A sweeping new Florida law is reshaping how cities and counties handle building and rebuilding — and critics say it hands power directly to developers at the expense of local communities.

Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 26, the measure known as SB 180 blocks local governments from imposing “more restrictive or burdensome” rules on their comprehensive plans or land development codes — even in areas prone to hurricanes and flooding.

The law’s stated goal is to speed up post-disaster reconstruction and prevent local regulations from slowing recovery. But for many local leaders and planners, it ties their hands at a time when more communities are looking to adapt to climate change and worsening storm impacts.

“It defies logic,” said Jamie Cole, a Fort Lauderdale attorney working with several cities weighing a lawsuit to overturn the law.
“We can learn from a hurricane, say, that certain areas flood terribly. So, if a city wants to pass an ordinance that says that if you redevelop, you’ve got to make houses a little higher. Well, now, we can’t do that.”

State records show major developers backed the law, including On Top of The World Communities, Kolter Group, and others. For them, the new law removes the uncertainty that post-storm local rules might limit where and how much they can build.

“It empowers development to keep being built in the same way,” said Kim Dinkins, policy and planning director for 1000 Friends of Florida. “It really is a developers’ handout.”

Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, one of SB 180’s main sponsors, defended the law as essential to helping communities bounce back. “We want local governments to ensure that they’re allowing homeowners and businesses to rebuild,” DiCeglie said in May. “It’s not only going to halt development, it’s going to halt recovery. We have to give our residents and businesses a chance to rebuild.”

But for local governments, the measure is causing confusion and pushback. The law applies statewide because every Florida county was part of at least one federal disaster declaration in 2024. Its restrictions are also retroactive to August 2024 and last until at least October 2027, extending automatically whenever a hurricane hits within 100 miles.

Some cities are pushing back anyway. In Volusia County, the city of Deltona just approved a nine-month moratorium on new residential development, despite SB 180. City leaders say they need the pause to catch up on infrastructure like drainage and emergency services.

Deltona Commissioner Dori Howington called the law an overreach:
“We’re trying to move our community forward. The new law appears to be unconstitutional, and it also appears to be a perpetual restriction on local governments.”

But not everyone agrees. Commissioner Emma Santiago, who voted against the moratorium, said Deltona risks losing taxpayer dollars in a losing fight: “It’s a waste of money to go against the state.”

The new law even discourages new rules unrelated to hurricanes — for example, Polk County postponed action on a proposed ban on roosters on small lots, and Manatee County was blocked from reinstating wetland buffer rules scrapped last year.

Meanwhile, DeSantis continues to expand the state’s use of emergency powers to assert control over local decisions. Supporters say the approach speeds recovery, while critics argue it undercuts local democracy.

Broader Impact

The new measure is reshaping conversations about how Florida communities adapt to climate change, rising sea levels, and repeat storm damage. Planners say local flexibility is critical to make neighborhoods more resilient — by raising homes, limiting density in floodplains, or improving stormwater systems.

Legal Fight Looms

Legal experts expect constitutional challenges, arguing that the state cannot strip local governments of their home rule authority, especially when lives and property are at stake. Several cities are now weighing joint action to challenge SB 180 in court.

Developers’ Perspective

For developers, the law offers predictability. With no surprise local ordinances or zoning rollbacks, projects can move forward even if an area is hit repeatedly by storms. Builders argue that stronger local limits would only drive up housing costs in a state that already faces an affordability crisis.

The Political Backdrop

The law’s passage reflects Florida’s ongoing tension between rapid growth and climate risk. It also highlights how DeSantis and his allies continue to expand state-level power, often at odds with local governments trying to manage growth responsibly.

As Florida heads deeper into the 2025 hurricane season, cities like Deltona may be the first big test of whether local pushback can overcome Tallahassee’s top-down controls.

Originally reported by John Kennedy in Tallahassee Democrat.