Florida Extends COVID-19 State Of Emergency, Providing More Time For Developers, Permit Holders

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-114 on May 8, 2020, extending the declaration of a state of emergency to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. The extension of a state of emergency concerning a natural emergency adds additional time for developers and other permit holders to toll and extend development orders, permits and other authorizations for the length of time the declaration is in effect plus six months. The governor's initial declaration of a state of emergency, published on March 9, 2020, tolled the expiration of valid permits, development orders and other authorizations to May 8, 2020, and allowed permit holders to extend their development authorizations for an additional six months. With the governor's extension of the declaration of a state of emergency, valid permits and other authorizations that were valid as of March 9, 2020, cannot expire before July 7, 2020.