The Live Local Act in Sarasota County: What You Need to Know
Current Status
đź“Ť 18 proposed Live Local Act (LLA) projects
⚖️ Pending lawsuits by developers?: Yes
đź“„ Latest County update: July 2, 2026
Links to Live Local (LLA) Information pages
 Link to Sarasota County list of LLA projects as of July 2026 |  Legal Challenges to Sarasota County's Live Local Act Policy |  News on the Live Local Act in Sarasota |
|---|---|---|
 Link to Sarasota County Live Local Act webpage |  Frequently Asked Questions on LLA |  Florida Chapter 125.01055 - Live Local Act |
What Is the Live Local Act?
The Live Local Act is a Florida law enacted in 2023 to encourage the construction of additional workforce and affordable rental housing throughout the state. To qualify, at least 40% of the residential units in a development must remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years for households meeting state income limits.
​
To encourage these projects, the law provides significant incentives to developers. Depending on the property, qualifying developments may be allowed greater residential density, increased building height, and administrative approval without the traditional public hearing process.
​
The law generally applies to property zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development. However, questions about where the law applies and how it should be interpreted have become the subject of ongoing legal disputes in several Florida communities, including Sarasota County.
​
Why Is It Important to Sarasota County?
The Live Local Act has become one of the most significant land use issues facing Sarasota County. Proposed projects have been identified in communities throughout the county, including Siesta Key, the Celery Fields area, Venice, and other locations, raising questions about growth, compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods, infrastructure, traffic, environmental impacts, and the future of local planning.
​
Sarasota County Commissioners determined that the Live Local Act should apply only to the zoning districts specifically identified in the statute—commercial, industrial, and mixed-use. Several developers disagree with that interpretation and have filed lawsuits seeking to expand the law's application to certain residential, rural, and Open Use properties.
​
The outcome of these court cases could influence where future Live Local Act developments may be permitted throughout Sarasota County and how local land use regulations are applied.
​
Because the law continues to evolve through legislation, administrative decisions, and court rulings, the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) created this Information Center to provide residents with factual information about the Live Local Act, proposed projects, court cases, and related news so they can stay informed about this important issue.