Category: Florida Attorney General Opinions

Sunshine Law – Search and Selection Committees Number: AGO2023-04 Issued October 30, 2023 Rachel Kamoutsas General Counsel Board of Governors, State University System of Florida 325 W. Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32301   Dear Ms. Kamoutsas: This office received your letter, dated September 18, 2023, requesting a legal opinion pursuant to section 16.01(3), Florida Statutes. You ask […]

Firearms – Definitions Number: AGO2023-03 Issued October 02, 2023 Representative Shane Abbott Florida House of Representatives 908 US Highway 90 West NWFSC Chautauqua Center DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433-1436   Dear Representative Abbott: This office received your letter, dated March 21, 2023, requesting a legal opinion pursuant to Section 16.01(3), Florida Statutes. You ask substantially the following […]

Clerk’s sale of court-ordered debts to debt purchasers Number: AGO 2023-02 Issued July 21, 2023 Mr. W. Timothy Weekley General Counsel Clerk the Circuit Court and Comptroller Santa Rosa County, Florida PO Box 472 Milton, Florida 32572   Dear Mr. Weekley: On behalf of the Honorable Donald C. Spencer, Clerk of the Circuit Court and […]

Owner-builder exemption – townhouse units Number: AGO 2023-01 Issued April 25, 2023 Mr. D. Andrew Smith, III City Attorney, Town of Ponce Inlet Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand, P.A. 2300 Maitland Center Pkwy., Ste. 100 Maitland, Florida 32751-7410 Dear Mr. Smith: This office received your letter requesting a legal opinion on behalf of the Town […]

Vacation rental: municipal regulation by zoning overlay Number: AGO 2022-01 Issued November 14, 2022 Mr. Robert Jagger Daytona Beach City Attorney P.O. Box 2451 Daytona Beach, FL 32115 Dear Mr. Jagger: On behalf of the City of Daytona Beach, Florida (“City”), you asked for an opinion addressing the following rephrased question: Consistent with section 509.032(7)(b), […]

Number: AGO 2021-02 Issued November 02, 2021 Ms. Melanie Marsh Lake County Attorney Post Office Box 7800 315 W. Main St., Suite 335 Tavares, Florida 32778 Tourist development tax use for design, engineering Dear Ms. Marsh: On behalf of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, you have requested an opinion addressing the following question: […]

Number: AGO 2021-01 Issued September 01, 2021 Subject: School boards – effect of statutes and regulations Leonard J. Dietzen, III Board Attorney Suwannee County School District 1740 Ohio Avenue, South Live Oak, FL 32064 Dear Mr. Dietzen, This office has received your inquiry on behalf of the Suwannee County School District (the “District”), asking substantially […]

Number: INFORMAL Issued June 23, 2021 Subject: Sunshine Law–Non-Voting Member–Ex Officio Member Mr. A. Kurt Ardaman, City Attorney City of Belle Isle Fishback Dominick Law Firm 1947 Lee Road Winter Park, FL 32789-1834 Dear Mr. Ardaman: This office has received your inquiry on behalf of the Belle Isle City Council (“City Council” or “Council”), requesting […]

Number: INFORMAL Issued January 27, 2021 Subject: In-person Quorum-School Board Advisory Meetings Ms. Barbara J. Myrick, General Counsel The School Board of Broward County, Florida 600 S.E. Third Avenue, 11th Floor Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 Dear Ms. Myrick, This office has received your inquiry of November 4, 2020 on behalf of the School Board of […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-09 Date: October 21, 2020 Subject: Local regulation – sale of vaping devices to ages 18-20 October 21, 2020 Mr. Samuel S. Goren City Attorney Mr. Jacob G. Horowitz Assistant City Attorney City of Pembroke Pines 3099 E. Commercial Blvd., Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 Dear Mr. Goren and […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: INFORMALDate: July 20, 2020Subject: Sunshine Law-Hospital District Board as LessorMr. Joseph M. HanrattyGeneral CounselMarion County Hospital DistrictP.O. Box 2340LaBelle, Florida 33975-2340Mr. Hanratty,On behalf of the Marion County Hospital District (“District”), you have asked substantially the following question: Does section 395.3035(4)(a), Florida Statutes (under which portions of a public hospital governing board […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-08 Date: June 5, 2020 Subject: Firefighters – public safety officers – cancer benefits June 5, 2020 Lonnie N. Groot City of Attorney, City of Daytona Beach Shores 300 International Parkway, Suite 100 Lake Mary, Florida 32746 Dear Mr. Groot: On behalf of the City Council of the City of […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-07 Date: June 5, 2020 Subject: Human trafficking signage – tattoo establishments June 5, 2020 Jennifer C. Rey For the firm as Sumter County Attorney 20 South Broad Street Brooksville, Florida 34601 Dear Ms. Rey: This office has received your letter on behalf of the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners requesting an Attorney […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-06 Date: April 27, 2020 Subject: Perfecting and enforcing local government liens   April 27, 2020 Mr. Allan Weinthal Town Attorney, Town of Davie 6591 Orange Drive Davie, Florida 33314 Dear Mr. Weinthal: On behalf of the Town of Davie (“Town”), you have requested an opinion on substantially the following […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-05 Date: April 27, 2020 Subject: City pilot program for vacation rentals April 27, 2020 A. Kurt Ardaman City Attorney, City of Belle Isle 1947 Lee Road Winter Park, Florida 32789-1834 Dear Mr. Ardaman: This office has received your letter on behalf of the Belle Isle City Council requesting an […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-04 Date: April 27, 2020 Subject: Military leave of absence documentation Robert F. Rosenwald, Jr. First Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami Beach 1700 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Dear Mr. Rosenwald: This office has received your letter on behalf of the City of Miami Beach requesting an […]

Number: AGO 2020-03 Date: March 19, 2020 Subject: Public meeting quorums using technology The Honorable Ron DeSantis Governor The Capitol Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001 Dear Governor DeSantis: Our office has received your letter dated March 17, 2020, requesting an opinion pursuant to Section 16.01(3), Florida Statutes, in light of recent developments arising from the spread of […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2020-02 Date: March 12, 2020 Subject: Tourist development tax –tourist industry reps Mr. A. Bryant Applegate County Attorney Seminole County 1101 East First Street Sanford, FL 32771 Dear Mr. Applegate: This office has received your inquiry on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners of Seminole County (the “County”), asking substantially […]

Number: AGO 2020-01 Date: February 4, 2020 Subject: Tax deed sale funds to govt lienholders Mr. Scott R. Harlowe 1235 SE Indian St., Suite 101 Stuart, FL 34997-5690, Florida 34982-5652 Dear Mr. Harlowe: On behalf of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Lucie County (“Clerk”), you ask the following questions: 1. Under section 197.582, Florida Statutes […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-14 Date: November 22, 2019 Subject: Education Practices Commission Gretchen Kelley Brantley, J.D. Executive Director Education Practices Commission 316 Turlington Building 325 West Gaines Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 Dear Ms. Brantley: This office has received your letter asking whether the Education Practices Commission is a state agency under certain statutory […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-11Date: November 6, 2019Subject: Municipal election — align with state general election Kyle S. Bauman Kimberly R. Kopp Anchors Smith Grimsley Romano Kopp Law, P.A. 909 Mar Walt Dr Ste 1014 PO Box 445 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547-6757 Destin, FL 32541-0445   Dear Mr. Bauman and Ms. Kopp: As the City […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-13 Date: November 1, 2019 Subject: Tourist development tax — for-profit museum Mr. Robert B. Shillinger Monroe County Attorney 1111 12th Street, Suite 408 Key West, FL 33040   Dear Mr. Shillinger:   On behalf of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, you have requested an opinion on the following question: […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-12 Date: November 1, 2019 Subject: Community redevelopment agency — transfer of authority Mr. Gerald T. Buhr City Attorney, City of Avon Park 7747 US Open Look Lakewood Ranch, FL  34202   Dear Mr. Buhr:   On behalf of the City of Avon Park, you have requested an opinion on the following question: […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-10 Date: September 11, 2019 Subject: Audit exemption to extend discretionary sales surtax Ms. Janette S. Knowlton County Attorney for Charlotte County 18500 Murdock Circle, Suite 573 Port Charlotte, Florida 33948-1068 RE: DISCRETIONARY SALES SURTAX-PERFORMANCE AUDIT EXEMPTION-whether the duration of a discretionary sales surtax must be the same as the […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-09 Date: August 16, 2019 Subject: Special district, absentee voting John J. Fumero Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, P.A. 750 Park of Commerce Boulevard, Suite 210 Boca Raton, Florida 33487 RE: WATER CONTROL DISTRICT – ABSENTEE BALLOTS – voting by mail in annual landowner District Board elections is not […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-08 Date: August 16, 2019 Subject: Public records, cybersecurity testing Mr. Robert A. Sugarman Legal Counsel to the Board of Trustees, Pompano Beach Police & Firefighters’ Retirement System 100 Miracle Mile, Suite 300 Coral Gables. Florida 33134 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS – BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POMPANO BEACH POLICE & […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-06 Date: August 16, 2019 Subject: Ad valorem taxation, municipal aircraft hangar leases Ms. Tammi E. Bach, J.D., B.C.S. City Attorney City of Fernandina Beach 204 Ash Street Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034 Mr. J. Christopher Woolsey Legal Counsel to Nassau County Property Appraiser Wood & Stuart, P.A. P. O. Box […]

Florida Attorney General Advisory Legal Opinion Number: AGO 2019-05 Date: August 16, 2019 Subject: Community development district board voting zones Mr. Michael D. Chiumento III Counsel for Dunes Community Development District 145 City Place, Suite 301 Palm Coast, Florida 32164 RE: SPECIAL DISTRICT – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT – ELECTIONS -authority of community development district to create voting zones […]

Number: AGO 2019-04 Date: March 27, 2019 Subject: County may not require compliance with E-Verify Ms. Eden Bentley Brevard County Attorney 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Building C, Room 308 Viera, Florida 32940 RE: LOCAL BUSINESS TAX – E-VERIFY – There are no statutory provisions that would allow a county to enact an ordinance conditioning […]

Number: AGO 2019-03 Date: March 27, 2019 Subject: Non-charter county may not term-limit commissioners Ms. Joy Cook Carmichael Highlands County Attorney 600 South Commerce Avenue, B233 Sebring, Florida 33870 RE: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – NON-CHARTER COUNTY – TERM LIMITS – SPECIAL LAW – There are no constitutional or statutory provisions that would allow a non-charter county […]

Number: AGO 2019-02 Date: March 12, 2019 Subject: Tourist development tax – nature center – road shoulder Ms. Melanie Marsh Lake County Attorney Post Office Box 7800 Tavares, Florida 32778-7800 RE: TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUE, SHOULDER OF ROAD AS NATURE CENTER – authority to use tourist development tax revenue to add contiguous shoulders to each […]

Number: AGO 2019-01 Date: January 8, 2019 Subject: School Board Superintendent, elected incumbent’s term Paul D. Gibbs, Esquire School Board Attorney Marion County Public Schools Post Office Box 670 Ocala, Florida 34478-0670 RE: SCHOOL BOARD – SUPERINTENDENT – APPOINTMENT or ELECTION – TERM OF INCUMBENT – Article IX, section 5 of the Florida Constitution allows […]

Number: INFORMAL Date: January 7, 2019 Subject: Open meetings, advisory group Ms. Angela J. Wallace Deputy County Attorney 115 South Andrews Avenue, Suite 423 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 Dear Ms. Wallace:  This office has received your letter requesting an opinion as to whether an advisory group formed by Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen is subject […]

Number: AGO 2018-06 Date: December 21, 2018 Subject: Municipalities – vacation rentals – dwelling unit Mr. Nicholas Beninate City Attorney, City of Mexico Beach Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC 16901 Panama City Beach Parkway Suite 300 Panama City Beach, Florida 32413 RE: DWELLING UNIT – VACATION RENTALS — MUNICIPALITIES –  § 509.032(7) does not prohibit […]

Number: INFORMAL Date: November 20, 2018 Subject: Records – sworn or civilian law enforcement personnel The Honorable Scott Ellis Mr. Charles Ian Nash Clerk of the Circuit Court General Counsel Brevard County Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Post Office Box 999 440 South Babcock Street  Titusville, Florida 32781-0999 Melbourne, Florida 32901 Dear Mr. Ellis and Mr. […]

Number: AGO 2018-05 Date: August 14, 2018 Subject: Law enforcement trust fund – municipality Ms. Kimberly L. Rothenburg City Attorney, West Palm Beach Post Office Box 3366 West Palm Beach, Florida 33402-3366 RE: LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND – GRANT PROGRAM – MUNICIPALITIES – § 932.7055 does not authorize a municipality to delegate proceeds from the […]

Number: INFORMAL Date: July 2, 2018 Subject: Security systems, public records & meetings Mr. Craig B. Sherman Town Attorney Mr. Frank C. Simone Assistant Town Attorney 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1550 Miami, Florida 33131 Dear Mr. Sherman and Mr. Simone:  We are in receipt of your letter on behalf of the Town of Bay Harbor […]

Number: AGO 2018-04 Date: June 1, 2018 Subject: Electronic signatures and electronic record retention Mr. Gustavo Ceballos Assistant City Attorney  City of Coral Gables Post Office Box 141549 Coral Gables, Florida 33114-1549 RE: ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES – ELECTRONIC RECORDS – PUBLIC RECORDS RETENTION – MUNICIPALITIES – municipality may accept electronic signatures for its business transactions, and […]

Number: AGO 2018-03 Date: June 1, 2018 Subject: Housing Finance Authority funding renovations Mr. David G. Fisher Counsel for the Housing Finance  Authority of Polk County, Florida Peterson & Myers, P.A. Post Office Drawer 7608 Winter Haven, Florida 33883-7608 RE: HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY – GRANT OF SURPLUS FUNDS TO NONPROFIT – whether a housing finance […]

Number: AGO 2018-02 Date: May 31, 2018 Subject: Value adjustment board and substantial completion Mr. Aaron B. Thalwitzer Legal Counsel, Volusia County VAB 1990 West New Haven Avenue Second Floor Melbourne, Florida 32904 RE: REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS, VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD – authority to hear taxpayer appeal from assessment valuation based on disputed status of improvement […]

Number: AGO 2018-01 Date: January 25, 2018 Subject: Renewal of ad valorem tax by referendum or resolution Mr. Matthew S. Francis Counsel for the Key Largo Fire Rescue and  Emergency Medical Services District Vernis & Bowling of the Florida Keys, P.A. 81990 Overseas Highway, 3rd floor Islamorada, Florida 33036 RE: AD VALOREM TAXATION – FIRE […]

Number: AGO 2017-08 Date: November 30, 2017 Subject: Withdrawal from regional planning councilMs. Margaret Wuerstle Executive Director Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council 1400 Colonial Boulevard, Suite 1 Fort Myers, Florida 33907 RE: REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT – COUNTIES – whether a county may withdraw from its regional planning council. §§ 163.01 and 186.504, […]

Number: AGO 2017-07 Date: November 22, 2017 Subject: Contraband Forfeiture Fund The Honorable David Morgan Sheriff, Escambia County Post Office Box 18770 Pensacola, Florida 32523 RE: FLORIDA CONTRABAND FORFEITURE ACT – contraband forfeiture trust funds may be used to pay Sheriff’s recurring contractually allocated share of school resource officer program personnel costs, but not to […]

Number: AGO 2017-06 Date: November 22, 2017 Subject: Funding transit system with tourist development tax Mr. Tim Norris Chairman, Walton County Tourist  Development Council 25777 US Highway 331 South Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 RE: COUNTIES – TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX – TRANSIT SYSTEM OPERATED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY – whether the county may use revenues […]

Number: AGO 2017-05 Date: November 22, 2017 Subject: Disclosure of exempt records by property appraiser Mr. Terry J. Harmon Legal Counsel to Leon County Property Appraiser Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. 123 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION – PROPERTY APPRAISER – NOTICE OF CODE VIOLATIONS – whether a property appraiser may […]

Number: AGO 2017-04 Date: August 14, 2017 Subject: Special District Group Health Insurance August 9, 2017 Mr. Curtis L. Shenkman Attorney for Loxahatchee River District 11891 U.S. Highway One, Suite 100 North Palm Beach, Florida 33408 Dear Mr. Shenkman: You have requested an opinion addressing these matters:        1.  Whether the Loxahatchee River […]

Number: AGO 2017-03 Date: April 4, 2017 Subject: Municipal Charter Amendment April 4, 2017 Mr. Lonnie N. Groot Attorney for the City of Daytona Beach Shores 1001 Heathrow Park Lane, Suite 4001 Lake Mary, Florida 32746 RE: MUNICIPALITIES – CHARTER AMENDMENT – REFERENDUM REGARDING DEVELOPMENT ORDERS AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS – whether s. 163.3167, Fla. […]

Number: AGO 2017-02 Date: March 9, 2017 Subject: Hybrid Process to select Construction Manager March 9, 2017 Mr. John C. Randolph Attorney for the Town of Palm Beach Flagler Center Tower, Suite 1100 505 South Flagler Drive West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 RE: CONSULTANTS’ COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION ACT – CCNA – CONTRACTS – CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT […]

Number: AGO 2017-01 Date: March 9, 2017 Subject: Special Magistrate Code Enforcement Hearings March 9, 2017 Mr. Lonnie N. Groot 1001 Heathrow Park Lane Suite 4001 Lake Mary, Florida 32746 RE: GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE LAW–SPECIAL MAGISTRATE CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARINGS–inapplicability of Sunshine Law requirement that public be given reasonable opportunity to be heard at quasi-judicial […]

Number: AGO 2016-18 Date: December 5, 2016 Subject: Tourist Development Tax Expenditures Ms. Michelle Blankenship Jordan County Attorney for Jackson County 1512 Highway 90 Chipley, Florida 32428 RE: TAXATION – COUNTIES – TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX – whether the county can fund law enforcement services at a nature center using tourist development tax revenues under s. […]

Number: AGO 2016-17 Date: October 5, 2016 Subject: Judges — Special Masters — Firearms Mr. Charles D. Johnson Sellar, Sewell, Russ, Saylor & Johnson, P.A. 907 Webster Street Leesburg, Florida 34748 RE: JUDGES – SPECIAL MASTERS – FIREARMS – whether a special master is a “judge” for purposes of carrying a firearm into his or […]

Number: AGO 2016-16 Date: October 5, 2016 Subject: South Broward Hospital District – Public Records Ms. Kimarie Stratos General Counsel Memorial Healthcare System South Broward Hospital District 3111 Stirling Road Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 RE: SOUTH BROWARD HOSPITAL DISTRICT – PUBLIC RECORDS – ATTORNEY’S FEES – PUBLIC FUNDS – authority of district to reimburse attorney’s […]

Number: AGO 2016-15 Date: October 5, 2016 Subject: Dual Office-Holding – Historic Preservation Board Mr. William J. Gallo 4010 Northeast 30th Avenue Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064 RE: DUAL OFFICE-HOLDING – COUNTIES – MUNICIPALITIES – PLANNING AND ZONING BOARDS – HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARDS – individual may not simultaneously serve on the city’s planning and zoning board […]

Number: AGO 2016-14 Date: October 5, 2016 Subject: Municipalities – Public Employees – Severance Pay Mr. Scott E. Simpson City Attorney City of South Daytona Korey, Sweet, McKinnon & Simpson 595 West Granada Boulevard Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 RE: MUNICIPALITIES – PUBLIC EMPLOYEES – SEVERANCE PAY – EARLY RETIREMENT PLAN – whether the city may […]

Number: AGO 2016-13 Date: October 5, 2016 Subject: Counties – Municipal Service Taxing or Benefit Unit Mr. Robert B. Shillinger County Attorney Office of the County Attorney 1111 12th Street, Suite 408 Key West, Florida 33040 RE: COUNTIES – MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING OR BENEFIT UNIT – ESSENTIAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES – whether the county may expand […]

Number: AGO 2016-12 Date: October 5, 2016 Subject: Municipalities — Vacation Rentals — Zoning Mr. Kerry L. Ezrol, City Attorney Ms. Farah L. Nerette, Assistant City Attorney Goren Cherof Doody & Ezrol P.A. 3099 East Commercial Boulevard, Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308 RE: MUNICIPALITIES – VACATION RENTALS – PREEMPTION – ZONING – whether the […]

Number: AGO 2016-11 Date: August 2, 2016 Subject: Juvenile Curfews – Municipalities – Ordinances Mr. Jeb T. Branham Attorney at Law 3500 3rd Street South Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250 RE: JUVENILE CURFEWS – MUNICIPALITIES – ORDINANCES – whether municipality is authorized to alter terms of statutory juvenile curfew as adopted in an ordinance. ss. 877.20 […]

Number: AGO 2016-10 Date: August 2, 2016 Subject: Special Districts – Assessments – Referendum Ms. Mary M. Viator Caldwell Pacetti Edwards Schoech & Viator, LLP 250 South Australian Avenue Suite 600 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 RE: SPECIAL DISTRICTS – ASSESSMENTS – REFERENDUM – whether special district must hold referendum before levying non-ad valorem assessment. […]

Number: AGO 2016-09 Date: August 2, 2016 Subject: Charter Schools – Municipalities – Special Assessment Ms. Victoria Méndez City Attorney City of Miami Office of the City Attorney 444 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Suite 945 Miami, Florida 33130-1910 RE: CHARTER SCHOOLS – MUNICIPALITIES – SPECIAL ASSESSMENT – EXEMPTION – whether the city may levy a special […]

Number: AGO 2016-08 Date: August 2, 2016 Subject: Public Funds — Administrative Agencies Mr. Paul R. Gougelman General Counsel Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council 200 East Broward Boulevard, Suite 1900 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 RE: PUBLIC FUNDS – ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES – TRANSPORTATION – expenditure of public funds for refreshments. s. 339.175, Fla. Stat. Dear […]

Number: AGO 2016-07 Date: June 24, 2016 Subject: Golf Carts — Child Safety Restraints Mr. A. Kurt Ardaman City Attorney City of Winter Garden 1947 Lee Road Winter Park, Florida 32789-1834 RE: GOLF CARTS – CHILD SAFETY RESTRAINTS – MUNICIPALITIES – SEAT BELTS – regulation of golf carts operating on public streets within municipality. ss. […]

Number: AGO 2016-06 Date: June 24, 2016 Subject: Counties — Firearms — Zoning Mr. Michael S. Craig County Attorney for Polk County Post Office Box 9005 Bartow, Florida 33831-9005 RE: COUNTIES – FIREARMS – PREEMPTION – ZONING – application of county zoning ordinance pursuant to preemption exception in s. 790.33(4)(a), Fla. Stat., to prohibit manufacture […]

Number: AGO 2016-05 Date: June 8, 2016 Subject: Fireworks — Municipalities — Ordinances Mr. James A. (“Skip”) Fowler City Attorney Fowler, O’Quinn, Feeny & Sneed P.A. 28 West Central Boulevard, 4th Floor Orlando, Florida 32801 RE: FIREWORKS – MUNICIPALITIES– ORDINANCES – municipality prohibited by s. 10(5), Ch. 2007-67, Laws of Fla., from issuing new permits […]

Number: AGO 2016-04 Date: March 30, 2016 Subject: Municipalities — Drones — Privacy Rights Mr. David M. Wolpin Attorney for the City of Aventura 2525 Ponce De Leon Boulevard Suite 700 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 RE: MUNICIPALITIES—MUNICIPAL CODE ENFORCEMENT—DRONES—PRIVACY RIGHTS. Authority of municipality to enact ordinance prohibiting private use of drones to invade privacy rights […]

Number: AGO 2016-03 Date: March 11, 2016 Subject: Ad Valorem Tax — Industrial Development Authority The Honorable Patricia Patterson Chairperson, Taylor County Board of County Commissioners Post Office Box 620 Perry, Florida 32348 RE: TAXATION – COUNTIES – AD VALOREM TAX – INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – there is no specific legislative authority allowing the county […]

Number: AGO 2016-02 Date: March 10, 2016 Subject: Infrastructure Surtax — Emergency Generators Mr. Alan S. Zimmet, B.C.S. City Attorney City of Largo Post Office Box 296 Largo, Florida 33779-0296 RE: INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX – EMERGENCY GENERATORS – MUNICIPALITY – using infrastructure surtax to fund purchase of emergency generators, power source units, and associated site improvements […]

Number: AGO 2016-01 Date: March 10, 2016 Subject: Government-in-the-Sunshine Law — Private Organization Mr. Dustin L. Watkins Sugarman & Susskind, P.A. 100 Miracle Mile, Suite 300 Coral Gables, Florida 33134-5429 RE: GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE LAW – MEETINGS – PRIVATE ORGANIZATION – application of Sunshine Law to board of trustees of private insurance trust fund. […]