HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County leaders are preparing for a legal fight with the state after a unanimous vote to challenge the constitutionality of Florida’s Live Local Act, a law designed to fast-track affordable housing development.
What You Need To Know
- Hillsborough County leaders are preparing for a legal fight with the state after a unanimous vote to challenge the constitutionality of Florida’s Live Local Act, a law designed to fast-track affordable housing development
- County commissioners say the law goes too far by allowing developers to override local zoning rules, even in areas zoned for low-density or rural use, stripping local governments of decision-making authority and public input
- Under the law, developers can move projects forward if they include a set number of affordable units — a provision, county leaders argue, that has led to an influx of multifamily proposals without adequate consideration for infrastructure
- The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has also indicated it is open to other jurisdictions joining the legal challenge
County commissioners say the law goes too far by allowing developers to override local zoning rules, even in areas zoned for low-density or rural use, stripping local governments of decision-making authority and public input.
The Live Local Act was passed in response to Florida’s ongoing housing crisis, with supporters arguing it increases supply in areas where affordability is most strained. But critics say the approach prioritizes speed over planning…