TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: April 15, 2026
Title
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 40 “LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE,” ARTICLE II, “DEFINITIONS,” SECTION 40.201 “DEFINITIONS” TO INCLUDE THE DEFINITIONS FOR “CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCE”; AND ALSO AMENDING CHAPTER 40 “LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE,” ARTICLE III, “ADMINISTRATION,” DIVISION 2 “APPLICATIONS, REVIEW PROCEDURES AND PUBLIC NOTICE” SECTION 40.312 “REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES” OF THE CITY OF MARGATE’S CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF, AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND: On June 25, 2025, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 954, which amends Section 397.487, Florida Statutes (“Voluntary Certification of Recovery Residences”), and requires the City to enact an ordinance providing for procedures for review and approval of certified recovery residences, including a process for requesting reasonable accommodations from any local land use regulation that serves to prohibit the establishment of a certified recovery residence. It is necessary to amend the City’s Land Development Code to comply with Section 387.487, Florida Statutes, as amended. This ordinance will create procedures to request a reasonable accommodation to establish a certified recovery residence protected by federal law and will provide people with disabilities equal access to housing opportunities within the City while preserving the overall intent and purpose of the City’s planning and land use regulations.
RECOMMENDATION: N/A
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
CONTACT PERSON: David Tolces, City Attorney