Ocoee is challenging a decision by the Florida Department of Commerce to reject the city’s revised comprehensive plan because of a controversial new state law.

The Orange County city filed the challenge Tuesday at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings as communities in many parts of the state grapple with the law, which passed during the spring legislative session.

The law affects counties included in federal disaster declarations after last year’s hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. In part, it bars cities and counties in those areas from approving “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to comprehensive plans or land-development regulations through Oct. 1, 2027. The prohibition was retroactive to Aug. 1, 2024.

Comprehensive plans are designed to serve as blueprints for dev

See Full Page