HB 401 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to residential land use development 2
regulations; providing a short title; creating ss. 3
125.01056 and 166.04155, F.S.; providing legislative 4
purpose; providing legislative findings; providing 5
definitions; authorizing counties and municipalities, 6
respectively, to zone or designate a parcel for 7
single-family residential use or single -family hybrid 8
housing use; authorizing counties and municipalit ies, 9
respectively, to allow the use of land for single -10
family residential use, while prohibiting the use of 11
land for single-family hybrid housing use; providing 12
legislative intent; providing for the adoption of 13
local land development regulations; providing 14
applicability; providing exemptions; providing an 15
effective date. 16
17
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18
19
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Strengthening 20
Home Ownership in Florida Act." 21
Section 2. Section 125.01056, Florida Statutes, is created 22
to read: 23
125.01056 Hybrid housing. — 24
(1) PURPOSE.—The land use categories of single -family 25
HB 401 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
residential and hybrid housing use aim to clearly distinguish 26
between owner-occupied single-family homes and hybrid housing 27
models that blend single-family homes on individual lots with 28
multifamily ownership characteristics. 29
(2) FINDINGS.—The Legislature finds that: 30
(a) Homeownership enhances community stability, economic 31
prosperity, and civic engagement. 32
(b) There are substantial public benefits of increased 33
homeownership, such as improved public welfare and economic 34
resilience. 35
(c) Evolving housing needs require adaptable policy 36
frameworks that promote inclusivity and economic diversity 37
within communities. 38
(d) Distinguishing between land use categories for owner -39
occupied single-family residential use and hybrid housing use 40
addresses the diverse needs and preferences of the residents of 41
this state. 42
(e) There is currently no mechanism to ensure that 43
rezoning land into uses for single-family residential use will 44
provide for home ownership opportunities, necessitating 45
legislative action to address this concern. 46
(3) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 47
(a) "Single-family hybrid housing use" means residential 48
property that is primarily designed for use as rental property 49
or property subject to a lease agreement, which is owned by a 50
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
related entity, irrespective of the total number of properties 51
owned in the county. 52
(b) "Single-family residential use" means owner -occupied 53
residential property in which the homeowner, and any related 54
entity, does not own more than three single -family residences in 55
the county. 56
57
For purposes of this subsection, the term "related entity" means 58
a person or entity that has an affiliation or connection to the 59
property, whether direct or indirect, through an ownership 60
interest, familial or associative connection, control or 61
influence, economic interest, legal or beneficial interest, or 62
contractual or agreement -based relationship. 63
(4) AUTHORIZED LAND USE CATEGORIES. — 64
(a) A county may zone or designate a parcel for single -65
family residential use or single -family hybrid housing use in 66
its local government comprehensive plan and future land use map. 67
(b) A county may allow the use of land for si ngle-family 68
residential use, while prohibiting the use of land for single -69
family hybrid housing use, for purposes of any local zoning 70
regulations or future land use maps. It is the intent of this 71
section to enable a county the ability to tailor its land us e 72
policies and regulations to address local housing needs and 73
community development goals. 74
(5) ADOPTION OF LOCAL LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. —A 75
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
county may adopt any ordinance, rule, or regulation consistent 76
with this section to meet its specific local h ousing needs. 77
(6) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply to property 78
owned or developed by a state or local governmental entity. 79
(7) EXEMPTIONS.— 80
(a) This section is exempt from the requirements of s. 81
70.001. 82
(b) A builder or developer engaged in the construction and 83
sale of a new home on land zoned for single -family residential 84
use is exempt from any land development regulations governing 85
single-family residential use if the builder or developer owns 86
the unoccupied home under permitting and con struction. 87
Section 3. Section 166.04155, Florida Statutes, is created 88
to read: 89
166.04155 Hybrid housing. — 90
(1) PURPOSE.—The land use categories of single -family 91
residential and hybrid housing use aim to clearly distinguish 92
between owner-occupied single-family homes and hybrid housing 93
models that blend single -family homes on individual lots with 94
multifamily ownership characteristics. 95
(2) FINDINGS.—The Legislature finds that: 96
(a) Homeownership enhances community stability, economic 97
prosperity, and civic engagement. 98
(b) There are substantial public benefits of increased 99
homeownership, such as improved public welfare and economic 100
HB 401 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
resilience. 101
(c) Evolving housing needs require adaptable policy 102
frameworks that promote inclusivity and economic divers ity 103
within communities. 104
(d) Distinguishing between land use categories for owner -105
occupied single-family residential use and hybrid housing use 106
addresses the diverse needs and preferences of the residents of 107
this state. 108
(e) There is currently no mechani sm to ensure that 109
rezoning land into uses for single -family residential use will 110
provide for home ownership opportunities, necessitating 111
legislative action to address this concern. 112
(3) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 113
(a) "Single-family hybrid housing use" means residential 114
property that is primarily designed for use as rental property 115
or property subject to a lease agreement, which is owned by a 116
related entity, irrespective of the total number of properties 117
owned in the county. 118
(b) "Single-family residential use" means owner -occupied 119
residential property in which the homeowner, and any related 120
entity, does not own more than three single -family residences in 121
the county. 122
123
For purposes of this subsection, "related entity," means a 124
person or entity that has an affiliation or connection to the 125
HB 401 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
property, whether direct or indirect, through an ownership 126
interest, familial or associative connection, control or 127
influence, economic interest, legal or beneficial interest, or 128
contractual or agreement -based relationship. 129
(4) AUTHORIZED LAND USE CATEGORIES. — 130
(a) A municipality may zone or designate a parcel for 131
single-family residential use or single -family hybrid housing 132
use in its local government comprehensive plan and future land 133
use map. 134
(b) A municipality may allow the use of land for single -135
family residential use, while prohibiting the use of land for 136
single-family hybrid housing use, for purposes of any local 137
zoning regulations or future land use maps. It is the intent of 138
this section to enab le a municipality the ability to tailor its 139
land use policies and regulations to address local housing needs 140
and community development goals. 141
(5) ADOPTION OF LOCAL LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. —A 142
municipality may adopt any ordinance, rule, or regulation 143
consistent with this section to meet its specific local housing 144
needs. 145
(6) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply to property 146
owned or developed by a state or local governmental entity. 147
(7) EXEMPTIONS.— 148
(a) This section is exempt from the requirements of s. 149
70.001. 150
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(b) A builder or developer engaged in the construction and 151
sale of a new home on land zoned for single -family residential 152
use is exempt from any land development regulations governing 153
single-family residential use if the builde r or developer owns 154
the unoccupied home under permitting and construction. 155
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 156