The ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ bill is now law in Florida — lets houses of worship build cheap housing on owned land no matter what zoning says. But will it really help affordability?

What the law allows

The legislation, formally known as SB1730, gives religious institutions across Florida the right to develop affordable housing on their property, even if that land is currently zoned for something else. They no longer have to seek local zoning changes or special use permits.

“Ensuring that religious organizations who have land on their property where their houses of worship are, that they too can bring together their resources to provide affordable housing,” said state Rep. Vicki Lopez (R–Miami), who presented the bill earlier this year.

The idea is to reduce barriers for churches that already want to help solve the housing crisis but have been blocked by red tape. With hundreds of churches and synagogues owning land across Florida, often in central, well-connected neighborhoods, that could mean new housing opportunities in areas where construction has lagged.

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For renters, the benefits could be real — but not immediate

For now, the law doesn’t mean construction will begin overnight. It simply clears a path for churches to build. If they have the money, the expertise and the capacity to do so.

The law doesn’t include state funding, tax credits, or guidance for navigating development. That leaves religious organizations on their own to secure financing, hire builders, manage timelines, and handle legal and regulatory details.

That’s why housing advocates and some pastors say the policy, while helpful, isn’t a silver bullet for affordability.

What faith leaders are saying

In St. Petersburg, Bishop Manuel Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church has long dreamed of building affordable senior housing on church-owned land. For years, zoning laws stood in the way. With the new law in place, he says the door is open, but the project is still a long way off.

“This is for people who have been here for generations, who are being driven out or basically dying out because of the current housing situation,” he told Tampa’s 10News.

Still, Sykes cautions against putting the burden of solving the crisis on churches alone.

“We can help,” he said. “But when you have a city with all kinds of resources, hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly 100 acres, [St. Petersburg] can do a lot more, so don't push the envelope my way and make it seem like the churches are not fulfilling their roles.”

Sykes is part of Faith and Action for Strength Together (FAST), a coalition of dozens of local churches that has publicly pressed St. Petersburg leaders for faster and broader action on housing. In response, Mayor Ken Welch, who initially faced criticism from the group, said he would support “Yes in God’s Backyard”-style legislation. Now that it’s law, he’s calling on churches to join a “faith-based housing initiative” to make use of it. The city did not respond to 10News’ further requests for comment.

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How this affects Florida renters

The new law won’t bring immediate price drops. However, it may increase the pipeline of affordable housing in areas where it’s desperately needed.

In cities like St. Petersburg, rents have climbed more than 30% for multilple years, according to Zillow data. Many long-time residents, especially seniors and fixed-income families, are being priced out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for decades.

If religious institutions can successfully develop housing, it could help stabilize those communities. But without public funding or city partnerships, some churches may find the process too difficult to tackle on their own.

What to watch for next

Now that the law is in place, expect to see conversations shift to financing and implementation. Churches that want to build may need to partner with developers or housing nonprofits. Cities may be asked to support infrastructure or offer incentives to help projects succeed.

In the meantime, renters hoping for relief should remain engaged, especially as local governments decide how much support they’re willing to provide alongside the new legal framework.