Permit required to operate a migrant labor camp or residential migrant housing; penalties for unlawful establishment or operation; allocation of proceeds.
F.S. 381.0081
in effect(1)
MIGRANT LABOR CAMP; PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
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A person who establishes, maintains, or operates a migrant labor camp in this state without first having obtained a permit from the department and who fails to post such permit and keep such permit posted in the camp to which it applies at all times during maintenance or operation of the camp commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2)
RESIDENTIAL MIGRANT HOUSING; PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
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A person who establishes, maintains, or operates any residential migrant housing in this state without first having obtained a permit from the department commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3)
RESIDENTIAL MIGRANT HOUSING; HEALTH AND SANITATION.
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A person who establishes, maintains, or operates any residential migrant housing or migrant labor camp in this state without providing adequate personal hygiene facilities, lighting, sewage disposal, and garbage disposal, and without first having obtained the required permit from the department, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4)
FINE.
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The department may impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation of this section. If the owner of land on which a violation of this section occurs is other than the person committing the violation and the owner knew or should have known upon reasonable inquiry that this section was being violated on the land, the fine may be applied against such owner. In determining the amount of the fine to be imposed, the department shall consider any corrective actions taken by the violator and any previous violations.
(5)
SEIZURE.
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(a)
In addition to other penalties provided by this section, the buildings, personal property, and land used in connection with a felony violation of this section may be seized and forfeited pursuant to the Contraband Forfeiture Act.
(b)
After satisfying any liens on the property, the remaining proceeds from the sale of the property seized under this section shall be allocated as follows if the department participated in the inspection or investigation leading to seizure and forfeiture under this section:
1.
One-third of the proceeds shall be allocated to the law enforcement agency involved in the seizure, to be used as provided in s. 932.7055.
2.
One-third of the proceeds shall be allocated to the department, to be used for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this section.
3.
One-third of the proceeds shall be deposited in the State Apartment Incentive Loan Fund, to be used for the purpose of providing funds to sponsors who provide housing for farmworkers.
(c)
After satisfying any liens on the property, the remaining proceeds from the sale of the property seized under this section shall be allocated equally between the law enforcement agency involved in the seizure and the State Apartment Incentive Loan Fund if the department did not participate in the inspection or investigation leading to seizure and forfeiture.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter381/AllFetched: 7/8/2026