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NewsSarasota MagazineJune 15, 2026Sarasota County

Sarasota County Sued Over Affordable Housing Projects

Developers and a church have sued Sarasota County after commissioners blocked several apartment projects proposed under Florida's Live Local Act. The legal battle centers on whether the state's affordable housing law overrides local zoning restrictions in rural and agricultural areas.

housingzoninglawsuitland useinfrastructureenvironment
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Why It Matters

The outcome of this lawsuit will determine if over 5,000 planned apartment units can proceed in rural Sarasota County, potentially setting a legal precedent for how other Florida counties apply state housing laws to low-density land.

Key Facts

  • Sarasota County commissioners voted in April to block six of seven projects proposed under the Live Local Act.
  • Two lawsuits have been filed against the county by developers and a church in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court.
  • A July 1 deadline exists for project submissions to be reviewed under the current version of the Live Local Act before stricter state restrictions take effect.
  • More than 5,000 total rental units are currently caught in the dispute between the county and developers.
  • Over 2,300 new apartment units were submitted to the county planning department since the April vote.
  • The county argues that 'open-use' zoning districts are not 'commercial, industrial, or mixed-use' and therefore exempt from the Live Local Act's requirements.
  • Developers argue that the presence of any commercial use (like veterinarian clinics) in a district qualifies it for Live Local development.
  • D.R. Horton has proposed an 864-unit apartment complex near the Celery Fields stormwater collection zone.
  • A lawsuit filed by Yeshua’s Love Biblical Fellowship and Curco Land Holdings involves a 352-unit project on Fruitville Road.
  • SITC Inc. filed a lawsuit on May 20 regarding a project near 2000 Lorraine Road.
  • The county has formally asked a judge to dismiss the first lawsuit filed against them.

Who's Mentioned

personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida.”personTom Knight“Sarasota County Commissioner.”organizationBella Terra Land LLC“Developer proposing 487 apartments.”organizationWCI Communities LLC“Developer proposing 708 rentals.”personChristopher Oprison“Attorney representing SITC Inc.”organizationYeshua’s Love Biblical Fellowship“Church involved in a lawsuit against the county.”organizationSarasota County“The local government being sued for blocking housing projects.”personBill Galvano“Former Florida Senate President and attorney at Grimes Galvano P.L.”organizationD.R. Horton“National homebuilder proposing apartment projects.”personJoe Neunder“Sarasota County Commissioner.”personJoshua Moye“Sarasota County Attorney.”otherLive Local Act“Florida state law aimed at increasing affordable housing supply.”personDavid Pearce“Deputy County Attorney for Sarasota County.”personJack Cox“President of Halfacre Construction and controller of SITC Inc.”organizationCurco Land Holdings LLC“Partner in the lawsuit with Yeshua’s Love Biblical Fellowship.”