High Springs approves ordinance creating review process for certified recovery residences

The High Springs City Commission voted unanimously April 9 to adopt Ordinance 2026-01, establishing an administrative procedure for review and approval of certified recovery residences.

The ordinance, described to the commission as a second reading item consistent with Florida Senate Bill 954 and the Federal Fair Housing Act, creates an administrative path for requests for reasonable accommodations to the city's Land Development Code. Commissioners approved the measure by roll-call vote: Mayor Miller — yes; Vice Mayor Bledsworth — yes; Commissioner Grunder — yes; Commissioner Howell — yes; Commissioner Whites — yes.

City staff explained the ordinance provides a procedure for applicants to seek exemptions from specific LDC provisions so that certified recovery residences may meet fair-housing and state statutory requirements without requiring a rezoning or ad-hoc variance process. The commission discussed, separately, whether and how to amend the LDC allowable-uses table to reflect these changes; staff advised that drafting code language for allowable uses may require planner input.

The commission directed staff to gather quotes from planners and to consider engaging the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council to prepare draft ordinance language or an amendment to the code, to be returned to the commission for further direction. No amendment to the allowable-uses table was enacted at this meeting; the ordinance adopted establishes the administrative review process and is intended as a procedural mechanism while the city considers longer-term LDC revisions.

The ordinance text and effective date were recorded in the meeting packet; the city did not specify an effective-on date during the discussion.