Exhibit 8.1

August 30, 2004 FOLEY & LARDNER LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW ONE INDEPENDENT DRIVE, SUITE 1300 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202-5017 P. O. BOX 240 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32201-0240 904.359.2000 TEL 904.359.8700 FAX www.foley.com WRITER’S DIRECT LINE 904.359.8713 lkelso@foley.com EMAIL CLIENT/MATTER NUMBER 040521-0157

Regency Centers Corporation

121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen

You have requested our opinions as tax counsel to Regency Centers Corporation (the “Company”) concerning the federal income tax consequences in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-37911) (the “Registration Statement”) and with respect to qualification of the Company as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for federal income tax purposes, for the issuance of 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Shares”).

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have reviewed the Registration Statement, including the prospectus supplement dated August 24, 2004 relating to the offering of the Common Shares (the “Prospectus”), the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and such other documents that we deemed relevant. The opinions expressed in this letter are based upon certain factual representations set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and in certificates of officers of the Company.

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed generally that:

1. each of the documents referred to above has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered; is authentic, if an original, or is accurate, if a copy; and has not been amended;

2. during its short taxable year ended December 31, 1993 and subsequent taxable years, the Company has operated and will continue to operate in such a manner that makes and will continue to make the factual representations contained in a certificate, dated as of the date hereof and executed by a duly appointed officer of the Company (the “Officer’s Certificate”), true for such years;

3. the Company will not make any amendments to its organizational documents or to the organizational documents of Regency Realty Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Management Company”), after the date of this opinion that would affect its qualification as a REIT for any taxable year;

BRUSSELS CHICAGO DETROIT JACKSONVILLE LOS ANGELES MADISON MILWAUKEE NEW YORK ORLANDO SACRAMENTO SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO/DEL MAR SAN FRANCISCO SILICON VALLEY TALLAHASSEE TAMPA TOKYO WASHINGTON, D.C. WEST PALM BEACH 004.445460.1

Regency Centers Corporation

August 30, 2004

Page 2

4. no actions will be taken by the Company or Management Company after the date hereof that would have the effect of altering the facts upon which the opinion set forth below is based.

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we also have relied upon the correctness of the factual representations contained in the Officer’s Certificate.

Based solely on the documents and assumptions set forth above and the factual representations set forth in the Officer’s Certificate, and without further investigation, we are of the opinion that the summaries set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” are accurate in all material respects as to matters of law and legal conclusions. In addition, based upon and subject to the foregoing, we confirm our specific opinions in the Prospectus under the caption “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations”.

The foregoing opinions are based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), published administrative interpretations thereof, and published court decisions, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. The Internal Revenue Service has not issued Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions of the Code relating to REIT qualification. No assurance can be given that the law will not change in a way that will prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT or that may change the other legal conclusions stated herein.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality. We undertake no obligation to update the opinion expressed herein after the date of this letter.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 8 in said Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

Sincerely,

/s/ FOLEY & LARDNER LLP