Orlando Unlocked: Open Door Program

The City of Orlando is experiencing what many thriving cities face - a critical need for affordable housing that allows working families to build roots in the communities they serve. As such, the city needs a practical pathway for turning unused land into accessible housing opportunities.

The Orlando Unlocked: Open Door Program provides incentives to builders and homebuyers to help convert the more than 300 vacant residential lots in the Downtown CRA into occupied single-family homes for Orlando’s workforce.

Incentives for builders

The City of Orlando will provide 100% rebates for building permit fees and parks, transportation, and sewer impact fees for single-family homes built on current vacant lots and sold at or below $375,000.

These rebates will be provided after the home is sold and a complete application accompanied by supporting documentation, including an executed sales contract, is submitted to the City’s Economic Development Department.

Open Door Builder Rebate Request Application(PDF, 257KB)

Incentives for homebuyers

The Orlando Unlocked Open Door Program will provide qualified homebuyers with down payment assistance of $45,000 for the purchase of a single-family home that is constructed on a previously vacant lot as part of the program. First responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and nurses are eligible for an additional $10,000 in down payment assistance.

To be eligible for down payment assistance through the Orlando Unlocked Open Door Program, homebuyers must earn at or below 120% area median income (AMI) as defined by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Homebuyers are required to submit a complete program application accompanied by income documentation to receive down payment assistance. W-2 tax forms for the previous two years before home purchase are required to verify the homebuyer’s income.

Down Payment Assistance Application(PDF, 662KB)

Am I income eligible?

2025 Income Limits

To qualify for downpayment assistance through Orlando Unlocked: Open Door program, household must earn at or below 120% area median income (AMI).

(Median family income: $98,100)

Household Size  Very low (50%)  Low (80%)  Moderate* (120%) 
 1 person  $36,900  $59,050  $88,560
 2 people  $42,150  $67,450  $101,160
 3 people  $47,450  $75,900  $113,880
 4 people  $52,700  $84,300  $126,480
 5 people  $56,950  $91,050  $136,680
 6 people  $61,150  $97,800  $146,760
 7 people  $65,350  $104,550  $156,840
 8 people  $69,550  $111,300  $166,920

Property eligibility

To be eligible for the Orlando Unlocked Open Door Program, lots must be currently vacant and located within the downtown CRA.