Florida’s new ‘public nuisance’ law is now in effect. Here’s what it does

ORLANDO, Fla. – This month, well over 100 laws finally kicked off in Florida — including a public nuisance law that brings several new rules to the table.

That law — SB 168 — officially went into effect on July 1, and it makes the following changes:

• Gambling Houses: Any place that’s been used as a gambling house at least twice within a 12-month period is now considered a “public nuisance.”
• Daily Fines: Local governments may now impose maximum fines of $500 per day (up from $250) if nuisance activity continues beyond one year.
• Longer Oversight: Local governments can keep continuing jurisdiction over a property in one-year increments until the nuisance is resolved.
• Lien Enforcement: The law allows foreclosure on liens unpaid for three months and mandates foreclosure if the nuisance continues after two years.
• Attorney-Fee Expansion: If an ordinance allows attorney fees tied to public nuisance investigations, nuisance abatement boards must also award fees for qualifying work by legal assistants.
• Cap Removed: The $15,000 cap on total fines is removed under the new law.
• More Options: The law eliminates restrictions that prevented local governments from pursuing other remedies against public nuisances.

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Why the bill was filed

The Legislative analysis points to examples of illegal gambling enforcement and concerns about related crime, citing a 2025 Tallahassee investigation that resulted in the seizure of cash and hundreds of illegal gambling machines, as well as broader public-safety concerns raised by law enforcement.

Potential impacts

The bill analysis describes the fiscal impact as indeterminate, noting:

• Private sector: Property owners or businesses could face increased fines.
• Government: Cities and counties could see changes in revenue and costs, including potential foreclosure litigation expenses.