If you live near a commercial strip or mixed-use corridor in Tampa — or anywhere in Ybor City — a new apartment building could be coming to your block without the usual neighborhood hearing process.
Tampa’s Development & Growth Management office issued a detailed implementation memo spelling out exactly how Florida’s Live Local Act will work locally under the latest round of state amendments.
The memo explains that developers can bypass city council and zoning board hearings entirely if at least 40% of a project’s residential units are rented at affordable rates for 30 years or more. The most recent amendments took effect July 1, 2026.
What developers can build — and where
The city has set the maximum density for these projects at 100 units per acre, mirroring Tampa’s most intensive residential land-use category. Mixed-use projects can reach a floor area ratio of 5.25 — essentially 150% of the city’s base maximum…