Title XI, County Organization and Intergovernmental Relations

A telecommunications company that is a county or other entity of local government may obtain or hold a certificate required by chapter 364, and the obtaining or holding of said certificate serves a public purpose only if the county or other entity of local government:(1) Separate…

Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, no county may refuse services, or discontinue utility, water, sewer, or wastewater reuse services, to the owner of any rental unit, or to a tenant or prospective tenant of such rental unit, for nonpayment of service char…

(1) A county may not enact any ordinance, regulation, or policy that prevents or has the effect of preventing an electric utility, as defined in s. 366.02(4), from installing a temporary underground power panel if the temporary underground power panel meets the requirements of Ar…

(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Gasoline-powered farm equipment” means any machine powered by an internal combustion engine or motor that uses gasoline, diesel, or a blend of gasoline and oil which is used on a farm or used to transport farm products.(b) “Gasoline-powe…

(1) A county may not enact an ordinance, regulation, or policy that prevents or has the effect of preventing a person who is a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida or the Seminole Tribe of Florida from constructing a chickee, as defined in s. 553.73(10)(i):(a) In …

(1) The board of county commissioners of each of the several counties of the state may enforce the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code as provided in ss. 553.80, 633.206, and 633.208 and, at its discretion, adopt local technical amendments to the Florida Bu…

(1) No county shall enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation which fails to conform to the limited preemption entitled “Amateur Radio Preemption, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)” as issued by the Federal Communications Commission. Any ordinance or regulation adopted by a county with re…

(1)(a) It is declared to be the legislative intent to provide for a speedy and effective procedure whereby property owners of land abutting or constituting the bottom of the small inland lakes of this state shall be able to gain relief from water pollution and shore erosion throu…

(1)(a) The Legislature finds that Florida-friendly landscaping contributes to the conservation, protection, and restoration of water. In an effort to meet the water needs of this state in a manner that will supply adequate and dependable supplies of water where needed, it is the …

(1) As used in this section, the term “sanitary sewer lateral” means a privately owned pipeline connecting a property to the main sewer line which is maintained and repaired by the property owner.(2) By July 1, 2022, each county is encouraged to establish an evaluation and rehabi…

1A local government may not require an owner of a residence to obtain a permit to paint such residence, regardless of whether the residence is owned by a limited liability company.History.—s. 15, ch. 2017-149.1Note.—Also published at s. 166.0483.

(1) As used in this section, the term “synthetic turf” means a manufactured product that resembles natural grass and is used as a surface for landscaping and recreational areas.(2) The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt minimum standards for the installation of sy…

(1) Notwithstanding chapter 435, a county may require, by ordinance, state and national criminal history screening for:(a) Any position of county employment or appointment, whether paid, unpaid, or contractual, which the governing body of the county finds is critical to security …

1(1) Except as authorized by law, no county or municipality shall enact or enforce any ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, policy, or other action which requires the registration or background screening of any individual engaged in or applying for a specific type or category…

(1) As used in this section, “employee assistance program” means a counseling, therapeutic, or other professional treatment program provided by a county to assist any county employee who has a behavioral disorder, medical disorder, or substance abuse problem or who has an emotion…

(1) The boards of county commissioners of the respective counties are hereby authorized to budget and expend county funds for the creation and use of a special grand jury fund.(2) The moneys of the special grand jury fund may be used by any grand jury in the county, in their disc…

(1) For purposes of this section, the term:(a) “Acting in an official capacity” means performing or purporting to perform a function, duty, or responsibility assigned by law, rule, or policy to a public officer or public employee, or otherwise exercising or claiming to exercise t…

Any county not having a chartered form of consolidated government may, pursuant to the provisions of ss. 125.60-125.64, locally initiate and adopt by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the county a county home rule charter.History.—s. 1, ch. 69-45.

(1) Following the adoption of a resolution by the board of county commissioners or upon the submission of a petition to the county commission signed by at least 15 percent of the qualified electors of the county requesting that a charter commission be established, a charter commi…

(1) A charter commission appointed pursuant to s. 125.61 shall meet for the purpose of organization within 30 days after the appointments have been made. The charter commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its membership. Further meetings of the commission shall …

The charter commission shall conduct a comprehensive study of the operation of county government and of the ways in which the conduct of county government might be improved or reorganized. Within 18 months of its initial meeting, unless such time is extended by appropriate resolu…

(1) Upon submission to the board of county commissioners of a charter by the charter commission, the board of county commissioners shall call a special election to be held not more than 90 nor less than 45 days subsequent to its receipt of the proposed charter, at which special e…

(1) In exercising the ordinance-making powers conferred by s. 1, Art. VIII of the State Constitution, counties shall adhere to the procedures prescribed herein.(2)(a) The regular enactment procedure is as follows: The board of county commissioners at any regular or special meetin…

Every ordinance shall embrace but one subject and matter properly connected therewith, and the subject shall be briefly expressed in the title. No ordinance shall be revised or amended by reference to its title only. Ordinances to revise or amend shall set out in full the revised…

(1) A county must suspend enforcement of an ordinance that is the subject of an action challenging the ordinance’s validity on the grounds that it is expressly preempted by the State Constitution or by state law or is arbitrary or unreasonable if:(a) The action was filed with the…

(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), counties shall maintain a current codification of all ordinances. Such codification shall be published annually by the board of county commissioners.(b) Any comprehensive plan, or amendment to such plan, adopted by ordinance pu…

(1) Violations of county ordinances shall be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted. Such violations shall be prosecuted in the name of the state in a court having jurisdiction of misdemeanors by the prosecuting attorney thereof and upon conviction shall be …

(1) A county may not create any office, special district, or governmental unit, or expand the powers or authority of any existing office, special district, or governmental unit, for the purpose of exercising any power or authority allocated exclusively to a sheriff, tax collector…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “County Administration Law of 1974.”History.—s. 1, ch. 74-193.

It is the legislative intent that it is necessary to authorize a form of county administration that best assures an adequate and efficient provision of services to the citizens in this state, that provides for coordinated administration of county departments to better protect the…

The provisions of this part may apply to any county in this state which has not adopted a charter form of county government upon passage of a county ordinance by the governing body of such county expressly adopting this part.History.—s. 1, ch. 74-193.

(1) Each county to which this part applies shall appoint a county administrator, who shall be the administrative head of the county and shall be responsible for the administration of all departments of the county government which the board of county commissioners has authority to…

(1) The administrator may be responsible for the administration of all departments responsible to the board of county commissioners and for the proper administration of all affairs under the jurisdiction of the board. To that end, the administrator may, by way of enumeration and …

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Optional County Charter Law.”History.—s. 2, ch. 74-193.

As used in this part, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except when the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) “County charter” means the charter by which county government in this state may exercise all powers of local self-g…

(1) As a supplemental and alternative way to the provisions of ss. 125.60-125.64, inclusive, the board of county commissioners may propose by ordinance a charter consistent with the provisions of this part and provide for a special election pursuant to the procedures established …

(1) A county charter may prescribe one of the optional forms of government herein authorized, and shall clearly define the responsibility for legislative and executive functions in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.(2) The county charter shall require all elective of…

Any county desiring to adopt a county charter shall provide for one of the following optional forms of government:(1) COUNTY EXECUTIVE FORM.—The county executive form shall provide for governance by an elected board of commissioners and an elected county executive and such other …

The executive responsibilities and power of the county shall be assigned to, and vested in, the appropriate executive officer, pursuant to the optional form adopted under s. 125.83, and shall consist of the following powers and duties:(1) Report annually, or more often if necessa…

The legislative responsibilities and power of the county shall be assigned to, and vested in, the board of county commissioners and shall consist of the following powers and duties:(1) Advise and consent to all appointments by the executive for which board confirmation is specifi…

(1) Following the organization of the first board of county commissioners elected pursuant to a charter, the board of commissioners shall adopt an administrative code organizing the administration of the county government and setting forth the duties and responsibilities and powe…

(1) Upon adoption of an administrative code and also upon the adoption of a charter, all officers and employees in the classified service of the county shall be transferred to the department, division, or agency to which the functions, powers, and duties in which they were engage…

(1) Each county may by ordinance create an independent special district, as defined in ss. 189.012 and 200.001(8)(e), to provide funding for children’s services throughout the county in accordance with this section. The boundaries of such district shall be coterminous with the bo…

(1) Subject to specific appropriations, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide incentives to encourage children’s services councils or juvenile welfare boards to provide support to local child welfare programs related to implementation of community-based care.(a) A childr…

As used in ss. 125.9501-125.9506:(1) “Volunteer” means a person who, of his or her own free will, provides goods or services to any unit of county government or to any constitutional county officer without receiving monetary or material compensation.(2) “Regular-service volunteer…

(1) Each unit of county government and each constitutional county officer may recruit and accept, without regard to requirements of any civil service system, the services of volunteers, including regular-service volunteers, occasional-service volunteers, or material donors, to as…