FL S0896

Authorizes county boards and local governmental entities to regulate utilities (water, sewage, gas, power, telephone, communications services) within right-of-way limits of public roads and rail corridors by issuing permits and prescribing reasonable rules.

Prohibits municipalities and counties from requiring utilities or communications service providers to provide proprietary facility maps when facilities have been previously permitted by the authority.

Requires utility owners to bear the cost of relocating facilities to eliminate unreasonable interference with public roads or rail corridors, except in specified circumstances (federal highway projects, municipal/county-owned utilities in rural areas, electric facilities converted to underground, etc.).

Places responsibility for relocation costs on the authority if utilities are relocated for non-interference purposes, or on third parties if relocation is required by their projects, rather than by the authority.

Establishes that utilities lawfully located within recorded utility easements are entitled to have the authority bear the cost of necessary work to eliminate unreasonable interference.