Bill > H0929

This bill creates new protections for members of the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes to construct chickees (traditional open-sided wooden huts with thatched roofs) in specific locations without local government interference. The bill prohibits counties and municipalities from enacting ordinances that prevent tribe members from building chickees in side yards (at least 10 feet from property lines) or near other structures (at least 10 feet away). It also updates the definition of chickees to allow for wooden decks and permits the use of non-wood fasteners and electrical or plumbing features with proper permits. The bill establishes a criminal penalty for non-tribe members who attempt to claim building code exemptions by constructing chickees, and provides an exemption from the Florida Fire Prevention Code for chickees that are either 20 feet from other structures or have approved fire-proofing measures. This legislation aims to preserve traditional tribal building practices while ensuring some basic safety and proximity guidelines, with the new provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/929