The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission on Nov. 7 recommended approval of proposed Unified Land Development Code revisions to provide an expedited reasonable-accommodation process and to permit revocation of approvals for certified recovery residences, following changes to state law during the 2025 legislative session.

Planner Jura Amati explained the revisions are intended to implement a 2025 change to Florida statute that requires local governments to include an expedited review for certified recovery residences and to allow revocation of approvals when appropriate. "This 1 is the reasonable accommodation revisions to the code, and this is specific to certified recovery residences," Amati said. Staff told the commission the proposed language was drafted to be consistent with the statute and that the county attorney's office was consulted during development of the text.

A commissioner asked whether staff had coordinated with the state attorney's office; Amati said staff worked with the county attorney's office but could not confirm contact with the state attorney's office and suggested Scott Stone or other staff may have additional information. The zoning commission serving as the land development regulation commission under Florida statute 163.3194 recommended that the revisions be found consistent with the county comprehensive plan; the motion to recommend approval was seconded and approved.

The revisions add an explicit timeline for expedited review and a process for revocation of reasonable-accommodation approvals for certified recovery residences; staff emphasized its drafting focused on matching the statutory requirements. No final policy text was adopted at the meeting—the commission's action was a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.