5 Ways Inclusionary Zoning Works In Florida

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As the need for affordable housing continues to grow across the United States, many cities are turning to inclusionary zoning as a way to encourage developers to build more affordable units. In Florida, inclusionary zoning has been used to great effect in cities like Miami and Tampa. But how does it work, exactly? In this article, we'll explore the ins and outs of inclusionary zoning in Florida and highlight five ways it can be used to promote affordable housing.

What is Inclusionary Zoning?

Inclusionary zoning is a type of zoning policy that requires developers to include a certain percentage of affordable housing units in their projects. This can be achieved through a variety of means, including setting aside a percentage of units for low-income residents, providing density bonuses to developers who include affordable units, or offering other incentives.

Benefits of Inclusionary Zoning

Inclusionary zoning has a number of benefits, both for developers and for the community. For developers, inclusionary zoning can provide a way to increase density and build more units, which can be a major selling point in areas with high demand. For the community, inclusionary zoning can help to promote affordable housing and reduce the risk of gentrification.

5 Ways Inclusionary Zoning Works in Florida

Now that we've covered the basics of inclusionary zoning, let's take a look at five ways it works in Florida.

1. Setting Aside Affordable Units

One of the most common ways that inclusionary zoning works in Florida is by setting aside a certain percentage of units for low-income residents. This can be achieved through a variety of means, including requiring developers to include a certain percentage of affordable units in their projects or providing density bonuses to developers who include affordable units.

2. Providing Density Bonuses

Another way that inclusionary zoning works in Florida is by providing density bonuses to developers who include affordable units. This means that developers who include a certain percentage of affordable units in their projects can build more units overall, which can be a major selling point in areas with high demand.

3. Offering Incentives

In addition to setting aside affordable units and providing density bonuses, inclusionary zoning in Florida can also involve offering incentives to developers who include affordable units. This can include things like tax breaks, zoning variances, or other benefits.

4. Creating Affordable Housing Trust Funds

In some cases, inclusionary zoning in Florida can involve creating affordable housing trust funds. These funds are used to support the development of affordable housing units and can be funded through a variety of means, including fees on developers or other sources of revenue.

5. Encouraging Mixed-Income Development

Finally, inclusionary zoning in Florida can be used to encourage mixed-income development. This means that developers are encouraged to build projects that include a mix of market-rate and affordable units, rather than just one or the other.

Conclusion

Inclusionary zoning is an important tool for promoting affordable housing in Florida. By setting aside affordable units, providing density bonuses, offering incentives, creating affordable housing trust funds, and encouraging mixed-income development, inclusionary zoning can help to ensure that there are enough affordable housing units to meet the needs of the community.

We hope this article has been informative and helpful in understanding how inclusionary zoning works in Florida. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to reach out.