Hillsborough County Approves Pilot Program for a Discretionary Alternative to the Live Local Act

On August 5, 2026, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (“BOCC”) voted 5-2 to approve a one-year pilot program pursuant to Section 125.01055(6), Florida Statutes. The pilot program allows (but does not require) the County to approve affordable housing developments on parcels zoned for commercial or industrial uses (but not planned developments), so long as at least 25% of the units are made affordable to households earning less than 120% of the area median income (“AMI”) for a minimum of 30 years.

To utilize this pilot program, applicants must file a planned development rezoning application and pay the fees associated with a minor modification. While the application must undergo the typical agency review and recommendations process, including Planning Commission review for compatibility, this process is exempt from review by the Zoning Hearing Master (“ZHM”); instead, the application goes directly to a public hearing before the BOCC. This pilot program is intended to bridge the gap between a fully administrative Live Local Act approval and a discretionary traditional rezoning.