Fla. Stat. 157.11
Lateral drains may be established; commissioners may enlarge district or widen any drain; cost; proviso

Lateral drains may be established in like manner as main ditches, drains or canals. Such lateral ditches, drains or canals may be made a part of the original plat and survey of such main ditch, drain or canal, and may be in the original petition therefor, or may be established in like manner under the provisions of this chapter, at any time after the completion of such main ditch, drain or canal. Any drain or lateral that has been constructed, or which may hereafter be constructed, under the provisions of this or any prior act, shall be and remain under the exclusive control and direction of the board of county commissioners, and no drain shall be connected therewith or cut into the same without the consent of the board of county commissioners first obtained in writing, stating how such connection shall be made, and the connection shall then be made in such manner as the said board shall direct; and any person failing to observe the direction of the board in making such connection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. The said board of county commissioners may enlarge or extend any drain and drainage district, or deepen or widen any drain, and assess the property benefited and raise the money and pay the cost thereof under the same conditions and procedure provided herein for the establishment and construction of drains; provided, that a drain may be deepened and widened upon the petition of one-fourth of the owners of property, or the owners of one-fourth of the property originally assessed for the construction thereof. Any mistake, oversight, miscalculation or error in any proceedings had under this chapter may be corrected, and shall thereafter be deemed and held as valid and binding as if the same had not occurred.

Source: Section 157.11 — Lateral drains may be established; commissioners may enlarge district or widen any drain; cost; proviso, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0157.­11 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

157.01
Public ditch, drain or canal 157.02
Action on petition by county commissioners 157.03
Commissioners to appoint committee 157.04
Bond required before letting contract 157.05
Work done under supervision of committee 157.06
Committee to view land before letting contract 157.07
Where cost of construction exceeds estimated cost commissioners to assess difference 157.08
Assessments 157.09
Compensation of committee 157.10
Application to lateral ditches 157.11
Lateral drains may be established 157.12
Duty of bond trustees to borrow money to pay interest on bonds until collection of first assessment 157.13
Use of surplus of bond proceeds 157.14
Owner may pay whole tax in one sum 157.15
County commissioners may issue bonds to pay scrip 157.16
Enlarging drains and assessing cost 157.17
Assessment to maintain drains 157.18
Awarding contract for enlarging or repairing drains 157.19
Where actual cost exceeds estimated cost 157.20
Appointment of committee to view work and make assessments 157.21
Enlargement of drains 157.22
Repairing drains 157.23
Objections to report of committee fixing assessments 157.24
Commissioners may issue interest-bearing scrip against land to borrow money or pay for work 157.25
Compensation of committee 157.26
Repair and maintenance of drains under supervision of county commissioners 157.27
Proceedings for making repair to drains, etc 157.28
Awarding contracts for repair 157.29
Levy of tax for maintaining and repairing drains 157.30
Reassessment of lands where attempt to establish ditch or canal irregular 157.31
Notice of reassessment for drainage 157.32
Reviewing complaints and making assessment against property benefited 157.33
Issuance of scrip to take up former scrip or bonds 157.34
Reassessments to have effect as original assessment 157.35
Assessments conclusive after lapse of 6 months 157.36
Adjustment of drainage tax liens

Current through Fall 2025

§ 157.11. Lateral drains may be established; commissioners may enlarge district or widen any drain; cost; proviso's source at flsenate​.gov