Florida HB 589: Theft Offenses

Bill Text

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CS/CS/CS/HB 589, Engrossed 1 2026 Legislature

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb589 -04-er
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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

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An act relating to onsite sewage treatment and 2
disposal system permits; amending s. 381.0065, F.S.; 3
prohibiting a municipality or political subdivision of 4
the state from requiring owners and builders of 5
certain residences to receive construction permits 6
from the Department of Environmental Protection as a 7
condition of issuing building or plumbing permits; 8
requiring such owners and builders to provide certain 9
proof to the municipality or political subdivision; 10
requiring an applicant for a permit for the 11
construction of an onsite sewage treatment and 12
disposal system or a property owner to assume 13
specified liabilities under certain circumstances; 14
providing applicability for certain new rules adopted 15
by the department within a specified timeframe; 16
amending ss. 380.0552 and 381.00651, F.S.; conforming 17
cross-references; providing effective dates. 18
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
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Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 381.0065, Florida 22
Statutes, is amended to read: 23
381.0065 Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems; 24
regulation.— 25

ENROLLED
CS/CS/CS/HB 589, Engrossed 1 2026 Legislature

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb589 -04-er
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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

(4) PERMITS; INSTALLATION; CONDITIONS.—A person may not 26
construct, repair, modify, abandon, or operate an onsite sewage 27
treatment and disposal system without first obtaining a permit 28
approved by the department. The department may issue permits to 29
carry out this section, except that the issuance of a permit for 30
work seaward of the coastal construction control line 31
established under s. 161.053 shall be contingent upon receipt of 32
any required coastal construction control line permit from the 33
department. A construction permit is valid for 18 months after 34
the date of issuance and may be extended by the department for 35
one 90-day period under rules adopted by the department. A 36
repair permit is valid for 90 days after the date of issuance. 37
An operating permit must be obtained before the use of any 38
aerobic treatment unit or if the establishment generates 39
commercial waste. Buildings or establishments that use an 40
aerobic treatment unit or generate commercial waste shall be 41
inspected by the department at least annually to assure 42
compliance with the terms of the operating permit. The operating 43
permit for a commercial wastewater system is valid for 1 year 44
after the date of issuance and must be renewed annually. The 45
operating permit for an aerobic treatment unit is valid for 2 46
years after the date of issuance and must be renewed every 2 47
years. If all information pertaining to the siting, location, 48
and installation conditions or repair of an onsite sewage 49
treatment and disposal system remains the same, a construction 50

ENROLLED
CS/CS/CS/HB 589, Engrossed 1 2026 Legislature

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb589 -04-er
Page 3 of 33
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

or repair permit for the onsite sewage treatment and disposal 51
system may be transferred to another person, if the transferee 52
files, within 60 days after the transfer of ownership, an 53
amended application providing all corrected information and 54
proof of ownership of the property. A fee is not associated with 55
the processing of this supplemental information. A person may 56
not contract to construct, modify, alter, repair, service, 57
abandon, or maintain any portion of an onsite sewage treatment 58
and disposal system without being registered under part III of 59
chapter 489. A property owner who personally performs 60
construction, maintenance, or repairs to a system serving his or 61
her own owner-occupied single-family residence is exempt from 62
registration requirements for performing such construction, 63
maintenance, or repairs on that residence, but is subject to all 64
permitting requirements. Except as provided in paragraph (a), a 65
municipality or political subdivision of the state may not issue 66
a building or plumbing permit for any building that requires the 67
use of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system unless the 68
owner or builder has received a construction permit for such 69
system from the department. A building or structure may not be 70
occupied and a municipality, political subdivision, or any state 71
or federal agency may not authorize occupancy until the 72
department approves the final installation of the onsite sewage 73
treatment and disposal system. A municipality or political 74
subdivision of the state may not approve any change in occupancy 75

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