ROGO Update: A Way Forward for Monroe County

Last Stand is pleased to announce a significant compromise regarding the controversial Rate of Growth Ordinances (ROGOs). Monroe County will not receive the previously proposed 4,000 or 2,000 additional building allocations. Instead, 900 ROGOs will be allocated over the next 10 years. This decision represents a critical step toward protecting our infrastructure while managing growth responsibly in the Florida Keys.

Details of the New Allocations

The 900 ROGOs are exclusively designated for single-family homes, with no provisions for multi-family projects. The bill has passed both the Florida House and Senate and is now awaiting Governor Ron DeSantis' signature. No further amendments can be made at this stage. We will continue to provide updates regarding whether the governor signs or vetoes the bill.

Impact of Senate Bill 180

In addition to ROGOs, Senate Bill 180 introduces changes to our hurricane evacuation plans. The bill raises the mandatory hurricane evacuation clearance time for permanent residents in the Florida Keys from 24 hours to 24.5 hours. The bill also outlines how ROGOs will be distributed to vacant, buildable parcels based on available lots within each municipality.

Importantly, the bill prioritizes owner-occupied residences, affordable housing, and workforce housing, ensuring these needs are considered in future development. The compromise is designed to help minimize traffic congestion, reduce environmental impacts, and improve hurricane evacuation safety. Additionally, the limitation to single-family homes helps avoid takings liabilities.

Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Land Development Regulations

Senate Bill 180 also includes a provision that impacts comprehensive plan amendments and land development regulations. This provision prohibits amendments deemed “burdensome” or “restrictive” for counties included in the disaster relief list after a hurricane. Since Monroe County is on that list, this provision will apply to all municipalities across the Keys.

The provision will remain in effect until June 30, 2028, and applies to all amendments, even those that are more narrowly focused than a complete rewrite of a comprehensive plan. This provision could affect amendments unrelated to hurricane recovery, prompting calls from some local leaders for Governor DeSantis to veto the bill. Others, including Monroe County, are planning to pursue a narrower interpretation of this provision during the 2026 legislative session.

What’s Next for ROGOs?

Last Stand will continue to monitor developments related to ROGOs, especially as the extended legislative session continues through June 6. We will keep you posted on any new ROGO-related language that may appear in other bills, as well as any actions taken regarding the provision on comprehensive plan amendments and land development regulations.

While the bill is not perfect, the victory of securing 900 ROGOs, far fewer than initially proposed, demonstrates the power of collective community action. This compromise ensures that Monroe County's development is more controlled and sustainable than it would have been otherwise.