In recent years, a series of legislative development permit extensions have enabled developers to keep previously-approved development orders and building permits alive despite economic conditions that resulted in stalled development throughout the state. Although Florida’s real estate market is now steadily recovering, the Legislature offered additional relief to qualifying developers that have been unable to complete previously-permitted projects within their expiration period.
House Bill 7019 was adopted during the 2013 legislative session, and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Among other provisions, this bill extends the period for providing notification of the use of the two-year statutory permit extension approved in section 24 of Chapter 2012-205 (House Bill 503), changing the notification deadline from December 31, 2012 to October 1, 2013. This legislation offers another chance for a developer to take advantage of this same two-year extension for local government-issued development orders, building permits, local certificates of levels of service, Department of Environmental Protection permits and Water Management District permits with an expiration date from January 1, 2012 through January 1, 2014.
Local governments and developers should carefully review permit extension requests against the legislation, to ensure compliance and the effectiveness of extension requests.
Chaired by Susan L. Trevarthen, WSH’s Public Land Use and Zoning Practice Group includes attorneys with extensive experience representing local governments in all aspects of land use, planning and zoning. The Group provides advice to local government staff, city managers, comprehensive planners, and building departments. Working with WSH’s Local Government Law Division, our attorneys also draft ordinances and resolutions, and sit with boards, councils, and commissions dealing with land development matters. WSH also represents private clients in development matters as well; our Private Land Use and Zoning Practice Group routinely handle land use and zoning matters for owners, developers, investors and lenders in land use and zoning matters throughout various South Florida jurisdictions at the municipal, county and State level.
Author(s): Johanna M. Lundgren
