A Florida amendment to the Live Local Act eases development of affordable housing on land owned by schools, municipalities, and houses of worship by relaxing local zoning barriers when projects designate 40% of units as affordable for at least 30 years.

Industry officials say faith-based lands can be leveraged to create senior housing and help retain teachers in high-cost areas, with faith communities calling for protections such as covenants to preserve missions alongside housing.

Recent partnerships illustrate the shift, including Related Urban Development Group’s deal with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to redevelop the J.R.E. Lee Education Center into more than 300 mixed-income units with schooling facilities, prioritizing housing for teachers.

The policy change comes amid broader debates in Miami and across Florida about balancing affordable housing expansion with neighborhood character, local control, and safeguards for vulnerable landowners against unfavorable contracts.

To qualify, designated affordable units must serve households earning up to 120% of area median income, and religious sites must have operated as houses of worship for at least a decade with the faith institution as a co-applicant that continues worship after redevelopment.

The measure targets Florida’s housing shortage, especially in expensive areas like Miami-Dade County, where roughly 90,000 more affordable units are needed to reach 80% of area median income.

Developers and housing advocates applaud the streamlined process and expanded opportunities on faith and school land, while some local officials, including Miami’s Christine King, warn of risks to congregations and long-term land use, fearing potential exploitation or loss of community control.