Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1776
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       5-01089B-18                                           20181776__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to vegetable gardens; creating s.
    3         604.71, F.S.; prohibiting local governments from
    4         regulating vegetable gardens on residential properties
    5         except as otherwise provided by law; specifying that
    6         such regulations are void and unenforceable;
    7         specifying exceptions; providing applicability;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 604.71, Florida Statutes, is created to
   13  read:
   14         604.71 Local regulation of vegetable gardens.—
   15         (1) The Legislature intends to encourage the development of
   16  sustainable cultivation of vegetables and fruits at all levels
   17  of production, including for personal consumption, as an
   18  important interest of the state.
   19         (2) Except as otherwise provided by law, a county,
   20  municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may
   21  not regulate vegetable gardens on residential properties. Any
   22  such local ordinance or regulation regulating vegetable gardens
   23  on residential properties is void and unenforceable.
   24         (3) This section does not preclude the adoption of a local
   25  ordinance or regulation of a general nature that does not
   26  specifically regulate vegetable gardens, including, but not
   27  limited to, regulations and ordinances relating to water use
   28  during drought conditions, fertilizer use, or control of
   29  invasive species.
   30         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.