HB0323 • 2026

Parking on Public Property

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Steele
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official status metadata contains conflicting information: it states the bill 'Passed Legislature' but also lists a final action of 'Died in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee'. The summary reflects the content of the text provided, assuming passage for explanation purposes.

Rules for Parking on Public Property

This bill sets new rules in Florida requiring refunds or time carry-overs for unused paid parking and establishing waiting periods before towing vehicles or issuing tickets.

What This Bill Does

Defines 'public property' to include streets, highways, garages, metered spaces, and lots owned by the government.
Requires local governments to refund fees if a driver does not use their allotted parking time on public property.
If a refund is not possible, requires unused paid time to be carried over for the next driver who pays to park in that spot.
Stops vehicles from being towed until at least 12 hours after they are parked illegally on streets or highways.
Prevents traffic tickets in metered spaces, lots, or garages until at least 2 hours after the paid time expires.
Bans local governments from letting private businesses charge fees to use public property for parking.

Who It Names or Affects

Local government agencies that manage parking and issue fines
Drivers who pay fees to park on streets or in lots owned by the state, county, or municipality
Private business entities seeking to operate paid parking on public land

Terms To Know

Public property: Any road, street, highway, garage, lot, or metered space owned by a government entity.
Carry over time: Giving the remaining paid parking minutes to the next driver if a refund cannot be given immediately.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not stop local governments from making other rules about how vehicles are parked.
Refunds or time carry-overs apply only when fees were paid and specific circumstances exist, though the text does not list every exception.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-11-12 House
• Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2025-11-04 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Parking on Public Property; Defines "public property" & "publicly owned buildings or facilities"; requires local governments to refund owners of vehicles who pay fees to park on specified public property in certain circumstances; requires local governments to carry over any unused portion of time for benefit of next vehicle owner who pays fee to park on such public property in certain circumstances; prohibits certain vehicles from being towed or issued traffic citation for specified time period after being parked on specified public property; prohibits local governments from allowing private business entities or enterprises to use specified public property for private parking purposes for fee.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 323 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb323-00
Page 1 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to parking on public property; 2
creating s. 316.1971, F.S.; defining the terms "public 3
property" and "publicly owned buildings or 4
facilities"; requiring local governments to refund 5
owners of vehicles who pay fees to park on specified 6
public property in certain circumstances; requiring 7
local governments to carry over any unused portion of 8
time for the benefit of the next vehicle owner who 9
pays a fee to park on such public property in certain 10
circumstances; prohibiting certain vehicles from being 11
towed or issued a traffic citation for a specified 12
time period after being parked on specified public 13
property; prohibiting local governments from allowing 14
private business entities or enterprises to use 15
specified public property for private parking purposes 16
for a fee; providing construction; providing an 17
effective date. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
21
Section 1. Section 316.1971, Florida Statutes, is created 22
to read: 23
316.1971 Parking on public property.— 24
(1) As used in this section, the term: 25

HB 323 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb323-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(a) "Public property" means any publicly owned way or 26
place used by vehicles, including, but not limited to, streets, 27
roadways, highways, parking garages, and metered or timed 28
parking spaces or parking lots. 29
(b) "Publicly owned buildings or facilities" means a 30
building or facility owned by a state or local governmental 31
entity or agency. The term includes any building or facility 32
owned by a state universities or Florida College System 33
institution. 34
(2) A local government shall refund an owner of a vehicle 35
who pays a fee to park on public property, including public 36
property associated with publicly owned buildings or facilities, 37
any portion of such fee if the owner does not use the allotted 38
time. In the event a refund is not possible, the local 39
government shall carry over any unused portion of time for the 40
benefit of the next vehicle owner who pays a fee to park on the 41
same public property. 42
(3) If a vehicle is parked on public property, including 43
public property associated with publicly owned buildings or 44
facilities, in violation of a county or municipal law or 45
ordinance governing parking: 46
(a) The vehicle may not be towed until at least 12 hours 47
have elapsed from the time the vehicle was parked, if parked on 48
a street, roadway, or highway; or 49
(b) The vehicle owner may not be issued a traffic citation 50

HB 323 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb323-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

until at least 2 hours have elapsed from the time the meter or 51
allotted time expired, if parked in a metered or timed public 52
parking space, public parking lot, or public parking garage. 53
(4) A local government may not allow a private business 54
entity or enterprise to use public property for private parking 55
purposes for a fee. 56
(5) This section does not prohibit the governing body of a 57
county or municipality, with respect to public property under 58
its jurisdiction, from regulating the parking of vehicles for 59
any purpose. 60
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 61