Expedited Services & Benefits for Affordable and Workforce Housing

WASD has prioritized the review process for establishing the points of connection for affordable housing projects. WASD has expedited the review and approval of submitted utility plans in Concurrent Plans Review (CPR) for affordable housing projects from 10 days to five days. And WASD has established expedited target deadlines for other steps in the development process, such as agreement intake, agreement offer, set meter, and service installation (through the building permit process and verification form approval). 

WASD has extended the deadline for the return of executed documents for affordable housing projects after the offer from 60 days to 90 days or longer, instead of requiring the project to reapply. These projects typically work closely with local government agencies, which may cause delays in getting their documents reviewed and approved.  The developer or engineer of record must provide acceptable documents to WASD to verify that the project is affordable housing, workforce housing, or public housing, such as financial documents from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for affordable housing, a Restrictive Covenant with RER Zoning for County Workforce Housing, a Lease Agreement with the County for the construction and operation of an affordable housing project, or a Workforce Housing Agreement with Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD). 

Developers of affordable housing or workforce housing, as defined by state law, by Miami-Dade County Code, or by the municipal government having jurisdiction over its own program shall pay water and sewer connection charges prior to the later time of the installation of the water meter or prior to the later time of connecting to the Department’s sewer system, and not at the earlier time of the verification form. 

Board of Ccounty Commissioners (BCC) resolution R-855-21 allows an affordable housing or workforce housing project with 50 units or less to connect to an abutting 8-inch water main instead of requiring the project to install a 12-inch water main to serve their project. This saves tens of thousands of dollars and months of delay for the project. Other residential projects with a density of 50 units per acre or more are considered high-density and would require the installation of a 12-inch water main. 

All the following programs can be designated as affordable housing or workforce housing in WASD policies, processes, and procedures. (This list is non-exclusive. Other programs may also qualify.)

Miami-Dade County Affordable Housing Programs:

• Public Housing Developments
• Workforce Housing Development Program
• Assisted Living Facility for low-income elderly
• Transit Oriented Development
• Infill Housing

Florida Affordable Housing Programs:

• Housing Development Corporation of Florida, Chapter 420, Part II
• Low-Income Emergency Repair Program, Chapter 420, Part III
• Neighborhood Housing Rehabilitation Programs, Chapter 420, Part IV
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Chapter 420, Part V
  
  • State Apartment Incentive Loan Program
  • Florida Homeownership Assistance Program
  • HOME Investment Partnership Program
  • Florida Affordable Housing Guarantee Program
  • State Housing Tax Credit Program
  • Community Workforce Housing Loan Program
  • Predevelopment Loan Program
  • Affordable Housing Catalyst Program
• State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program, Chapter 420, Part VII

Federal affordable housing programs:

• Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
• Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Developers can find additional information at:

• Workforce Housing Development Program
• Infiill Housing Developer Requirements
• Affordable and Workforce Housing Expedited Plan Review