Most people understand a “nuisance” to be an annoyance, typically minor in nature but disruptive enough to require attention. When it comes to a governmental nuisance abatement board, however, this cannot be further from the truth; these boards regulate properties due to the drug, prostitution and violent crime that occurs there.

Florida Statute Section 893.138 authorizes local and county governments to form a nuisance abatement board to promote, protect, and improve the safety and welfare of its citizens against properties that intentionally or otherwise allow these types of crimes to occur at their premises. Nuisance activities include the recurring sale or possession of narcotics, gang activity, prostitution, murder and aggravated assault with a weapon, to name a few. Cities like Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, and counties like Hillsborough, Osceola and Manatee all have active nuisance abatement boards.