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Commission accepts AHAC report, staff recommends loosening ADU rules to add rental options
Summary
The board accepted the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee's 2025 report and staff proposed two AHAC priorities: allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be rented (remove non‑paying guest restriction) and increase the ADU size allowance (proposed 50% of primary dwelling with 1,200 sq ft cap). The report ties to SHIP reporting requirements if local SHIP exceeds state minimums.
The Board of County Commissioners accepted the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee's 2025 affordable housing incentive strategies report and heard staff recommendations on two incentives the board should consider: Amending the land development code to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be rented rather than limiting them to non‑paying guests, and increasing the ADU size allowance from the current "600 sq ft or one‑third of the main dwelling" standard to a 50% provision with a maximum of 1,200 sq ft.
Brandon, the staff presenter, said the AHAC was created on June 6, 2022 as required by "Florida statute section 4 20.9076" (as stated in the meeting record) and annually reviews the 11 incentives listed in statute. Brandon noted that if the county receives more than the state minimum of $350,000 in SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) funds, the county must submit this report to the state.
Commissioner and public questions focused on whether proposed developer fee waivers would be included and how the county would ensure any fee savings were passed through to buyers or renters. David Damon warned that some builder incentives can shift costs to taxpayers and that fee waivers operate on an "honor system" unless the county imposes requirements to guarantee affordability. Staff said the two incentives identified by staff did not include the builder fee waivers Damon described but that the board could give direction if it wished.
The board approved acceptance of the AHAC report and left the door open for further direction on whether to pursue code amendments or additional incentives; staff recommended option 1 to accept the report and take direction as needed.
Next steps identified in discussion included further evaluation of down‑payment assistance for mobile homes and reconsideration of age limitations for SHIP down‑payment assistance funded purchases, as well as including ADU size and use changes in the next land development code (LDC) update process.
The acceptance passed on a board vote (recorded in the meeting transcript).
