Committee approves changes to nuisance-abatement law to increase penalties and accelerate foreclosure timeline

Representative Booth presented CS for HB 481 as a targeted update to Florida’s public nuisance abatement law. The sponsor said the bill does not expand the definition of nuisance but addresses enforcement gaps that allow dangerous conditions to persist. Key provisions: remove a $15,000 ceiling on total fines, allow fines up to $500 per day if a nuisance remains unabated after one year, allow local governments to include legal labor in attorney-fee calculations, and revise foreclosure procedures to allow foreclosure after three months of unpaid liens and require foreclosure if a nuisance is not abated within two years.

Members asked whether the bill applied to single-family homes; the sponsor and members clarified the statute applies to non-homestead properties under current statutory language. Chip Denmark, lieutenant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, waived in support; other local-government organizations signaled support.

After debate, Representative Booth closed and the committee took a roll-call vote: CS for HB 481 was reported favorably, 25 yays, 0 nays. Representative Nixon said she would follow up with the sponsor about impacts on single-family rental properties to ensure enforcement and quality-of-life concerns are addressed.

Next steps: CS for HB 481 will move forward as reported favorably.