WATERWAY AND WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENT

F.S. Ch. 342

in effect

F.S. 342.03 Beautification and improvement of waterways by counties and municipalities; tax.

It is declared to be a legitimate county or municipal purpose for any county or incorporated city or town in the state to improve and beautify waterways, including lakes, rivers, streams, ditches and canals, within such county or municipality, by opening such waterways and by clearing them of logs and other obstructions, including water hyacinths and other disagreeable and obnoxious vegetation, and, for all or any part of such purpose, any county or incorporated city or town in the state may levy a tax not to exceed 1 mill on the dollar of the assessed valuation of all property assessed for taxes in such county or incorporated city or town.

F.S. 342.04 Time warrants.

Any county or incorporated city or town in the state desiring to carry on all or any part of the work mentioned in s. 342.03 may issue and sell time warrants not to exceed in amount the sum of $15,000 for any county or the sum of $5,000 for any incorporated city or town, except that time warrants shall not exceed 50 percent of the estimated revenue to be derived from the tax to be levied by virtue of s. 342.03. Such time warrants shall not be sold for less than their par value and shall not draw a rate of interest in excess of 6 percent per year. When such time warrants shall come within the purview of s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution, the said time warrants shall be issued only after the same shall have been approved by the majority of the votes cast in an election in which a majority of the owners of freeholds not wholly exempt from taxation who are qualified electors residing in such county or city or town shall participate, which said election shall be called and held, and the result thereof declared and recorded, in the manner prescribed by ss. 100.201-100.221, 100.241, 100.261-100.341, 100.351, and said election shall be subject to all the provisions of said chapter.

F.S. 342.05 Precautions as to use of poisons.

Any county or incorporated city or town in the state, its agents, servants, employees, and contractors, may use any poisonous substance, chemical, or spray in killing water hyacinths and other disagreeable or obnoxious vegetation in the waterways mentioned in s. 342.03, provided no such poisonous substance, chemical, or spray shall be used which might injure or destroy fish life or human or other animal life without first taking sufficient precaution to prevent the same.

F.S. 342.06 Contracts and bond of contractor.

Any county or incorporated city or town in the state may contract to have carried on all or any part of the work mentioned in s. 342.03, provided such contract shall be let in the manner prescribed by law for other work of a public nature. No such contractor shall use any poisonous substance, chemical or spray in any of the waterways mentioned in s. 342.03 without first entering into a good and sufficient bond to be fixed and approved by the county or municipal authorities conditioned to indemnify any and all persons against any loss or damage for injury to livestock resulting from the use of such poisonous substance, chemical or spray.

F.S. 342.07 Recreational and commercial working waterfronts; legislative findings; definitions.

(1) The Legislature recognizes that there is an important state interest in facilitating boating and other recreational access to the state’s navigable waters. This access is vital to tourists and recreational users and the marine industry in the state, to maintaining or enhancing the $57 billion economic impact of tourism and the $14 billion economic impact of boating in the state annually, and to ensuring continued access to all residents and visitors to the navigable waters of the state. The Legislature recognizes that there is an important state interest in maintaining viable water-dependent support facilities, such as public lodging establishments and boat hauling and repairing and commercial fishing facilities, and in maintaining the availability of public access to the navigable waters of the state. The Legislature further recognizes that the waterways of the state are important for engaging in commerce and the transportation of goods and people upon such waterways and that such commerce and transportation is not feasible unless there is access to and from the navigable waters of the state through recreational and commercial working waterfronts. (2) As used in this section, the term “recreational and commercial working waterfront” means a parcel or parcels of real property which provide access for water-dependent commercial activities, including hotels and motels as defined in s. 509.242(1), or provide access for the public to the navigable waters of the state. Recreational and commercial working waterfronts require direct access to or a location on, over, or adjacent to a navigable body of water. The term includes water-dependent facilities that are open to the public and offer public access by vessels to the waters of the state or that are support facilities for recreational, commercial, research, or governmental vessels. These facilities include public lodging establishments, docks, wharfs, lifts, wet and dry marinas, boat ramps, boat hauling and repair facilities, commercial fishing facilities, boat construction facilities, and other support structures over the water. As used in this section, the term “vessel” has the same meaning as in s. 327.02. Seaports are excluded from the definition.

F.S. 342.201 Waterfronts Florida Program.

(1) There is established within the Department of Commerce the Waterfronts Florida Program to provide technical assistance and support to communities in revitalizing waterfront areas in this state. (2) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Waterfront community” means a municipality or county that is required to prepare a coastal element for its local government comprehensive plan. (b) “Recreational and commercial working waterfront” means a parcel or parcels of real property that provide access for water-dependent commercial activities or provide access for the public to the navigable waters of the state. Recreational and commercial working waterfronts require direct access to or a location on, over, or adjacent to a navigable body of water. The term includes water-dependent facilities that are open to the public and offer public access by vessels to the waters of the state or that are support facilities for recreational, commercial, research, or governmental vessels. These facilities include docks, wharfs, lifts, wet and dry marinas, boat ramps, boat hauling and repair facilities, commercial fishing facilities, boat construction facilities, and other support structures over the water. (3) The purpose of this program is to provide technical assistance, support, training, and financial assistance to waterfront communities in their efforts to revitalize waterfront areas. The program shall direct its efforts on the following priority concerns: (a) Protecting environmental and cultural resources; (b) Providing public access; (c) Mitigating hazards; and (d) Enhancing the viable traditional economy. (4) The program is responsible for: (a) Implementing the Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program. The department, in coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall develop procedures and requirements governing program eligibility, application procedures, and application review. The department may provide financial assistance to eligible local governments to develop local plans to further the purpose of the program. In recognition of limited funding, the department may limit the number of local governments assisted by the program based on the amount of funding appropriated to the department for the purpose of the program. (b) Serving as a source for information and technical assistance for Florida’s waterfront communities in preserving traditional recreational and commercial working waterfronts.

Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter342/AllFetched: 7/8/2026