Lake County, FL Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

01 sets the baseline: a subdivision's building lots or dwelling units cannot exceed what the minimum lot size requirement or density standard of its zoning district allows, unless the Board of County Commissioners grants a discretionary bonus. Any combination of the bonus options in this subsection cannot push the total increase above 25% of density. 02 covers the open-space path: for each additional acre of protected, unconstrained buildable open space beyond what's already required, the applicant earns two additional building lots or dwelling units. Instead of adding that open space on-site, an applicant may purchase separate unconstrained land in fee simple or in less-than-fee (such as development rights), dedicating fee-simple purchases to a unit of local government, the State of Florida, or a private nonprofit land conservancy; a less-than-fee purchase instead requires a recorded conservation easement restricting the land's development potential, dedicated the same way.

03 covers the public-access path: dedicating land for public use, including trails, active recreation, or municipal spray irrigation fields, beyond what's already required under the Chapter or Florida law, earns two dwelling units for every acre of publicly accessible land dedicated. The Board decides at its own discretion whether to accept any offered dedication. This bonus mechanism sits inside Chapter 17's Rural Conservation Subdivision Design Standards, which apply wherever the Comprehensive Plan requires a conservation subdivision, including the county's designated Rural Protection Areas, and may also be used voluntarily on property not otherwise subject to that mandate. The current bonus text was adopted by Ord. No. 2023-9, § 2, effective 1-24-23.