The Florida Senate

388.291  Source reduction measures; supervision by department.--

(1)  Any county or district may perform source reduction measures in conformity with good engineering practices in any area, provided that the department cooperating with the county or district has approved the operating or construction plan and it has been determined by criteria contained in rule that the area or areas to be controlled would produce arthropods in significant numbers to constitute a health or nuisance problem.

(2)  The county or district shall manage the detailed business affairs and supervise said work, and the department shall advise the districts as to the best and most effective measures to be used in bringing about better temporary control and the permanent elimination of breeding conditions. The department may at its discretion discontinue any state aid provided hereunder in the event it finds the jointly agreed upon program is not being followed or is not efficiently and effectively administered.

(3)  Property owners in a developed residential area are required to maintain their property in such a manner so as not to create or maintain any standing freshwater condition capable of breeding mosquitoes or other arthropods in significant numbers so as to constitute a public health, welfare, or nuisance problem. Nothing in this subsection shall permit the alteration of permitted stormwater management systems or prohibit maintained fish ponds, xeriscaping, or other maintained systems of landscaping or vegetation. If such a condition is found to exist, the local arthropod control agency shall serve notice on the property owner to treat, remove, or abate the condition. Such notice shall serve as prima facie evidence of maintaining a nuisance, and upon failure of the property owner to treat, remove, or abate the condition, the local arthropod control agency or any affected citizen may proceed pursuant to s. 60.05 to enjoin the nuisance and may recover costs and attorney's fees if they prevail in the action.

History.--s. 2, ch. 59-195; s. 1, ch. 63-236; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 165, ch. 77-147; s. 11, ch. 86-203; s. 4, ch. 90-90.