Published on March 11, 2025 at 11:31 am
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
As Florida continues to struggle with a lack of affordable housing, lawmakers are looking at “granny flats” to help address the problem.
A Senate committee Tuesday approved a bill (SB 184) that would require cities and counties to allow adding what are technically known as accessory dwelling units — but are often known as granny flats — in single-family residential areas.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Granny flats are independent living spaces added to homes or properties. Current law says local governments can allow granny flats, but the new legislation would require them to do so.
“ADUs (accessory dwelling units) increase workforce housing because ADUs cost less to build, they cost less to rent and they’re often located in urban areas where workers need to live in order to be close to their jobs,” Senate sponsor Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said before the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the bill Tuesday.
The House version of the bill (HB 247), filed by Rep. Bill Conerly, R-Lakewood Ranch, was scheduled to be taken up later Tuesday by the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Lawmakers in 2023 passed a wide-ranging measure, dubbed the “Live Local Act,” aimed at expanding workforce housing in the state. That measure was a top priority of then-Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples.
Gaetz, also a former Senate president, said Tuesday that this year’s bill “takes another step.” A Senate staff analysis, citing a Florida Housing Coalition study, said accessory dwelling units are already allowed in 11 of the 15 cities with the highest populations in the state.
The bill drew support from groups as diverse as AARP, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity.
Under the bill, residents could not lose their homestead property exemptions if they add granny flats — though the granny flats would also face property taxes. The requirement for allowing the units would not apply to planned unit developments or master planned communities, which, for example, can include restrictions applied to an entire development rather than to individual homes.
Gaetz made a change Tuesday that he said would help prevent use of granny flats as short-term vacation rentals. The change would prevent the units from being leased for less than a month.
Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said he was initially concerned about “potential mischief” related to vacation rentals. But he said Tuesday’s change largely addressed that concern.
More broadly, Smith said the bill could help address affordable-housing problems.
“We have a real affordable housing crisis in the state of Florida, and a big part of that crisis has everything to do with supply, or lack of supply,” Smith said. “Bringing in these ADUs to help add to the housing supply is a great idea that should be encouraged.”
Gaetz’ bill must clear the Senate Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate.
©2025 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved; see terms.
