Florida HBAs Call Attention to Excessive Impact Fees

Advocacy
Published

Earlier this year, the Gold Coast Builders Association (GCBA) and the Builders Association of South Florida (BASF) were awarded funding from NAHB’s State and Local Issues Fund to help educate community members and leaders about the detrimental effects of impact fees on housing affordability. The infusion of support from NAHB helped launch a public relations campaign that has generated significant attention toward this issue.

Recently, Broward County School District, which is in both associations’ jurisdictions, proposed increasing school impact fees from $6,888 to $9,049 for three-bedroom properties and $6,888 to $12,295 for four-bedroom properties. The fees collected are intended to help the school district build new schools and meet the demand for new classrooms fueled by new developments. However, Broward Public Schools enrollment is on a downward trajectory, and the trend is expected to continue through 2026, according to the district’s analysis. Despite objections from the GCBA and the BASF, the district increased school impact fees by 25%.

“That was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” GCBA Executive Officer KT Catlin said. “I knew we had to do something about this. Our marketing campaign grew out of a passion to create affordable housing.”

The Homes for All Now campaign encourages community members to ask city, county and school district elected officials to curb excessive impact fees. The campaign website educates the public on how impact fee increases are further escalating home sale prices. Messages throughout the website emphasize that keeping impact fees at reasonable levels can increase housing affordability. Community members are also invited to sign an online petition demanding targeted elected officials to stop the excessive increase of regulatory fees to build new homes.

“There was no way we could take something on like this without the support of NAHB,” Catlin stated.

A robust media relations and social media strategy are also critical components of the ongoing campaign. The Sun-Sentinel wrote a comprehensive news piece, “The hidden fees that are driving up home prices” (subscription required), outlining how impact fees contribute to soaring housing costs locally. The HBAs continue to receive interest from the local media to discuss the topic.

In addition to local media outreach, BASF Executive Vice President Truly Burton is working with Broward County Mayor Geller to schedule quarterly informative Developer Forums. These sessions are intended to keep builders informed about upcoming county fees or regulations that will affect housing affordability. BASF continually looks to inform the elected officials and home buyers about the ever-increasing cost of higher government fees and its direct impact on their ability to buy a new home in South Florida.

Palm Beach County and Broward County are in the process of reviewing their regulatory fees for the upcoming year. GCBA and BASF hope that through their comprehensive outreach efforts, the dream of homeownership will eventually be within reach for more families in South Florida.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

PWB Week | Professional Women in Building Council

Sep 15, 2025

The Impact of the Professional Women in Building Leadership Grant

Professional Women in Building's annual scholarhsip programs provide students and emerging professionals with the resources, support and opportunities they need to thrive and lead the housing industry.

Associate Members Committee | Awards

Sep 15, 2025

Associate Award Winners Share Meaning Behind Their Win

NAHB is excited to award two of the association's top Associate contributors each year for their achievements. Two previous winners reflect on their experiences.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Sep 12, 2025

Household Real Estate Asset Values Reach New High

The market value of household real estate assets rose to $49.3 trillion in the second quarter of 2025, according to the most recent release of U.S. Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts. The value rose by 2.7% from the first quarter and is 1.1% higher than a year ago. This measure of market value estimates the value of all owner-occupied real estate nationwide.

Economics

Sep 11, 2025

Parking Trends in Newly Completed Single-Family Homes, 2024

In 2024, 65% of newly completed single-family homes featured two-car garages, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census’s Survey of Construction data. The share of new homes with three or more car garages stood at 15%, continuing a downward trend from its peak of 24% in 2015 and decreasing 2 percentage points from 2023.

Economics

Sep 10, 2025

Year-over-Year Building Material Price Growth Advances

Price growth for residential building materials rose for the fourth straight month in August, reaching its highest level since January 2023. Across domestic inputs goods and services into residential construction, service prices decreased in August while goods prices slightly advanced.