St. Pete Is First to Adopt Faith-Based Housing Law

St. Pete becomes Florida’s first city to allow affordable housing on religious property

The City of St. Pete has become the first municipality in Florida to adopt a provision into its City Code allowing affordable housing to be built on land owned by religious institutions regardless of underlying zoning, following the passage of a new state law earlier this year. While the Florida Senate Bill 1730, often referred to as “Yes In God’s Backyard” or YIGBY, gives cities the option to allow affordable housing on faith-owned land, i…

St. Pete is first to adopt faith-based housing law

St. Petersburg is now Florida’s first city to formally adopt new affordable housing legislation known as “Yes in God’s Backyard.” ​City council members unanimously approved an ordinance that incorporates Senate Bill 1730 into the municipal code at their Dec. 11 meeting. Mayor Ken Welch began advocating for the provision in 2024, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law in June. Source