions and the property owner co-files project applications with developers. The measure also extends the workforce housing law to properties larger than three acres that have been owned by religious institutions and used as a house of worship for at least ten years.
The expansion is significant because it aims to address Florida’s ongoing affordable housing challenges by making more land available for development and broadening eligibility for incentives. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Alexis Calatayud and Rep. Mike Redondo, both Republicans representing Miami-Dade County, and now awaits Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature.
The original Live Local Act, signed into law in 2023, incentivizes multifamily developers to reserve at least 40 percent of their units for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income. These incentives include increased density, height allowances, and property tax breaks for qualifying projects on commercial, industrial, or mixed-use sites.
Lawmakers decided not to include a provision that would have made it easier to build accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods. However, they did extend property tax abatements so that relief will begin once a developer secures a building permit—a change intended to help finance new projects. Currently, property tax relief ranging from 75 percent to 100 percent is available only after project completion.
Despite several proposals and months of debate, no additional property tax relief measures were passed during this session. Governor DeSantis has indicated that such measures may be considered during a special session.
The broader impact of these legislative changes could make it easier for developers to pursue workforce housing projects across Florida while providing more options for local governments and religious organizations seeking to address housing needs.
