Arguments Against the 2023 Building Permit Ban - Part 1

By now, most are aware that - in accordance with a law passed decades ago - Monroe County will stop the issuance of all new building permits in 2023. This has been a divisive topic in the Florida Keys, with residents and investors alike having strong opinions as all are likely to be impacted. There are many on both sides of the issue who have been working tirelessly to make their points heard and considered before the deadline approaches. Either way, the building ban is sure to have huge implications for all those with interests in the Keys. There is a large group who are actively trying to convince Monroe County government officials to not enforce the build out, or at least to postpone the 2023 deadline.

While some point to public safety in times of emergency to promote enforcing the ban, there are those who argue that the original models for choosing the deadline are flawed. The 2023 date was arrived upon when experts estimated that a population maximum would be reached in that year in which any further population growth would render all citizens unable to evacuate within 24-hours in times of natural disasters or other emergencies. Those not in favor of the ban point to the huge gains made in terms of technology in the decades since this deadline was reached. Better technology means that citizens are given significantly more warning of major hurricanes than in years past. It would rarely, if ever, happen that a complete evacuation of all citizens would need to be completed in just 24 hours. Therefore, it is argued, the 2023 date should be at least pushed off to account for this. Increasing the necessary evacuation time from 24-hour up to 36 hours or 48 hours would definitely increase the population cap and could push off the need for a build out for several years at least. This would allow many current landowners and those interested in purchasing vacant land for sale in the Florida Keys a greater opportunity to win a building permit for their land and would increase the profitability for many residents and investors alike.

This is just one argument in terms of altering the current 2023 deadline for the building moratorium in the Keys. For more angles on this issue, keep reading on to part two.