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Division of Community Development

Special District Accountability Program

Official List of Special Districts Online

Active Special District Function Totals as of December 11, 2018

This page summarizes special district functions, the number of active special districts with that function, and the most often used statutory authority under which they operate and were created.

General authority includes Sections 189.02 (dependent), 189.031 (independent), 125.01(5)(a), 163.01 (interlocal agreement), and Chapter 165, Florida Statutes (see Online Sunshine: The Florida Statutes).

Many special districts have similar functions but are grouped separately because of the statutory authority under which they operate and were created. For more information, see Special District Primary Functions Cross Reference List.

Since many special districts have more than one function, adding the number of special districts will not provide accurate state totals. For state totals, see Special District Statewide Totals as of December 11, 2018.


  1. Affordable Housing - Total: 1 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  2. Airports / Air Navigation Facilities - Total: 24 - Chapter 332, Florida Statutes
  3. Aquatic Weed Control - Total: 1 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  4. Beach Facilities - Total: 5 - General Authority
  5. Business Improvement - Total: 5 - Chapter 170, Florida Statutes
  6. Capital Improvements - Total: 6 - General Authority
  7. Childrens Services - Total: 8 - Section 125.901, Florida Statutes
  8. Civic Facilities / Activities / Services - Total: 5 - General Authority
  9. Collaborative Client Information Systems - Total: 1 - Chapter 163, Part VI, Florida Statutes
  10. Common Facilities Maintenance - Total: 4 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  11. Community Development - Total: 673 - Chapter 190, Florida Statutes
  12. Community Redevelopment - Total: 227 - Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes
  13. Conservation - Total: 2 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  14. County Beach and Shore Preservation - Total: 2 - Chapter 161, Part II, Florida Statutes
  15. County Development - Total: 8 - General Authority
  16. County Fine Arts - Total: 1 - Section 265.32, Florida Statutes
  17. County Health and Mental Health Care - Total: 1 - Section 154.331, Florida Statutes
  18. County Road and Bridge - Total: 1 - Chapter 336, Florida Statutes
  19. County Water and Sewer - Total: 10 - Chapter 153, Part II, Florida Statutes
  20. Downtown Development / Improvement - Total: 14 - General Authority
  21. Drainage and/or Water Control - Total: 83 - Chapter 298, Florida Statutes
  22. Economic Development - Total: 13 - General Authority
  23. Educational Facilities Benefit - Total: 2 - Section 1013.355, Florida Statutes
  24. Emergency Medical Services - Total: 5 - General Authority
  25. Environmental Protection / Management - Total: 9 - General Authority
  26. Erosion Control - Total: 3 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  27. Expressway and Bridge - Total: 7 - Chapter 348, Florida Statutes
  28. Fire Control and Rescue - Total: 63 - Chapter 191, Florida Statutes
  29. Gulf Environmental and Economic Recovery - Total: 1 - Chapters 125 and 163, Part I, Florida Statutes
  30. Health Care - Total: 5 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  31. Health Facilities - Total: 27 - Chapter 154, Part III, Florida Statutes
  32. Higher Educational Facilities Financing - Total: 12 - Chapter 243, Part II, Florida Statutes
  33. Historic Preservation - Total: 1 - Chapter 266, Florida Statutes
  34. Hospital - Total: 24 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  35. Hospital - County - Total: 1 - Chapter 155, Florida Statutes
  36. Hospital - Lease Oversight - Total: 3 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  37. Housing Authority - Total: 91 - Chapter 421, Part I, Florida Statutes
  38. Housing Finance - Total: 24 - Chapter 159, Part IV, Florida Statutes
  39. Human Relations - Total: 1 - Section 163.01, Florida Statutes
  40. Industrial Development - Total: 23 - Chapter 159, Part III, Florida Statutes
  41. Infrastructure Development - Total: 15 - General Authority
  42. Inland Navigation and Waterways - Total: 16 - Chapter 374, Florida Statutes
  43. Juvenile Welfare - Total: 1 - Section 125.901, Florida Statutes
  44. Lake and Dam Maintenance - Total: 2 - General Authority
  45. Land Authority - Total: 1 - Section 380.0663, Florida Statutes
  46. Library - Law - Total: 9 - Chapter 189, Florida Statutes
  47. Library - Local - Total: 15 - General Authority
  48. Library - Regional - Total: 6 - Section 257.171, Florida Statutes
  49. Licensing and Regulation - Total: 2 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  50. Mobile Home Park Recreation - Total: 2 - Section 418.30, Florida Statutes
  51. Mosquito Control - Total: 18 - Section 388.021, Florida Statutes
  52. Municipal-Type Services and Improvements - Total: 14 - General Authority
  53. Natural Gas Distribution and / or Transmission - Total: 3 - General Law Authority
  54. Neighborhood Enhancement - Total: 47 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  55. Neighborhood Improvement - Local Gov. - Total: 23 - Section 163.506, Florida Statutes
  56. Neighborhood Improvement - Preserve/Enh - Total: 1 - Section 163.524, Florida Statutes
  57. Neighborhood Improvement - Property Own. - Total: 1 - Section 163.508, Florida Statutes
  58. Neighborhood Improvement - Special - Total: 2 - Section 163.511, Florida Statutes
  59. Nursing Home - Total: 1 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  60. Parking Facilities - Total: 1 - General Authority
  61. Personnel Management - Total: 1 - Section 189.031, Florida Statutes
  62. Planning - Coordination - Total: 1 - General Authority
  63. Planning - Land Use and Transportation - Total: 1 - General Authority
  64. Planning - Regulation - Total: 1 - General Authority
  65. Port Facilities - Total: 15 - Chapter 315, Florida Statutes
  66. Qualifying Improvements to Real Property - Total: 6 - Section 163.08, Florida Statutes
  67. Recreational Facilities / Programs - Total: 20 - s. 418.20, F. S., Special Acts, or General Law
  68. Regional Transportation - Total: 4 - Chapter 343, Florida Statutes
  69. Regional Water - Total: 6 - General Authority
  70. Research and Development - Total: 5 - Chapter 159, Part V, Florida Statutes
  71. Road Maintenance - Total: 2 - General Authority
  72. Safety Enhancement - Total: 1 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  73. Soil and Water Conservation - Total: 58 - Chapter 582, Florida Statutes
  74. Solid Waste Disposal - Total: 8 - General Authority
  75. Street Lighting - Total: 1 - Section 189.02, Florida Statutes
  76. Transportation Systems / Services - Total: 9 - General Authority
  77. Utility Systems / Services - Total: 8 - General Authority
  78. Water and/or Wastewater Systems - Total: 19 - General Authority
  79. Water Management - Total: 5 - Chapter 373, Florida Statutes
  80. Watershed Improvement - Total: 1 - General Authority