New Growth - Why It’s Not As Simple As “The County Approved It”

If you’ve lived in Pasco County for any length of time, you’ve probably heard it—or said it yourself: “Why does the county keep approving more apartments, storage units, and car washes?”

It’s one of the most common frustrations among residents watching new buildings pop up along nearly every major roadway. But the truth is, in most cases, those projects aren’t being “approved” in the way many people think.

Most New Construction Is on Privately Owned Land

The majority of what’s being built across Pasco County sits on privately owned land. Under Florida law, property owners have certain rights based on the zoning designation of their property. Those rights often mean they can build specific types of projects by right—without needing special permission from county commissioners.

If a parcel is already zoned for commercial use, for instance, the owner doesn’t need a public hearing to build a shopping center, gas station, or restaurant. As long as the project meets all zoning rules, building codes, and environmental regulations, the county is legally obligated to issue permits. The county doesn’t get to pick winners and losers among allowed businesses or brands.

The County’s Role Is Limited to Compliance — Not Preference

Pasco County does adopt a Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, and the Board of County Commissioners does hear some rezoning and land-use amendment cases. But a large portion of what residents see going up never comes before the board because it was already entitled years earlier. Many parcels already have approved PDs or MPUDs (Planned Unit Developments) that spell out what can be built there.

Here’s the simplified process:

1. Zoning: Determines what types of uses are allowed — residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use.

2. Permitting: If a project fits within that zoning and meets code, the developer applies for permits.

3. Site Review: County staff review plans for traffic, drainage, utilities, and safety compliance.

4. Construction: Once approved, the developer—not the county—pays for and builds the project.

Unless a developer is requesting a rezoning or special exception, county commissioners often have little to no authority to deny it.

Developers, Not Taxpayers, Pay for the Projects

Another misconception is that the county “profits” from new construction. In reality, most of the money from these projects — land sales, leases, and rents — goes to private developers and property owners.

The county does collect impact fees (to help fund roads, parks, and schools) and eventually property taxes, but those benefits are gradual and smaller than many expect. Especially under Florida’s property-tax system, which limits how quickly taxable values can rise.

Why New Growth Doesn’t Always Mean Big Tax Revenue

It’s easy to assume that every new home or business instantly boosts county revenue. But several Florida laws protect homeowners in ways that also constrain how much counties can collect:

• Homestead Exemption: Up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a primary residence (the second $25,000 doesn’t apply to schools).

• Save Our Homes Cap: Once homesteaded, taxable value can only rise by 3% per year or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

• Portability: Homeowners can transfer (“port”) up to $500,000 of their capped savings to a new Florida homestead, reducing the taxable value of their new home.

These rules mean that while Pasco’s population and development skyrocket, the county’s taxable base grows much slower. It can take years for new neighborhoods to contribute significantly to local revenues—especially when factoring in the added costs of roads, schools, and public safety.

A Real-World Example

Imagine a longtime Florida homeowner selling a $250,000 home and buying a $450,000 new house in Pasco. Because of the Save Our Homes cap, their old home’s taxable value may have been just $150,000.When they move, they can transfer that $100,000 difference to the new house, dropping its taxable value to $350,000. After applying the $50,000 homestead exemption, they’ll be taxed on only $300,000, not the full market value.

At roughly 18 mills (about $18 per $1,000 of taxable value), that’s about $5,400 in annual taxes—well below the ~$8,000 they’d owe without those caps and exemptions. Multiply that by thousands of households, and it becomes clear why Pasco’s revenue doesn’t rise nearly as fast as its rooftops.

The Hidden Revenue Gap

Let’s put it in perspective.If 10,000 new homes are built in a year and 70% of them (7,000) are purchased by people moving from other Florida counties—who bring their tax portability with them—Pasco could lose roughly $12.6 million in first-year property tax revenue.Even at a more conservative estimate of $1,000 less per home, that’s about $7 million less than full market taxation would generate.

That doesn’t mean Pasco “loses” existing money—it means the county collects less than it otherwise would under full value taxation. The gap is structural, built into state law.

What About Rezoning and “The Master Plan”?

Some readers point out that “the County has a master plan and grants permission to rezone all these plots.” That’s partially true — Pasco does maintain a Comprehensive Plan and land-use map that guides growth. But many of today’s developments were approved years or decades ago, often through master-planned unit developments (MPUDs) that allow flexible mixed uses.

When a project fits within its existing entitlements and meets code, the County must approve it. Staff cannot reject a project just because residents dislike the type of business or feel the area is “built out.” Public input becomes most relevant during rezonings or land-use amendments — not standard site plan approvals.

“The County Doesn’t Lose Money — Rezoning Farm Land Makes Them 100x More”

Not exactly.When agricultural land loses its “greenbelt” classification, it’s taxed at its higher residential value, which increases revenue — but that’s only half the story. Residential growth also triggers major service costs: new schools, road expansions, sheriff’s deputies, fire stations, and infrastructure maintenance.

Multiple Cost of Community Services studies nationwide show that residential development often costs more in services than it generates in local taxes, while commercial or industrial uses tend to be net positive. So growth isn’t an automatic fiscal windfall; it’s a balancing act.

“Property Taxes Will Explode to $19,000 a Year!”

That’s another misconception. Florida’s Save Our Homes cap prevents that kind of unchecked compounding. The 3% limit (or CPI, if lower) applies to assessed value, not the bill itself, and homestead exemptions continue to reduce taxable value annually. Many years, inflation is below 3%, meaning even slower increases. The math in those “doom” examples simply doesn’t reflect how Florida’s tax structure actually works.

Bottom Line

• The County plans and enforces laws — but many developments proceed automatically under existing entitlements.

• Property-tax collections don’t surge instantly because of homestead exemptions, SOH caps, and portability.

• Residential growth isn’t always a fiscal jackpot — it also brings major infrastructure and service costs.

Growth in Pasco County is driven largely by private investment and market demand, not government preference. The county’s job is to make sure projects are safe, legal, and supported by infrastructure — not to decide whether residents would rather see a coffee shop or a car wash.

So the next time you see a “Coming Soon” sign for another development, remember: it’s not always the County saying “yes.” More often, it’s the result of zoning decisions made long ago, property rights protected under Florida law, and a market responding to Pasco’s explosive growth.