Read the full stored bill text
CS/HB 479 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb479-01-c1
Page 1 of 2
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 land and water management; creating 2
s. 373.027, F.S.; prohibiting counties and 3
municipalities from adopting a law, regulation, rule, 4
policy, or ordinance that prohibits adjacent upland 5
activities that are outside a certain wetland buffer; 6
providing applicability and construction; repealing s. 7
373.591, F.S., relating to management review teams; 8
providing an effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Section 373.027, Florida Statutes, is created 13
to read: 14
373.027 Prohibition on counties and municipalities 15
prohibiting adjacent upland activities outside a certain wetland 16
buffer.— 17
(1) A county or municipality may not adopt a law, 18
regulation, rule, policy, or ordinance that prohibits adjacent 19
upland activities that are outside a wetland buffer that is a 20
minimum width of 15 feet from the wetland and an average width 21
of 25 feet from the wetland. 22
(2) This section does not: 23
(a) Apply to an interagency or interlocal agreement 24
between the department and any agency, water management 25
CS/HB 479 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb479-01-c1
Page 2 of 2
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
district, or local government conducting programs relating to or 26
materially affecting the water resources of the state. 27
(b) Affect the authority of a county or municipality to 28
regulate and operate its own water system, wastewater system, or 29
stormwater system. 30
Section 2. Section 373.591, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 31
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 32