The Florida Senate

381.00896  Nondiscrimination.--

(1)  The Legislature declares that it is the policy of this state that each county and municipality must permit and encourage the development and use of a sufficient number and sufficient types of farmworker housing facilities to meet local needs. The Legislature further finds that discriminatory practices that inhibit the development of farmworker housing are a matter of state concern.

(2)  Any owner or developer of farmworker housing which has qualified for a permit to operate, or who would qualify for a permit based upon plans submitted to the department, or the residents or intended residents of such housing may invoke the provisions of this section.

(3)  A municipality or county may not enact or administer local land use ordinances to prohibit or discriminate against the development and use of farmworker housing facilities because of the occupation, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, or income of the intended residents.

(4)  This section does not prohibit the imposition of local property taxes, water service and garbage collection fees, normal inspection fees, local bond assessments, or other fees, charges, or assessments to which other dwellings of the same type in the same zone are subject.

(5)  This section does not prohibit a municipality or county from extending preferential treatment to farmworker housing, including, without limitation, fee reductions or waivers or changes in architectural requirements, site development or property line requirements, or vehicle parking requirements that reduce the development costs of farmworker housing.

History.--s. 13, ch. 93-133.