Brownfields Program
Brownfields Program supports Florida communities and public and private entities with cleanup and redevelopment incentives to reduce health and environmental hazards at abandoned or underused sites.
Funder: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (Sales tax refund, or within six months of substantial completion) | February 1, 2027 (VCTC for 2026 rehabilitation costs)
Funding Amounts: $35 million annual tax credit authorization; credits up to $500,000 per type; job refunds up to $2,500 per new job
Summary: Supports voluntary cleanup and redevelopment of Florida brownfields through tax incentives, cleanup liability protection, and technical assistance.
Key Information: Brownfield cleanup tax credit participants must enter into a Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement.
Description
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Brownfields Program encourages voluntary cleanup and redevelopment of abandoned or underused commercial and industrial sites. Guided by the Brownfields Redevelopment Act, it seeks to reduce public health and environmental hazards, establish appropriate cleanup target levels, and advance environmental equity and justice. Its risk-based corrective action framework provides a process for obtaining a No Further Action letter.
The program combines incentives that partially offset rehabilitation or solid waste removal costs with cleanup liability protection, dedicated staff, and expedited technical review. Related incentives include job bonus tax refunds and refunds of sales and use tax on eligible building materials. The Site-Specific Activity/Targeted Brownfields Assessment program helps communities, especially those without EPA Brownfields Grants, reduce uncertainty about contamination.
