Gainesville Eliminates Single-Family Zoning

Gainesville is the first city in Florida to eliminate exclusionary zoning.

1 minute read

October 18, 2022, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 on Monday, October 17 to eliminate single-family zoning, also known as exclusionary zoning, becoming the most recent in a string of cities and states to undo one of the bedrocks of 20th century planning. 

Writing for the Gainesville Sun, Javon L. Harris reports that the ordinance will go into effect immediately: "Developers can build duplexes, triplexes and — on rarer occasions — quadplexes, in any neighborhood with no sunset provision under the measure." The ordinance amends the city's comprehensive plan.

Legal and political challenges are likely to follow. Newly elected commissioners, taking office in January, "have pledged to overturn the change," for example, according to Harris. The city commission's vote was preceded by a "flurry of public comments," most speaking in opposition to the change. 

Harris adds that Gainesville is the first city in Florida to eliminate single-family zoning. 

Previous Planetizen coverage of zoning reform in Gainesville:

  • Gainesville Set To Approve Contentious Zoning Reforms (August 2022)
  • Gainesville Weighs Zoning Reform Proposal (April 2022)

Monday, October 17, 2022 in The Gainesville Sun

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

3 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

4 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

5 hours ago - Cities Today