Sparks flare over Florida law to target idle golf courses for housing

"Sponsored by Miami state Sen. Alexis Calatayud, the bill explicitly bars local governments from adopting or enforcing any ordinance, regulation or law that restricts, prohibits, or otherwise limits residential development on qualifying parcels. A staff-level administrative approval is all the law demands. Qualifying land must be a minimum of five acres of environmentally impacted land in a county with a population exceeding 1.475 million and at least 15 municipalities. Those thresholds limit the law's reach to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties."

"The bill's most detailed section addresses former recreational facilities specifically naming golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools and clubhouses. Developers seeking to build on such sites must prove that the facilities have been idle for at least 12 consecutive months, pay double the applicable parks and recreation impact fees, and notify adjacent property owners by certified mail. Those neighbors have "

"When the Infill Redevelopment Act passed, warnings over problems it could cause bubbled up, but only in limited circles. It passed in March without a single nay vote in the Senate and overwhelmingly cleared the House. The bill landed on Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk this week, and now what were isolated warnings have flared up into threats of lawsuits as homeowners fear their million-dollar views of golf course greens and fairways will disappear."

"The bill is the latest in a series of state laws that have made Florida a national example for stripping local governments of zoning authority in the name of housing affordability a pattern that has sparked lawsuits and resistance from counties and municipalities statewide. You're going to see a lot of angry voters, Steve Geller, a Broward County commissioner and former state senator, told The Builder's Daily."

A Florida law passed to allow housing on idle recreational facilities on qualifying parcels, overriding local zoning authority. The Infill Redevelopment Act drew limited public attention during the legislative session, then passed in March with no Senate opposition and strong House approval. The law bars local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances or regulations that restrict residential development on qualifying land, requiring only staff-level administrative approval. Qualifying parcels must be at least five acres of environmentally impacted land in counties with populations above 1.475 million and at least 15 municipalities, limiting coverage to Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. For former recreational facilities, including golf courses, developers must show 12 consecutive months of idleness, pay double parks and recreation impact fees, and notify adjacent owners by certified mail.

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