The Sunny Isles Beach Local Planning Agency voted unanimously on Nov. 20 to recommend a recovery-residence ordinance required by recently passed state legislation.

Planning staff said the law requires all counties and municipalities to adopt an ordinance by Jan. 1, 2026, establishing procedures for review and approval of certified recovery residences, including reasonable-accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act. The proposed ordinance creates a new subsection under the specific-use regulations (recorded in the meeting as "02/6544"), defines certified recovery residences, sets application requirements to the planning and zoning department, and provides that a completed application will be forwarded to the city manager for final determination. Staff said denials may be appealed to the special magistrate.

During discussion, a commissioner expressed the belief that alcohol- and drug-rehabilitation centers are not compatible with single-family neighborhoods and said the city should seek ways to mitigate impacts if such a facility were proposed. Staff and other members clarified that adopting the ordinance complies with state law rather than signaling endorsement of locating recovery residences in any particular neighborhood.

A motion to recommend the ordinance to the City Commission was moved and seconded and the LPA voted 4–0 in favor (Commissioner Joseph, Commissioner Stuyvesant, Commissioner Viscara and Vice Mayor Grama voting yes). Staff reiterated the ordinance is intended to bring the city into compliance with the state change and is "not a welcome mat" for such facilities.

The recommendation will go to the City Commission for further consideration.