City of Alachua joins 24 other municipalities and counties in lawsuit challenging SB 180

Press release from Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman

MIAMI – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of SB 180, which limits the control local governments have over development regulations. The complaint was filed on behalf of 25 municipalities and counties in the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County.

Senate Bill 180, passed during the 2025 legislative session, was initially presented as a measure to help Floridians rebuild after hurricanes. However, a last-minute amendment dramatically expanded the bill’s scope, effectively freezing local land-use regulations and comprehensive plans as of August 1, 2024, by declaring that any “restrictive or burdensome” zoning or planning changes made by counties or municipalities between that date and October 1, 2027, are automatically void ab initio. In practice, this strips cities and counties of their constitutional right to manage growth and development in their own communities. Local governments argue that SB 180 is unconstitutional, conflicts with Florida’s existing planning laws, and undermines the ability of communities to protect residents, plan responsibly, and respond to local needs.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare SB 180 unconstitutional and block its enforcement. By doing so, Florida’s cities and counties seek to restore their authority to make local land-use and planning decisions, ensuring that communities can continue to responsibly manage growth and respond effectively to local challenges.

“This case isn’t just about stoic legal principles, it’s about protecting home rule authority,” said Firm Partner and Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs. “Every city and county has unique needs, and local leaders are best positioned to make decisions about growth, safety, and resilience. SB 180 is the largest intrusion into local home rule authority since the adoption of the Florida Constitution in 1968.”

WSHC+B Partners Chad S. Friedman, Susan L. Trevarthen, Richard B. Rosengarten, and Associate Aaron L. Graubert are assisting Cole in representing the plaintiffs.

The 25 municipalities and counties represented by WSHC+B include:

City of Destin, City of Lake Alfred, Town of Windermere, City of Delray Beach, City of Deltona, City of Weston, City of Alachua, City of Stuart, Orange County, Manatee County, Town of Mulberry, City of Naples, Miami Shores Village, Town of Lake Park, City of Fort Lauderdale, Town of Jupiter, City of Edgewater, City of Pompano Beach, Town of Dundee, Town of Cutler Bay, Village of North Palm Beach, Village of Pinecrest, City of Margate, Town of Palm Beach, City of Homestead