Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: February 18, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Tanya Wilson, AICP, Director Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department
CONTACT: Nicolas Thalmueller, AICP, Planning Administrator
PHONE: 407-836-5523
DIVISION: Development Review Committee
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval and execution of Resolution 2026-M-11 of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners regarding the adoption of Standard Operating Procedures to implement Chapter 2025-172, Laws of Florida, to allow affordable housing on certain property owned by religious institutions; approval of a form Land Use Restriction Agreement; and authorization for the Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department Director to execute Land Use Restriction Agreements. (Development Review Committee)
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PROJECT: Affordable Housing for Religious Institutional Lands Program Standard Operating Procedures
PURPOSE: On June 23, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1730, that, among other things, amended s. 125.01055(6), Florida Statutes, to allow local governments to approve affordable housing development "on any parcel, including any contiguous parcel connected thereto, which is owned by a religious institution as defined in s. 170.201(2), Florida Statutes, which contains a house of public worship, regardless of underlying zoning." Locally, this would be known as The Affordable Housing for Religious Intuitional Lands Program ("AHRIL Program"). To qualify, at least 10 percent of the units must be designated as affordable housing. Orange County has prepared Standard Operating Procedures for an administrative review and approval process for AHRIL projects, which details the eligibility criteria, compatibility requirements, and applicable development standards. The County has also drafted a Land Use Restriction Agreement to be used for rental projects to bind the land for future development/redevelopment ...
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