Scott makes it clear: Florida isn't privatizing beaches
Source: Associated Press
Brendan Farrington, Associated Press
Updated 11:23 am CDT, Friday, July 13, 2018
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order Thursday responding to confusion over a new Florida law, and he's making it clear that it doesn't make public beaches private.
A law that went into effect July 1 makes clear the process local governments have to follow in order to allow public access to otherwise-privately owned beaches. It doesn't change beach ownership, though it did void a beach access ordinance passed in Walton County in the western Panhandle.
"Because Floridians and our visitors deserve to have access to our world-class beaches, and property owners deserve to have their property rights respected, it is critical that there be no room for confusion regarding access to public beaches in Florida," Scott said in the order.
In Florida, many homeowners own the sand down to the average high-water line, though some counties have passed local ordinances that let the public use otherwise private beaches for sunbathing, fishing and walking if people have historically had access for those purposes.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Scott-makes-it-clear-Florida-isn-t-privatizing-13072753.php
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