(www.FloridaJobs.org/SpecialDistricts)
Welcome
Welcome to the Special District Accountability Program - Florida's centralized source of information about the 1,890-plus special districts in the state and their requirements. Resources and information are categorized as follows to help you find what you are seeking.
The Special District Accountability Program
Special districts serve a necessary and useful purpose by providing services to residents, businesses, and property. They generate billions in revenue for Florida's economy, create private-sector jobs, and have a substantial impact on the lives of every Floridian. As such, legislative objectives, through the adoption of Chapter 189, Florida Statutes - Uniform Special District Accountability Act (Act), include holding special districts accountable to state and local government and the citizens served, improving communication and coordination between state agencies with respect to required special district reporting and state monitoring, and ensuring consistent application of special district definitions across all levels of government. To accomplish these objectives and more and to administer the Act, the Act establishes the Special District Accountability Program (Program) and gives it related duties. To learn more, please see the Florida Special District Handbook, Chapter 2.
Information about Individual Special Districts and County and Statewide Data
- Official List of Special Districts: Search an online database to find up-to-date and uniform information about Florida's special districts. Users may access information through quick summary reports, select variables of interest to create customized reports, and download Excel spreadsheets. Available information includes each special district's official name, its registered agent and registered office, its independent or dependent status, its special purpose, the county or counties in which it has territory, and its official web address where additional information about the special district is posted.
Special District Requirements and Operating Procedures
- An Overview of Florida's Special Districts (February 2022): View a PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the general aspects of special districts. Covered topics include special district basics, transparency and accountability, and oversight and enforcement.
- Florida Special District Handbook: Review detailed information to help special district staff and governing body members comply with state requirements. Learn what a special district is, how special districts are created and dissolved and the difference between "dependent" and "independent" special districts. Additional popular topics include:
- Newly Created Special District Responsibilities (Chapter 3)
- Develop and Maintain an Official Website (Chapter 3)
- How to Change a Registered Agent and / or a Registered Office (Chapter 3)
- Reporting Requirements By Due Date (Appendix A)
- The Public Facilities Report (Chapter 7) - Included is information about the following schedule for use by a special district to determine when its public facilities report and updates to that report are due to the local general-purpose governments in which the special district is located:
Special District Accountability and Oversight
Questions or Concerns about a Special District?
The Annual State Fee (for special districts only)
Contact Information
- Special District Accountability Program Contact: (see the "Contacts" box in the upper right corner of this page).
- Mailing Address:
- Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
- Division of Community Development
- Special District Accountability Program
- 107 East Madison Street, MSC-160
- Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100