SB 284 – Recreational Customary Use of Beaches

• Repeals Section 163.035, Florida Statutes, which currently prohibits local governments from establishing recreational customary use of dry sand areas of beaches through ordinances, resolutions, or other legislative actions
• Removal of this section would eliminate the existing requirement that customary use of private dry sand beach areas can only be established through individual judicial proceedings (court action)
• Would restore the ability of local governments to recognize public customary use rights to beach areas through local legislative enactments rather than costly, parcel-by-parcel litigation
• Sponsored by Senator Rouson and takes effect immediately upon becoming law
• The repealed statute was originally enacted in 2018 (HB 631) and was widely criticized for restricting public beach access