Volusia County advisory panel pauses ordinance recommendations after state'wide SB 180 limits local stormwater and land-use changes

Volusia County's Natural Resources Advisory Committee voted to ask staff to return next month with a short list of streamlining and nonrestrictive code options after being told that Florida's Senate Bill 180 limits the county's ability to propose or adopt stricter land-development or stormwater regulations.

A staff presenter told the committee that SB 180, signed by the governor on June 26, prohibits counties from proposing or adopting amendments that are "more restrictive or burdensome" to comprehensive plans or land-development regulations until Oct. 2027 and adds an additional one-year extension following certain hurricane events. Staff also said that the stormwater ordinance the committee had developed and that had been adopted by County Council is affected under the bill.

The committee spent much of the meeting weighing three paths: continue meeting but avoid producing formal ordinance recommendations; seek a formal pause or tolling of member terms; or identify a narrow set of tasks that would add value without producing proposals that could be interpreted as "more restrictive." Ginger Adair, a staff member, noted, "Everyone's term here expires in September, either Sept. 3 or Sept. 30, 2026," and reminded members that reappointment would be required to continue beyond that date.

Committee members described frustration that months of work on stormwater standards and low-impact development (LID) incentives could be set aside by the law. Several members said there are components the group could still pursue, such as clarifying wetland rules, reorganizing the tree code for clarity, or proposing alternate permit paths that remain voluntary. "There are some things that we can still do with...streamlining," a member said, urging the group to focus on tactical items that staff could implement or present to County Council.

Legal and staff cautioned that even voluntary measures carry risk: if the committee promulgates a voluntary path that produces an unforeseen negative consequence, the county might lack authority to later rescind or revise it without running afoul of SB 180. A county attorney representative was present for legal orientation on those limits.

Faced with those constraints, the committee adopted an amended motion made by Jessica Gao and seconded by Tyler Malmberg directing staff to return at the next meeting with a proposed list of code areas the committee could productively and lawfully address and with questions for County Council about options including a temporary hiatus or modification to the committee's charge. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

The committee also approved routine minutes from the June 4 meeting earlier in the session. Members suggested that if Council wants the panel to continue, the committee should present a narrow, prioritized work plan that minimizes added staff burden and focuses on items where the county retains discretion under SB 180.

Next steps: staff will compile candidate items for code streamlining and clarifications, review the committee's adopted work plan to identify what remains viable, and return at the next meeting with a proposal to take to County Council for direction.