St. Johns County Commission Chair Clay Murphy talks about the impact of SB 686

Florida Senate Bill 686 is an agricultural-enclave law that took effect July 1, 2026. It allows owners of certain undeveloped agricultural land to seek certification for residential development, bypassing much of the traditional local approval process if specific criteria are met. In St. Johns County, the law could enable thousands of new homes—including an estimated 15,000 from two approved projects—raising concerns about traffic, water supplies, infrastructure and school capacity.