SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/SB 208

Land Use and Development Regulations
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SPONSOR
Rules; Judiciary; McClain
FILED BY
Stan McClain — District 9, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
1/1/2027
COMPANION
CS/CS/CS/HB 399 — CS/CS/SB 208 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Development & Land Use.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Land Use and Development Regulations; Requiring that the amount of certain application fees reasonably relate to certain costs; requiring that certain interlocal agreements between school boards and local governments address reasonable access to certain public easements and public rights-of-way; requiring that local government comprehensive plans and land development regulations include factors for assessing the compatibility of certain residential uses; authorizing the placement of certain residential manufactured buildings on any lot in a recreational vehicle park; requiring that an offsite constructed residential dwelling be permitted as of right in certain zoning districts, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires written findings before zoning denials on compatibility grounds.

Local governments must give specific written reasons before denying a residential rezoning, subdivision, or site plan as incompatible with its surroundings. Citing 'community character' or 'neighborhood feel' alone no longer supports a denial.

If an applicant proposes ways to fix a compatibility problem, the local government can only deny the project by finding, in writing, both that the fix is inadequate and that no workable fix exists at all.

Manufactured and modular homes built off site must be permitted as of right anywhere a site-built single-family home is allowed. A conflicting local ordinance is void and unenforceable, though a limited set of design standards can still apply equally to both types of homes.

Counties and cities can no longer set development-permit fees as a percentage of a project's construction cost or value. The fee must instead reasonably reflect the government's own cost of reviewing the application.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Denials on compatibility grounds require written findings majors. 163.3194(7)(c)

AIA local government can still deny a rezoning, subdivision, or site plan on residential-compatibility grounds, but if the applicant proposed mitigation, the denial must include written findings that the proposed mitigation is inadequate and that no feasible mitigation exists at all.

“the local government may not deny an application on compatibility grounds unless the denial includes written findings” bill text, line 115 →
§ 2 Vague 'character' objections barred as sole basis for denial majors. 163.3194(7)(c)

AIA local government may not rely on community character or neighborhood feel by themselves to justify denying a residential rezoning or site plan. A denial on compatibility grounds must instead specify, with particularity, the actual areas of incompatibility and the applicable standards.

“References to "community character" or "neighborhood feel" are not sufficient in and of themselves to support a denial” bill text, line 125 →
§ 3 Offsite-built homes must be permitted as of right majors. 553.385(2)(a)

AIAn offsite constructed residential dwelling -- a manufactured building or manufactured home built in whole or part off site -- must be allowed by right in any zoning district where a site-built single-family home is allowed. A local government may not treat it differently or more restrictively.

“An offsite constructed residential dwelling must be permitted as of right in any zoning district where single-family detached dwellings are allowed” bill text, line 173 →
§ 4 Conflicting local ordinances on offsite-built homes are void majors. 553.385(3)

AIAny local zoning, land-use, or development ordinance that conflicts with the new parity rule, or that treats an offsite-built home differently because of its construction method, is void and unenforceable as applied to that home.

“Any such ordinance or regulation is void and unenforceable as applied to offsite constructed residential dwellings” bill text, line 208 →
§ 5 Development permit fees barred from tracking project value majors. 125.022(9)

AIA county or municipal application fee for a development permit or order must reasonably relate to the government's direct and indirect cost of reviewing it, must be posted on the government's fee schedule, and may not be set as a percentage of construction costs, site costs, or project valuation.

“The fee may not be based on a percentage of construction costs, site costs, or project valuation” bill text, line 69 →
§ 6 Manufactured homes gain broader placement in RV parks moderates. 553.382

AIA certified manufactured building can now be placed on any lot in a recreational vehicle park, not just a lot specifically designated as a mobile home lot within that park.

“or on any lot in a recreational vehicle park” bill text, line 151 →
§ 7 School facility easement access must be addressed in agreements moderates. 163.31777(2)(j)

AIInterlocal agreements between a school board and a local government must now address reasonable access to public easements and rights-of-way needed to site, build, expand, or improve a public school facility, including charter schools.

“Reasonable access, where available, to public easements and public rights-of-way which may be necessary for the siting” bill text, line 88 →
§ 8 Study ordered on removing Miami-Dade's growth boundary moderates. 7 (uncodified)

AIThe state's government watchdog agency must study what would happen if Miami-Dade County and other counties removed their Urban Development Boundaries, covering growth control, land and housing costs, and environmental and water-quality protection, and report to legislative leaders by December 1, 2026.

“shall conduct a study to identify the effects of removing the Urban Development Boundary” bill text, line 212 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 399 (Ch....
3/13/2026
Substituted CS/CS/CS/HB 399 -SJ 909
3/13/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 909
3/12/2026
Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 884
3/11/2026
Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 824
3/6/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/11/26
2/25/2026
CS/CS by Rules read 1st time
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/25/2026
Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/24/2026
CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 1
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
1/16/2026
Now in Rules
1/13/2026
CS by Judiciary read 1st time
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/12/2026
CS by Judiciary; YEAS 10 NAYS 0
1/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 01/12/26, 4:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
11/19/2025
Now in Judiciary
11/18/2025
Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 5 NAYS 0
11/10/2025
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 11/18/25, 3:30 pm, 37...
11/3/2025
Referred to Community Affairs; Judiciary; Rules
10/16/2025
Filed
16 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 125.022
+63 / −0
s. 166.033
+63 / −0
s. 163.31777
+43 / −0
s. 163.3194
+340 / −0
s. 553.382
+17 / −4
s. 553.385
+353 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
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