Florida SB 686: Offers of Judgment

Bill Text

686 
Agricultural Enclaves 
2026-03-18T04:11:06Z 
Authorizing certain persons to apply to the governing body of the local government for certification of certain parcels as agricultural enclaves; requiring the local government to hold a public hearing within a specified timeframe to approve or deny such certification; authorizing certain persons to submit certain development plans; authorizing the development of certain parcels for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential purposes under certain circumstances, etc. 
ENROLLED 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
er 

 ENROLLED 
 2026 Legislature CS for CS for CS for SB 686 

 2026686er 
 1 
 2 An act relating to agricultural enclaves; amending s. 
 3 163.3162, F.S.; authorizing certain persons to apply 
 4 to the governing body of the local government for 
 5 certification of certain parcels as agricultural 
 6 enclaves; prohibiting an applicant from using the 
 7 perimeter of certain parcels for a specified purpose; 
 8 requiring the local government to provide to the 
 9 applicant a certain report within a specified 
 10 timeframe; requiring the local government to hold a 
 11 public hearing within a specified timeframe to approve 
 12 or deny such certification; requiring the 
 13 certification of a parcel or parcels as an 
 14 agricultural enclave under certain circumstances; 
 15 requiring the governing body to issue certain 
 16 decisions in writing; authorizing an applicant to seek 
 17 judicial review under certain circumstances; 
 18 authorizing certain persons to submit certain 
 19 development plans; requiring that certain developments 
 20 be treated as a conforming use; encouraging a local 
 21 government to incorporate certain site design measures 
 22 where feasible for certain development; prohibiting a 
 23 local government from enacting or enforcing certain 
 24 laws or regulations; requiring a local government to 
 25 treat certain agricultural enclaves as if they are 
 26 within urban service districts; requiring the local 
 27 government and the owner of a parcel or parcels 
 28 certified as an agricultural enclave to enter a 
 29 certain written agreement; authorizing the development 
 30 of certain parcels for commercial, industrial, or 
 31 single-family residential purposes under certain 
 32 circumstances; deleting provisions relating to certain 
 33 amendments to a local government’s comprehensive plan; 
 34 revising construction; amending s. 163.3164, F.S.; 
 35 revising the definition of the term “agricultural 
 36 enclave”; providing for the future expiration and 
 37 reversion of specified provisions; providing an 
 38 effective date. 
 39 
 40 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 41 
 42 Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 163.3162, Florida 
 43 Statutes, is amended to read: 
 44 163.3162 Agricultural lands and practices.— 
 45 (4) PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.— 
 46 (a) Notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance, 
 47 resolution, or regulation, the owner of a parcel or parcels of 
 48 land, or such owner’s authorized agent or controlling entity, 
 49 may apply to the governing body of the local government for 
 50 certification of the parcel or parcels as an agricultural 
 51 enclave as defined in s. 163.3164 if one or more adjacent 
 52 parcels or an adjacent development permits the same density as, 
 53 or higher density than, the proposed development. An applicant 
 54 seeking such certification may not use the perimeter of another 
 55 parcel certified by the local government as an agricultural 
 56 enclave to meet the definition of the term “agricultural 
 57 enclave.” 
 58 (b) Within 30 days after the local government’s receipt of 
 59 such an application, the local government shall provide to the 
 60 applicant a written report detailing whether the application 
 61 complies with the requirements of paragraph (a). 
 62 (c) Within 30 days after the local government provides the 
 63 report required under paragraph (b), the local government shall 
 64 hold a public hearing to approve or deny certification of the 
 65 parcel or parcels as an agricultural enclave. If the local 
 66 government does not approve or deny certification of the parcel 
 67 or parcels as an agricultural enclave within 90 days after 
 68 receipt of the application, the parcel or parcels must be 
 69 certified as an agricultural enclave. 
 70 (d) If the application is denied, the governing body of the 
 71 local government must issue its decision in writing with 
 72 detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The applicant 
 73 may seek review of the denial by filing a petition for writ of 
 74 certiorari in the circuit court within 30 days after the date 
 75 the local government renders its decision. 
 76 (e) If the application is approved, the owner of the parcel 
 77 or parcels certified as an agricultural enclave, or the owner’s 
 78 authorized agent or controlling entity, may submit develo