Bill Text: FL S1508 | 2016 | Regular Session | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Airport Zoning Law of 1945
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2016-04-08 - Chapter No. 2016-209, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 7061 (Ch. 2016-239) [S1508 Detail]
Download: Florida-2016-S1508-Engrossed.html
Bill Title: Airport Zoning Law of 1945
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2016-04-08 - Chapter No. 2016-209, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 7061 (Ch. 2016-239) [S1508 Detail]
Download: Florida-2016-S1508-Engrossed.html
CS for SB 1508 Second Engrossed 20161508e2 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the Airport Zoning Law of 1945; 3 amending s. 333.01, F.S.; revising and providing 4 definitions; amending s. 333.025, F.S.; revising 5 requirements for a permit to construct or alter an 6 obstruction; revising procedures for issuing such 7 permit; revising duties of the Department of 8 Transportation relating to issuance of the permit; 9 providing for administrative review of a denial of a 10 permit; amending s. 333.03, F.S.; revising 11 requirements and procedures for certain local 12 political subdivisions to adopt and enforce airport 13 zoning regulations; directing the department to 14 provide assistance to political subdivisions with 15 regard to federal obstruction standards; providing 16 minimum requirements for airport land use 17 compatibility zoning regulations; directing political 18 subdivisions to provide the department with copies of 19 airport protection zoning regulations and airport land 20 use compatibility zoning regulations; providing 21 applicability and effect; amending s. 333.04, F.S.; 22 revising provisions for incorporation of zoning 23 regulations with a political subdivision’s 24 comprehensive regulations; revising provisions for a 25 conflict between airport zoning regulations and other 26 regulations; amending s. 333.05, F.S.; revising 27 procedure for adoption of zoning regulations; revising 28 provisions relating to an airport zoning commission; 29 amending s. 333.06, F.S.; revising airport zoning 30 regulation requirements; revising requirements for 31 adoption of an airport master plan and amendments 32 thereto; amending s. 333.07, F.S.; requiring a permit 33 to construct, alter, or allow an airport obstruction 34 in an airport hazard area under certain circumstances; 35 providing conditions for issuance or denial of such 36 permit; revising provisions to compel conformance; 37 removing provisions for obtaining a variance to zoning 38 regulations; removing reference to a board of 39 adjustment; revising provisions directing a political 40 subdivision to require an owner to install and 41 maintain certain lighting or marking of obstructions; 42 amending s. 333.09, F.S.; revising requirements for 43 administration of airport protection zoning 44 regulations; requiring the political subdivision to 45 provide a process for permitting, notifications to the 46 department, and enforcement; providing for appeal of 47 decisions made by the political subdivision; amending 48 s. 333.11, F.S.; revising provisions for judicial 49 review of decisions by a political subdivision; 50 revising jurisdiction of the court relating to 51 decisions of the political subdivision; removing 52 reference to a board of adjustment; requiring certain 53 procedures before an appeal to a court; amending s. 54 333.12, F.S.; revising provisions for acquisition of 55 property when a nonconforming obstruction is 56 determined to be an airport hazard; amending s. 57 333.13, F.S.; revising penalty provisions; creating s. 58 333.135, F.S.; providing a timeframe for compliance by 59 political subdivisions; repealing ss. 333.065, 333.08, 60 333.10, and 333.14, F.S., relating to guidelines 61 regarding land use near airports, appeals, boards of 62 adjustment, and a short title; reenacting s. 63 350.81(6), F.S., relating to communications services 64 offered by governmental entities, to incorporate the 65 amendment made by the act to s. 333.01, F.S., in a 66 reference thereto; providing an effective date. 67 68 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 69 70 Section 1. Section 333.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to 71 read: 72 333.01 Definitions.—As used inFor the purpose ofthis 73 chapter, the termfollowing words, terms, and phrases shall have74the meanings herein given, unless otherwise specifically75defined, or unless another intention clearly appears, or the76context otherwise requires: 77 (1) “Aeronautical study” means a Federal Aviation 78 Administration study, conducted in accordance with the standards 79 of 14 C.F.R. part 77, subpart C, and Federal Aviation 80 Administration policy and guidance, on the effect of proposed 81 construction or alteration on the operation of air navigation 82 facilities and the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace 83“Aeronautics” means transportation by aircraft; the operation,84construction, repair, or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft power85plants and accessories, including the repair, packing, and86maintenance of parachutes; the design, establishment,87construction, extension, operation, improvement, repair, or88maintenance of airports, restricted landing areas, or other air89navigation facilities, and air instruction. 90 (2) “Airport” means any area of land or water designed and 91 set aside for the landing and taking off of aircraft and 92 utilized or to be utilized in the interest of the public for 93 such purpose. 94 (3) “Airport hazard” means an obstruction to air navigation 95 that affects the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace or 96 the operation of planned or existing air navigation and 97 communication facilitiesany structure or tree or use of land98which would exceed the federal obstruction standards as99contained in 14 C.F.R. ss. 77.21, 77.23, 77.25, 77.28, and 77.29100and which obstructs the airspace required for the flight of101aircraft in taking off, maneuvering, or landing or is otherwise102hazardous to such taking off, maneuvering, or landing of103aircraft and for which no person has previously obtained a104permit or variance pursuant to s. 333.025 or s. 333.07. 105 (4) “Airport hazard area” means any area of land or water 106 upon which an airport hazard might be establishedif not107prevented as provided in this chapter. 108 (5) “Airport land use compatibility zoning” means airport 109 zoning regulations governingrestrictingthe use of land on, 110 adjacent to, or in the immediate vicinity of airportsin the111manner enumerated in s. 333.03(2) to activities and purposes112compatible with the continuation of normal airport operations113including landing and takeoff of aircraft in order to promote114public health, safety, and general welfare. 115 (6) “Airport layout plan” means a set of scaled drawings 116 that provides a graphic representation of the existing and 117 future development plan for the airport and demonstrates the 118 preservation and continuity of safety, utility, and efficiency 119 of the airportdetailed, scale engineering drawing, including120pertinent dimensions, of an airport’s current and planned121facilities, their locations, and runway usage. 122 (7) “Airport master plan” means a comprehensive plan of an 123 airport which typically describes current and future plans for 124 airport development designed to support existing and future 125 aviation demand. 126 (8) “Airport protection zoning regulations” means airport 127 zoning regulations governing airport hazards. 128 (9) “Department” means the Department of Transportation. 129 (10) “Educational facility” means any structure, land, or 130 use thereof that includes a public or private K-12 school, 131 charter school, magnet school, college campus, or university 132 campus. The term does not include space used for educational 133 purposes within a multi-tenant building. 134 (11) “Landfill” has the same meaning as provided in s. 135 403.703. 136 (12)(7)“Obstruction” means any object of natural growth or 137 terrain, or permanent or temporary construction or alteration, 138 including equipment or materials used and any permanent or 139 temporary apparatus, or alteration of any permanent or temporary 140 existing structure by a change in its height, including 141 appurtenances, or lateral dimensions, including equipment or 142 material used therein, existing or proposed, which exceeds 143manmade object or object of natural growth or terrain that144violatesthe federal obstruction standards contained in 14 145 C.F.R. part 77, subpart Css. 77.21, 77.23, 77.25, 77.28, and14677.29. 147 (13)(8)“Person” means any individual, firm, copartnership, 148 corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or 149 body politic, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or 150 other similar representative thereof. 151 (14)(9)“Political subdivision” means the local government 152 of any county, city, town, village, or other subdivision or 153 agency thereof, or any district or special district, port 154 commission, port authority, or other such agency authorized to 155 establish or operate airports in the state. 156 (15) “Public-use airport” means an airport, publicly or 157 privately owned, licensed by the state, which is open for use by 158 the public. 159 (16)(10)“Runway protectionclearzone” means an area at 160 ground level beyond the runway end to enhance the safety and 161 protection of people and property on the grounda runway clear162zone as defined in 14 C.F.R. s. 151.9(b). 163 (17)(11)“Structure” means any object,constructed, 164 erected, altered, or installedby humans, including,butwithout 165 limitationthereof, buildings, towers, smokestacks, utility 166 poles, power generation equipment, and overhead transmission 167 lines. 168 (18) “Substantial modification” means any repair, 169 reconstruction, rehabilitation, or improvement of a structure 170 the actual cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the 171 market value of the structure. 172(12) “Tree” includes any plant of the vegetable kingdom.173 Section 2. Section 333.025, Florida Statutes, is amended to 174 read: 175 333.025 Permit required for obstructionsstructures176exceeding federal obstruction standards.— 177 (1) A person proposing the construction or alteration of an 178 obstruction shall obtain a permit from the departmentIn order179to prevent the erection of structures dangerous to air180navigation, subject tothe provisions ofsubsections (2), (3), 181 and (4), each person shall secure from the Department of182Transportation a permit for the erection, alteration, or183modification of any structure the result of which would exceed184the federal obstruction standards as contained in 14 C.F.R. ss.18577.21, 77.23, 77.25, 77.28, and 77.29. However, permits from the 186 department areof Transportation will berequired only within an 187 airport hazard area where federal obstruction standards are 188 exceeded and if the proposed construction or alteration is 189 within a 10-nautical-mile radius of the airport reference point, 190 located at the approximate geometricgeographicalcenter of all 191 usable runways of a public-use airport ora publicly owned or192operated airport,a military airport, or an airport licensed by193the state for public use. 194 (2) Existing, planned, and proposedAffected airports will195be considered as having thosefacilities on public-use airports 196 contained in anwhich are shown on theairport master plan, on 197oran airport layout plan submitted to the Federal Aviation 198 AdministrationAirport District Office, or in comparable 199 military documents shall, and willbesoprotected from airport 200 hazards.Planned or proposed public-use airports which are the201subject of a notice or proposal submitted to the Federal202Aviation Administration or to the Department of Transportation203shall also be protected.204 (3) A permit is not required for existing structures that 205requirements of subsection (1) shall not apply to projects which206 received construction permits from the Federal Communications 207 Commission for structures exceeding federal obstruction 208 standards beforeprior toMay 20, 1975, and a permit is not 209 required forprovided such structures now exist; nor shall it210apply to previously approved structures now existing, orany 211 necessary replacement or repairs to such existing structures 212 provided, so long asthe height and location areisunchanged. 213 (4) When political subdivisions have, in compliance with 214 this chapter, adopted adequate airportairspaceprotection 215 zoning regulations, placedin compliance with s. 333.03, and216 such regulationsareon file with the department’s Aviation and 217 Spaceports OfficeDepartment of Transportation, and established 218 a permitting process, a permit for such structure isshallnot 219berequired from the departmentof Transportation. Upon receipt 220 of a complete permit application, the local government shall 221 provide a copy of the application to the department’s Aviation 222 and Spaceports Office by certified mail, return receipt 223 requested, or by delivery service that provides a receipt 224 evidencing delivery. To evaluate technical consistency with this 225 subsection, the department has a 15-day review period following 226 receipt of the application, which runs concurrently with the 227 local government permitting process. Cranes, construction 228 equipment, and other temporary structures in use or in place for 229 a period not to exceed 18 consecutive months are exempt from 230 department review unless such review is requested by the 231 department. 232 (5) The departmentof Transportationshall, within 30 days 233 afterof thereceipt of an application for a permit, issue or 234 deny a permit for the construction orerection,alteration, or235modificationof an obstruction. The department shall review 236 permit applications in conformity with s. 120.60any structure237the result of which would exceed federal obstruction standards238as contained in 14 C.F.R. ss. 77.21, 77.23, 77.25, 77.28, and23977.29. 240 (6) In determining whether to issue or deny a permit, the 241 department shall consider: 242 (a) The safety of persons on the ground and in the air. 243 (b) The safe and efficient use of navigable airspace. 244 (c)(a)The nature of the terrain and height of existing 245 structures. 246 (d) The effect of the construction or alteration of an 247 obstruction on the state licensing standards for a public-use 248 airport contained in chapter 330 and rules adopted thereunder. 249(b) Public and private interests and investments.250 (e)(c)The character of existing and planned flightflying251 operations andplanneddevelopments at public-useofairports. 252 (f)(d)Federal airways, visual flight rules, flyways and 253 corridors, and instrument approaches as designated by the 254 Federal Aviation Administration. 255 (g)(e)The effect ofWhetherthe construction or alteration 256 of an obstruction onof the proposed structure would cause an257increase inthe minimum descent altitude or the decision height 258 at the affected airport. 259(f) Technological advances.260(g) The safety of persons on the ground and in the air.261(h) Land use density.262(i) The safe and efficient use of navigable airspace.263 (h)(j)The cumulative effects on navigable airspace of all 264 existing obstructionsstructures, proposed structures identified265in the applicable jurisdictions’ comprehensive plans,and all 266 other known proposed obstructionsstructuresin the area. 267 (7) When issuing a permit under this section, the 268 departmentof Transportationshall, as a specific condition of269such permit,require the owner of the obstruction to install, 270 operate, and maintain thereon, at the owner’s expense, marking 271 and lighting in conformance with the specific standards 272 established by the Federal Aviation Administrationof the273permitted structure as provided in s. 333.07(3)(b). 274 (8) The department mayof Transportation shallnot approve 275 a permit for the construction or alteration of an obstruction 276erection of a structureunless the applicant submitsboth277 documentation showing compliance with the federal requirement 278 for notification of proposed construction or alteration and a 279 valid aeronautical study. Aevaluation, and nopermit may not 280shallbe approved solely because the Federal Aviation 281 Administration determines that the proposed obstruction is not 282 an airport hazardon the basis that such proposed structure will283not exceed federal obstruction standards as contained in 14284C.F.R. ss. 77.21, 77.23, 77.25, 77.28, or 77.29, or any other285federal aviation regulation. 286 (9) The denial of a permit under this section is subject to 287 administrative review under chapter 120. 288 Section 3. Section 333.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to 289 read: 290 333.03Power to adoptAirport protection zoning 291 regulations.— 292 (1)(a)In order to prevent the creation or establishment of293airport hazards,Every political subdivision having an airport 294 hazard area within its territorial limits shall, by October 1,2951977,adopt, administer, and enforce, under the police power and 296 in the manner and upon the conditionshereinafterprescribed in 297 this section, airport protection zoning regulations for such 298 airport hazard area. 299 (b) WhenWherean airport is owned or controlled by a 300 political subdivision and any other political subdivision has 301 land upon which an obstruction may be constructed or altered, 302 which land underlies any of the surfaces of the airport 303 described in 14 C.F.R. part 77, subpart C, the political 304 subdivisionsairport hazard area appertaining to such airport is305located wholly or partly outside the territorial limits of said306political subdivision, the political subdivision owning or307controlling the airport and the political subdivision within308which the airport hazard area is located,shalleither: 309 1. By interlocal agreement,in accordance with the310provisions of chapter 163,adopt, administer, and enforce a set 311 of airport protection zoning regulationsapplicable to the312airport hazard area in question; or 313 2. By ordinance, regulation, or resolutionduly adopted, 314 create a joint airport protection zoning board that, which board315 shallhave the same power toadopt, administer, and enforce a 316 set of airport protection zoning regulationsapplicable to the317airport hazard area in question as that vested in paragraph (a)318in the political subdivision within which such area is located. 319 TheEach suchjoint airport protection zoning board shall have 320 as voting members two representatives appointed by each 321 participating political subdivisionparticipating in its322creationandin additiona chair elected by a majority of the 323 memberssoappointed.However,The airport manager or a 324 representative of each airport inmanagers ofthe participating 325affectedpolitical subdivisions shall serve on the board in a 326 nonvoting capacity. 327 (c) Airport protection zoning regulations adopted under 328 paragraph (a) shall, atasa minimum, require: 329 1. A permitvariancefor the construction orerection,330 alteration, or modificationof any obstructionstructure which331would cause the structure to exceed the federal obstruction332standards as contained in 14 C.F.R. ss. 77.21, 77.23, 77.25,33377.28, and 77.29; 334 2.ObstructionMarking and lighting for obstructions 335structures as specified in s. 333.07(3); 336 3. Documentation showing compliance with the federal 337 requirement for notification of proposed construction or 338 alteration of structures and a valid aeronautical study 339evaluationsubmitted by each person applying for a permit 340variance; 341 4. Consideration of the criteria in s. 333.025(6),when 342 determining whether to issue or deny a permitvariance; and 343 5. That a permit may notno variance shallbe approved 344 solely because the Federal Aviation Administration determines 345 that the proposed obstruction is not an airport hazardon the346basis that such proposed structure will not exceed federal347obstruction standards as contained in 14 C.F.R. ss. 77.21,34877.23, 77.25, 77.28, or 77.29, or any other federal aviation349regulation. 350 (d) The department shall be available to provide assistance 351 to political subdivisions with regard toissue copies of the352 federal obstruction standardsas contained in 14 C.F.R. ss.35377.21, 77.23, 77.25, 77.28, and 77.29 to each political354subdivision having airport hazard areas and, in cooperation with355political subdivisions, shall issue appropriate airport zoning356maps depicting within each county the maximum allowable height357of any structure or tree. Material distributed pursuant to this358subsection shall be at no cost to authorized recipients. 359 (2) In the manner provided in subsection (1), political 360 subdivisions shall adopt, administer, and enforceinterim361 airport land use compatibility zoning regulationsshall be362adopted. Airport land use compatibility zoning regulations 363 shall, at a minimum, addressWhen political subdivisions have364adopted land development regulations in accordance with the365provisions of chapter 163 which address the use of land in the366manner consistent with the provisions herein, adoption of367airport land use compatibility regulations pursuant to this368subsection shall not be required. Interim airport land use369compatibility zoning regulations shall considerthe following: 370 (a) Prohibiting any new landfills and restricting any 371 existingWhether sanitarylandfillsare locatedwithin the 372 following areas: 373 1. Within 10,000 feet from the nearest point of any runway 374 used or planned to be used by turbineturbojet or turboprop375 aircraft. 376 2. Within 5,000 feet from the nearest point of any runway 377 used only by nonturbinepiston-typeaircraft. 378 3. Outside the perimeters defined in subparagraphs 1. and 379 2., but still within the lateral limits of the civil airport 380 imaginary surfaces defined in 14 C.F.R. s. 77.19part 77.25. 381 Case-by-case review of such landfills is advised. 382 (b) WhereWhetherany landfill is located and constructed 383 so that it attracts or sustains hazardous bird movements from 384 feeding, water, or roosting areas into, or across, the runways 385 or approach and departure patterns of aircraft. The operator of 386 such a landfill must be required topolitical subdivision shall387request from the airport authority or other governing body388operating the airport a report on such bird feeding or roosting389areas that at the time of the request are known to the airport.390In preparing its report, the authority, or other governing body,391shall consider whether the landfill willincorporate bird 392 management techniques or other practices to minimize bird 393 hazards to airborne aircraft.The airport authority or other394governing body shall respond to the political subdivision no395later than 30 days after receipt of such request.396 (c) Where an airport authority or other governing body 397 operating apublicly owned,public-use airport has conducted a 398 noise study in accordance withthe provisions of14 C.F.R. part 399 150 or where a public-use airport owner has established noise 400 contours pursuant to another public study approved by the 401 Federal Aviation Administration. Noncompatible land uses, as 402 established in the noise study under Appendix A to 14 C.F.R. 403 part 150 or as a part of an alternative public study approved by 404 the Federal Aviation Administration, are not permitted within 405 the noise contours established by such study, except where such 406 land use is specifically contemplated by such study with 407 appropriate mitigation or similar techniques described in the 408 study, neither residential construction nor any educational409facility as defined in chapter 1013, with the exception of410aviation school facilities, shall be permitted within the area411contiguous to the airport defined by an outer noise contour that412is considered incompatible with that type of construction by 14413C.F.R. part 150, Appendix A or an equivalent noise level as414established by other types of noise studies. 415 (d) Where an airport authority or other governing body 416 operating apublicly owned,public-use airport has not conducted 417 a noise study., neitherResidential construction andnorany 418 educational facilityas defined in chapter 1013, with the 419 exception of an aviation school facilityfacilities, are not 420shall bepermitted within an area contiguous to the airport 421 measuring one-half the length of the longest runway on either 422 side of and at the end of each runway centerline. 423 (e)(3)RestrictingIn the manner provided in subsection424(1), airport zoning regulations shall be adopted which restrict425 new incompatible uses, activities, or substantial modifications 426 to existing incompatible usesconstructionwithin runway 427 protectionclearzones, including uses, activities, or428construction in runway clear zones which are incompatible with429normal airport operations or endanger public health, safety, and430welfare by resulting in congregations of people, emissions of431light or smoke, or attraction of birds. Such regulations shall432prohibit the construction of an educational facility of a public433or private school at either end of a runway of a publicly owned,434public-use airport within an area which extends 5 miles in a435direct line along the centerline of the runway, and which has a436width measuring one-half the length of the runway. Exceptions437approving construction of an educational facility within the438delineated area shall only be granted when the political439subdivision administering the zoning regulations makes specific440findings detailing how the public policy reasons for allowing441the construction outweigh health and safety concerns prohibiting442such a location. 443(4) The procedures outlined in subsections (1), (2), and444(3) for the adoption of such regulations are supplemental to any445existing procedures utilized by political subdivisions in the446adoption of such regulations.447 (3)(5)Political subdivisions shall provideThe Department448of Transportation shall provide technical assistance to any449political subdivision requesting assistance in the preparation450of an airport zoning code.a copy of alllocalairport 451 protection zoningcodes, rules, andregulations and airport land 452 use compatibility zoning regulations, together with any related 453 amendments, to the department’s Aviation and Spaceports Office 454 within 30 days after adoption, and amendments and proposed and455granted variances thereto, shall be filed with the department. 456 (4)(6) Nothing inSubsection (2) does notor subsection (3)457shall be construed torequire the removal, alteration, sound 458 conditioning, or other change to, ortointerfere with the 459 continued use or adjacent expansion of, any educational facility 460structureor site in existence on July 1, 1993, or be construed461to prohibit the construction of any new structure for which a462site has been determined as provided in former s. 235.19, as of463July 1, 1993. 464 (5) This section does not preclude an airport authority, 465 political subdivision or its administrative agency, or other 466 governing body operating a public-use airport from establishing 467 airport zoning regulations more restrictive than prescribed in 468 this section in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare 469 of the public in the air and on the ground. 470 Section 4. Section 333.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to 471 read: 472 333.04 Comprehensive plans or policieszoning regulations; 473 most stringent zoning regulations to prevail where conflicts 474 occur.— 475 (1) INCORPORATION.—IfIn the event thata political 476 subdivisionhas adopted, or hereafteradopts,a comprehensive 477 plan or policy that regulateszoning ordinance regulating, among478other things,the height of buildings, structures, and natural 479 objects,and uses of property, any airport zoning regulations 480 applicable to the same area or portion thereof may be 481 incorporated in and made a part of such comprehensive plan or 482 policyzoning regulations,andbeadministered and enforced in 483 connection therewith. 484 (2) CONFLICT.—If there is aIn the event ofconflict 485 between any airport zoning regulations adopted under this 486 chapter and any other regulations applicable to the same area, 487 whether the conflict be with respect to the height of structures 488 or vegetationtrees, the use of land, or any other matter, and 489 whether such regulations were adopted by the political 490 subdivision thatwhichadopted the airport zoning regulations or 491 by some other political subdivision, the more stringent 492 limitation or requirement shall govern and prevail. 493 Section 5. Section 333.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to 494 read: 495 333.05 Procedure for adoption of zoning regulations.— 496 (1) NOTICE AND HEARING.—NoAirport zoning regulations may 497 notshallbe adopted, amended, or repealedchangedunder this 498 chapter except by action of the legislative body of the 499 political subdivision or affected subdivisionsin question, or 500 the joint board provided for in s. 333.03(1)(b)2.333.03(1)(b)501by the bodies therein provided and set forth, after a public 502 hearing on the adoption, amendment, or repealin relation503thereto,at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an 504 opportunity to be heard. Notice of the hearing shall be 505 published at least once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a 506 newspaperan official paper, or a paperof general circulation,507 in the political subdivision or subdivisions wherein which are508locatedthe airport zoning regulations areareasto be adopted, 509 amended, or deletedzoned. 510 (2) AIRPORT ZONING COMMISSION.—BeforePrior tothe initial 511 zoning of any airport area under this chapter, the political 512 subdivision or joint airport zoning board thatwhichis to 513 adopt, administer, and enforce the regulations shall appoint a 514 commission, to be known as the airport zoning commission, to 515 recommend the boundaries of the various zones to be established 516 and the regulations to be adopted therefor. TheSuchcommission 517 shall make a preliminary report and hold public hearings on the 518 preliminary reportthereonbefore submitting its final report.,519andThe legislative body of the political subdivision or the 520 joint airport zoning board mayshallnot holditspublic 521 hearings or take any action until it has received the final 522 report of thesuchcommission,and at least 15 days have elapsed 523shall elapsebetween the receipt of the final report of the 524 commission and the hearing to be held by the legislative body or 525 thelatterboard. Where a planningcity plancommission, airport 526 commission, or comprehensive zoning commission already exists, 527 it may be appointed as the airport zoning commission. 528 Section 6. Section 333.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to 529 read: 530 333.06 Airport zoning regulation requirements.— 531 (1) REASONABLENESS.—All airport zoning regulations adopted 532 under this chapter shall be reasonable andnoneshall not impose 533 any requirement or restriction thatwhichis not reasonably 534 necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. In 535 determining what regulations it may adopt, each political 536 subdivision and joint airport zoning board shall consider, among 537 other things, the character of the flying operations expected to 538 be conducted at the airport, the nature of the terrain within 539 the airport hazard area and runway protectionclearzones, the 540 character of the neighborhood, the uses to which the property to 541 be zoned is put and adaptable, and the impact of any new use, 542 activity, or construction on the airport’s operating capability 543 and capacity. 544 (2) INDEPENDENT JUSTIFICATION.—The purpose of all airport 545 zoning regulations adopted under this chapter is to provideboth546 airspace protection and land usesusecompatible with airport 547 operations. Each aspect of this purpose requires independent 548 justification in order to promote the public interest in safety, 549 health, and general welfare. Specifically, construction in a 550 runway protectionclearzone which does not exceed airspace 551 height restrictions is not conclusiveevidence per sethat such 552 use, activity, or construction is compatible with airport 553 operations. 554 (3) NONCONFORMING USES.—NoAirport protection zoning 555 regulations adopted under this chapter may notshallrequire the 556 removal, lowering, or other change or alteration of any 557 obstructionstructure or treenot conforming to the regulations 558 when adopted or amended, or otherwise interfere with the 559 continuance of any nonconforming use, except as provided in s. 560 333.07(1) and (3). 561 (4) ADOPTION OF AIRPORT MASTER PLAN AND NOTICE TO AFFECTED 562 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—An airport master plan shall be prepared by 563 each public-usepublicly owned and operatedairport licensed by 564 the departmentof Transportationunder chapter 330. The 565 authorized entity having responsibility for governing the 566 operation of the airport, wheneitherrequesting from or 567 submitting to a state or federal governmental agency with 568 funding or approval jurisdiction a “finding of no significant 569 impact,” an environmental assessment, a site-selection study, an 570 airport master plan, or any amendment to an airport master plan, 571 shall submit simultaneously a copy of said request, submittal, 572 assessment, study, plan, or amendments by certified mail to all 573 affected local governments. Forthepurposes of this subsection, 574 “affected local government” meansis defined asany city or 575 county having jurisdiction over the airport and any city or 576 county located within 2 miles of the boundaries of the land 577 subject to the airport master plan. 578 Section 7. Section 333.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to 579 read: 580 333.07 Local government permitting of airspace obstructions 581Permits and variances.— 582 (1) PERMITS.— 583 (a) A person proposing to construct, alter, or allow an 584 airport obstruction in an airport hazard area in violation of 585 the airport protection zoning regulations adopted under this 586 chapter shall apply for a permit. AAny airport zoning587regulations adopted under this chapter may require that a permit588be obtained before any new structure or use may be constructed589or established and before any existing use or structure may be590substantially changed or substantially altered or repaired. In591any event, however, all such regulations shall provide that592before any nonconforming structure or tree may be replaced,593substantially altered or repaired, rebuilt, allowed to grow594higher, or replanted, a permit must be secured from the595administrative agency authorized to administer and enforce the596regulations, authorizing such replacement, change, or repair. No597 permit may notshallbe issuedgrantedthat would allow the 598 establishment or creation of an airport hazard or that would 599 permit a nonconforming obstructionstructure or tree or600nonconforming use to be made or become higher orto become a 601 greater hazard to air navigation thanit waswhen the applicable 602 airport protection zoning regulation was adopted that allowed 603 the establishment or creation of the obstruction or thanit is604 when the application for a permit is made. 605 (b) Whenever the political subdivision or its 606 administrative agency determines that a nonconforming 607 obstructionuse or nonconforming structure or treehas been 608 abandoned or thatismore than 80 percent of the obstruction is 609 torn down, destroyed, deteriorated, or decayed, anopermit may 610 notshallbe granted that would allow the obstructionsaid611structure or treeto exceed the applicable height limit or 612 otherwise deviate from the airport protection zoning 613 regulations.; and,Regardless of whether an application is made 614 for a permit under this subsectionor not,the said agency may615by appropriate action, compelthe owner of the nonconforming 616 obstruction may be requiredstructure or tree, at his or her own 617 expense, to lower, remove, reconstruct, alter, or equip such 618 obstructionobjectasmay benecessary to conform to the current 619 airport protection zoning regulations. If the owner of the 620 nonconforming obstruction fails or refusesstructure or tree621shall neglect or refuseto comply with such requirement within 622order for10 days after noticethereof, the administrativesaid623 agency may report the violation to the political subdivision 624 involved therein, which subdivision, through its appropriate 625 agency, may proceed to have the obstructionobjectso lowered, 626 removed, reconstructed, altered, or equipped,and assess the 627 cost and expense thereof upon the owner of the obstruction 628objector the land whereon it is or was located, and, unless629such an assessment is paid within 90 days from the service of630notice thereof on the owner or the owner’s agent, of such object631or land, the sum shall be a lien on said land, and shall bear632interest thereafter at the rate of 6 percent per annum until633paid, and shall be collected in the same manner as taxes on real634property are collected by said political subdivision, or, at the635option of said political subdivision, said lien may be enforced636in the manner provided for enforcement of liens by chapter 85. 637(c) Except as provided herein, applications for permits638shall be granted, provided the matter applied for meets the639provisions of this chapter and the regulations adopted and in640force hereunder.641 (2) CONSIDERATIONS WHEN ISSUING OR DENYING PERMITS.—In 642 determining whether to issue or deny a permit, the political 643 subdivision or its administrative agency shall consider the 644 following, as applicable: 645 (a) The safety of persons on the ground and in the air. 646 (b) The safe and efficient use of navigable airspace. 647 (c) The nature of the terrain and height of existing 648 structures. 649 (d) The effect of the construction or alteration on the 650 state licensing standards for a public-use airport contained in 651 chapter 330 and rules adopted thereunder. 652 (e) The character of existing and planned flight operations 653 and developments at public-use airports. 654 (f) Federal airways, visual flight rules, flyways and 655 corridors, and instrument approaches as designated by the 656 Federal Aviation Administration. 657 (g) The effect of the construction or alteration of the 658 proposed structure on the minimum descent altitude or the 659 decision height at the affected airport. 660 (h) The cumulative effects on navigable airspace of all 661 existing structures and all other known proposed structures in 662 the area. 663 (i) Additional requirements adopted by the political 664 subdivision or administrative agency pertinent to evaluation and 665 protection of airspace and airport operations. 666(2) VARIANCES.—667(a) Any person desiring to erect any structure, increase668the height of any structure, permit the growth of any tree, or669otherwise use his or her property in violation of the airport670zoning regulations adopted under this chapter or any land671development regulation adopted pursuant to the provisions of672chapter 163 pertaining to airport land use compatibility, may673apply to the board of adjustment for a variance from the zoning674regulations in question. At the time of filing the application,675the applicant shall forward to the department by certified mail,676return receipt requested, a copy of the application. The677department shall have 45 days from receipt of the application to678comment and to provide its comments or waiver of that right to679the applicant and the board of adjustment. The department shall680include its explanation for any objections stated in its681comments. If the department fails to provide its comments within68245 days of receipt of the application, its right to comment is683waived. The board of adjustment may proceed with its684consideration of the application only upon the receipt of the685department’s comments or waiver of that right as demonstrated by686the filing of a copy of the return receipt with the board.687Noncompliance with this section shall be grounds to appeal688pursuant to s. 333.08 and to apply for judicial relief pursuant689to s. 333.11. Such variances may only be allowed where a literal690application or enforcement of the regulations would result in691practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and where the692relief granted would not be contrary to the public interest but693would do substantial justice and be in accordance with the694spirit of the regulations and this chapter. However, any695variance may be allowed subject to any reasonable conditions696that the board of adjustment may deem necessary to effectuate697the purposes of this chapter.698(b) The Department of Transportation shall have the699authority to appeal any variance granted under this chapter700pursuant to s. 333.08, and to apply for judicial relief pursuant701to s. 333.11.702 (3) OBSTRUCTION MARKING AND LIGHTING.— 703(a)When issuing aIn granting anypermitor varianceunder 704 this section, the political subdivision or its administrative 705 agencyor board of adjustmentshall require the owner of the 706 obstructionstructure or tree in questionto install, operate, 707 and maintain thereon, at the owner’shis or her ownexpense, 708suchmarking and lighting in conformance with the specific 709 standards established by the Federal Aviation Administrationas710may be necessary to indicate to aircraft pilots the presence of711an obstruction. 712(b) Such marking and lighting shall conform to the specific713standards established by rule by the Department of714Transportation.715(c) Existing structures not in compliance on October 1,7161988, shall be required to comply whenever the existing marking717requires refurbishment, whenever the existing lighting requires718replacement, or within 5 years of October 1, 1988, whichever719occurs first.720 Section 8. Section 333.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to 721 read: 722 333.09 Administration of airport zoning regulations.— 723 (1) ADMINISTRATION.—All airport zoning regulations adopted 724 under this chapter shall provide for the administration and 725 enforcement of such regulations by the political subdivision or 726 itsanadministrative agencywhich may be an agency created by727such regulations or any official, board, or other existing728agency of the political subdivision adopting the regulations or729of one of the political subdivisions which participated in the730creation of the joint airport zoning board adopting the731regulations, if satisfactory to that political subdivision, but732in no case shall such administrative agency be or include any733member of the board of adjustment. The duties of anany734 administrative agency designated pursuant to this chapter shall 735 includethat ofhearing and deciding all permits under s. 333.07 736333.07(1), deciding all matters under s. 333.07(3),as they 737 pertain to such agency,and all other matters under this chapter 738 applying to suchsaidagency, but such agency shall not have or739exercise any of the powers herein delegated to the board of740adjustment. 741 (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESS.— 742 (a) A political subdivision required to adopt airport 743 zoning regulations under this chapter shall provide a process 744 to: 745 1. Issue or deny permits consistent with s. 333.07. 746 2. Provide the department with a copy of a complete 747 application consistent with s. 333.025(4). 748 3. Enforce the issuance or denial of a permit or other 749 determination made by the administrative agency with respect to 750 airport zoning regulations. 751 (b) If a zoning board or permitting body already exists 752 within a political subdivision, the zoning board or permitting 753 body may implement the airport zoning regulation permitting and 754 appeals processes. 755 (3) APPEALS.— 756 (a) A person, a political subdivision or its administrative 757 agency, or a joint airport zoning board that contends that a 758 decision made by a political subdivision or its administrative 759 agency is an improper application of airport zoning regulations 760 may use the process established for an appeal. 761 (b) All appeals taken under this section must be taken 762 within a reasonable time, as provided by the political 763 subdivision or its administrative agency, by filing with the 764 entity from which appeal is taken a notice of appeal specifying 765 the grounds for appeal. 766 (c) An appeal shall stay all proceedings in the underlying 767 action appealed from, unless the entity from which the appeal is 768 taken certifies, pursuant to the rules for appeal, that by 769 reason of the facts stated in the certificate a stay would, in 770 its opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In such 771 cases, proceedings shall not be stayed except by order of the 772 political subdivision or its administrative agency on notice to 773 the entity from which the appeal is taken and for good cause 774 shown. 775 (d) The political subdivision or its administrative agency 776 shall set a reasonable time for the hearing of appeals, give 777 public notice and due notice to the parties in interest, and 778 decide the issue within a reasonable time. Upon the hearing, any 779 party may appear in person, by agent, or by attorney. 780 (e) The political subdivision or its administrative agency 781 may, in conformity with this chapter, affirm, reverse, or modify 782 the decision on the permit or other determination from which the 783 appeal is taken. 784 Section 9. Section 333.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to 785 read: 786 333.11 Judicial review.— 787 (1) AAnyperson,aggrieved, or taxpayer affected, by any788decision of a board of adjustment, or any governing body of a789 political subdivision,or the Department of Transportationor 790anyjoint airport zoning board affected by a decision of a 791 political subdivision,or itsof anyadministrative agency 792hereunder,may apply for judicial relief to the circuit court in 793 the judicial circuit where the political subdivisionboard of794adjustmentis located within 30 days after rendition of the 795 decisionby the board of adjustment. Review shall be by petition 796 for writ of certiorari, which shall be governed by the Florida 797 Rules of Appellate Procedure. 798(2) Upon presentation of such petition to the court, it may799allow a writ of certiorari, directed to the board of adjustment,800to review such decision of the board. The allowance of the writ801shall not stay the proceedings upon the decision appealed from,802but the court may, on application, on notice to the board, on803due hearing and due cause shown, grant a restraining order.804(3) The board of adjustment shall not be required to return805the original papers acted upon by it, but it shall be sufficient806to return certified or sworn copies thereof or of such portions807thereof as may be called for by the writ. The return shall808concisely set forth such other facts as may be pertinent and809material to show the grounds of the decision appealed from and810shall be verified.811 (2)(4)The court hasshall haveexclusive jurisdiction to 812 affirm, reverse, or modify, or set asidethe decision on the 813 permit or other determination from which the appeal is taken 814brought up for review, in whole or in part,and, if appropriate 815need be, to order further proceedings by the political 816 subdivision or its administrative agencyboard of adjustment. 817 The findings of fact by the political subdivision or its 818 administrative agencyboard, if supported by substantial 819 evidence, shall be accepted by the court as conclusive, and an 820noobjection to a decision of the political subdivision or its 821 administrative agency may notboard shallbe considered by the 822 court unless such objection was raised in the underlying 823 proceedingshall have been urged before the board, or, if it was824not so urged, unless there were reasonable grounds for failure825to do so. 826 (3)(5)In any case in which airport zoning regulations 827 adopted under this chapter, although generally reasonable,are 828 held by a court to interfere with the use and enjoyment of a 829 particular structure or parcel of land to such an extent, or to 830 be so onerous in their application to such a structure or parcel 831 of land, as to constitute a taking or deprivation of that 832 property in violation of the State Constitution or the 833 Constitution of the United States, such holding shall not affect 834 the application of such regulations to other structures and 835 parcels of land, or such regulations as are not involved in the 836 particular decision. 837 (4)(6)A judicialNoappeal to any court may notshallbe 838or ispermitted under this section until the appellant has 839 exhausted all of its remedies through application for local 840 government permits, exceptions, and appeals, to any courts, as841herein provided, save and except an appeal from a decision of842the board of adjustment, the appeal herein provided being from843such final decision of such board only, the appellant being844hereby required to exhaust his or her remedies hereunder of845application for permits, exceptions and variances, and appeal to846the board of adjustment, and gaining a determination by said847board, before being permitted to appeal to the court hereunder. 848 Section 10. Section 333.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to 849 read: 850 333.12 Acquisition of air rights.—IfIn any case which: it851is desired to remove, lower or otherwise terminatea 852 nonconforming obstruction is determined to be an airport hazard 853 and the owner will not remove, lower, or otherwise eliminate it 854structure or use; iforthe approach protection necessary 855 cannot, because of constitutional limitations, be provided by 856 airport regulations under this chapter; or if it appears 857 advisable that the necessary approach protection be provided by 858 acquisition of property rights rather than by airport zoning 859 regulations, the political subdivision within which the property 860 or nonconforming obstructionuseis located, or the political 861 subdivision owning or operating the airport or being served by 862 it, may acquire,by purchase, grant, or condemnation in the 863 manner provided by chapter 73,such property, air right, 864 avigationnavigationeasement, or other estate, portion, or 865 interest in the property or nonconforming obstructionstructure866or useor such interest in the air above such property, tree,867structure, or use, in question,as may be necessary to 868 effectuate the purposes of this chapter, andin so doing, if by 869 condemnation, mayto have the right totake immediate possession 870 of the property, interest in property, air right, or other right 871 sought to be condemned, at the time,andin the manner and form, 872 and as authorized by chapter 74. If the political subdivision 873 acquires anyIn the case of the purchase of anyproperty,or any874 easement, or estate or interest therein by purchase orthe875acquisition of the sameby the power of eminent domain, the 876 political subdivisionmaking such purchase or exercising such877powershall, in addition to the damages for the taking, injury, 878 or destruction of property,alsopay the cost of the removal and 879 relocation of any structure or any public utility that must 880which is required tobe moved to a new location. 881 Section 11. Section 333.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to 882 read: 883 333.13 Enforcement and remedies.— 884 (1) AEachviolation of this chapter orofany airport 885 zoning regulations, orders, or rulings adoptedpromulgatedor 886 made underpursuant tothis chapter isshall constitutea 887 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 888 775.082 or s. 775.083, and each day a violation continues to 889 exist constitutesshall constitutea separate offense. 890 (2) In addition, the political subdivision or agency 891 adopting the airport zoning regulations under this chapter may 892 institute in any court of competent jurisdiction an action to 893 prevent, restrain, correct, or abate aanyviolation of this 894 chapter, anyor ofairport zoning regulations adopted under this 895 chapter, orofany order or ruling made in connection with their 896 administration or enforcement, and the court shall adjudge to 897 the plaintiff such relief, by way of injunction (which may be 898 mandatory) or otherwise, as may be proper under all the facts 899 and circumstances of the case in order to fully effectuate the 900 purposes of this chapter and of the regulations adopted and 901 orders and rulings made pursuant thereto. 902 (3) The departmentof Transportationmay institute a civil 903 action for injunctive relief in the appropriate circuit court to 904 prevent violation ofany provision ofthis chapter. 905 Section 12. Section 333.135, Florida Statutes, is created 906 to read: 907 333.135 Transition provisions.— 908 (1) For those political subdivisions that have not adopted 909 airport zoning regulations pursuant to this chapter, the 910 department shall administer the permitting process as provided 911 in s. 333.025. 912 (2) By July 1, 2017: 913 (a) Any airport zoning regulation in effect on July 1, 914 2016, that includes provisions in conflict with this chapter 915 shall be amended to conform to the requirements of this chapter. 916 (b) Any political subdivision having an airport within its 917 territorial limits which has not adopted airport zoning 918 regulations shall adopt airport zoning regulations consistent 919 with this chapter. 920 Section 13. Sections 333.065, 333.08, 333.10, and 333.14, 921 Florida Statutes, are repealed. 922 Section 14. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 923 made by this act to section 333.01, Florida Statutes, in a 924 reference thereto, subsection (6) of section 350.81, Florida 925 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 926 350.81 Communications services offered by governmental 927 entities.— 928 (6) To ensure the safe and secure transportation of 929 passengers and freight through an airport facility, as defined 930 in s. 159.27(17), an airport authority or other governmental 931 entity that provides or is proposing to provide communications 932 services only within the boundaries of its airport layout plan, 933 as defined in s. 333.01(6), to subscribers which are integral 934 and essential to the safe and secure transportation of 935 passengers and freight through the airport facility, is exempt 936 from this section. An airport authority or other governmental 937 entity that provides or is proposing to provide shared-tenant 938 service under s. 364.339, but not dial tone enabling subscribers 939 to complete calls outside the airport layout plan, to one or 940 more subscribers within its airport layout plan which are not 941 integral and essential to the safe and secure transportation of 942 passengers and freight through the airport facility is exempt 943 from this section. An airport authority or other governmental 944 entity that provides or is proposing to provide communications 945 services to one or more subscribers within its airport layout 946 plan which are not integral and essential to the safe and secure 947 transportation of passengers and freight through the airport 948 facility, or to one or more subscribers outside its airport 949 layout plan, is not exempt from this section. By way of example 950 and not limitation, the integral, essential subscribers may 951 include airlines and emergency service entities, and the 952 nonintegral, nonessential subscribers may include retail shops, 953 restaurants, hotels, or rental car companies. 954 Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.