Florida’s Live Local Act (LLA) has introduced significant modifications to the state’s building codes and zoning regulations to encourage greater workforce housing development projects. The ultimate goal is to enable more community members to live where they work, but to do that, you need to add more housing to an already dense area.

One of the key amendments brought forth with recent Senate Bill 328 is meant to address this issue by allowing qualifying developments to increase their permissible floor area.

Key Floor Area Ratio Adjustments Under the Live Local Act

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (also called floor lot ratio) is a ratio that represents the total floor area of a building relative to the size of the plot on which it is built. For example, a FAR of 2.0 means that the total floor area of the building can be twice the area of the plot.

With the amendments put forth in SB 328, the LLA now preempts local government standards for FAR and allows qualifying development projects to utilize up to 150% of the maximum FAR permitted within the jurisdiction.

Additionally, municipalities cannot restrict the height of the proposed development below the highest currently allowed height for a commercial or residential building located within a 1-mile radius of the proposed development or three stories, whichever is greater.

This increase in allowable floor area enables developers to construct larger buildings, accommodate more units, and potentially generate greater revenue.

To learn more about FAR allowances in your jurisdiction and begin developing a plan that will help you take full advantage of increased FAR adjustments, contact our team at Seacoast Consulting Group. We’d love to help you get started with your housing development project in South Florida.