Affordable Housing Incentives
Housing Programs
- Tom Webster
- Housing Programs Manager
- County Annex Building
- 1st Floor
- 10 SW 2nd Avenue
- Gainesville, Fl 32601
- Phone: 352-264-7013
- Fax: 352-381-0121
- Hours:
- Mon-Thurs 8:00 am-4:00 pm
- Friday 8:00 am-1:00 pm
- Map
- GM staff directory
- County staff directory
The following incentive strategies were created as part of the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) to encourage the building of Affordable Housing Units.
Incentives are available to encourage the construction of Affordable Housing units
Strategies to contain the
cost of, and provide land for, Affordable Housing
Establishment of an ongoing Review Process
Alachua County provides for the development of an expanded process to review local policies, ordinances, regulations, and comprehensive plan provisions which significantly increase the cost of housing. This initiative is administered through public advertisement of proposed new land development regulations and invitation of public comment on housing cost impact. Staff analysis is required for any comprehensive plan amendments or land development regulation text amendments, prior to adoption, to evaluate the impact(s) on the cost of housing, and to incorporate the findings in the staff report
Inventory of public lands that may be appropriate for Affordable Housing
Alachua County, in accordance with Florida Statutes, requires that every three years a review of County-owned lands be completed to determine if any are appropriate for use as affordable housing.
Expedited Permitting Process
In the case when a backlog of applications for development approval occurs, resulting in delays in processing applications within
the regularly scheduled time-frame, for profit and not for profit permits for affordable housing projects are assigned priority for review and
processing. Permits shall be available within six business days after the application is found sufficient.
Application Form
Modification of Impact Fees
Alachua County provides General Revenue Funding to offset the cost of impact fees for affordable housing units for very low, low income, and moderate income households.
Reservation of Infrastructure capacity
This incentive, which encourages affordable housing for very low, low and moderate income persons, allows for long term concurrency reservation for Affordable Housing Developments without utilizing the Planned Development (P.D.) process.
Allowance for Accessory Living Units in Residential Zoning districts
Accessory dwelling units are allowed by right with certain limitations on homesteaded lots in all residential zoning districts. This incentive creates an opportunity for affordable rental units to be included within market rate single family developments.
Increased Number of Attached Units
Chapter 404.20(d) ULDC, contains a provision to increase the number of attached units allowed from four to eight units for Affordable Housing Developments.
Development Review Application Fee waiver
The County Manager may waive development review application fees and charges to not-for-profit corporations that submit affordable housing projects. This policy is annually approved through the Alachua County fee schedule by the Board of County Commissioners.
