The Orlando City Council unanimously approved a new program aimed at getting housing built on vacant lots in and around downtown late last month. The Orlando Unlocked Open Door Program (Website), approved on February 23, makes 300 vacant lots eligible for incentives within the downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area, which covers ZIP codes such as 32801 (downtown) and 32805 (Parramore).
The program offers a 100% rebate on impact fees and building permit fees for homes of at least 1,200 SF, averaging $19,138 to $19,268 per home in rebates. Homes must be sold at or below $375,000 to buyers earning up to 120% of the area median income, or $113,880 for a family of three, and must carry a two-year construction warranty. The city will also provide $45,000 in down payment assistance to qualified buyers, with police, firefighters, and nurses eligible for an additional $10,000. Incentives for accessory dwelling units rented to income-qualified tenants for at least two years were also approved.
Funding of $750,000 runs through 2029 or until exhausted, though the city can add more if it sees fit. City spokeswoman Andrea Otero said in previous statements with other outlets that the next step is working on implementation.
The new program builds on a 2022 program that was set to expire in September 2026 and distributed $1.07 million across 12 affordable apartment projects totaling 1,598 units, at roughly $669 per unit. For context, homes in the 32801 ZIP code averaged $314,390 across 46 sales in the fourth quarter of 2025, while 32805 averaged $251,935 across 31 sales, according to Intercontinental Exchange data. The Orlando Regional Realtor Association put the 2025 median home price across the broader Orlando area at $385,000.
