Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 1.01 (2025)

Definitions.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session

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1.01 Definitions.—In construing these statutes and each and every word, phrase, or part hereof, where the context will permit:

(1) The singular includes the plural and vice versa.

(2) Gender-specific language includes the other gender and neuter.

(3) The word “person” includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations.

(4) The word “writing” includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. The word “writing” also includes information which is created or stored in any electronic medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(5) The word “oath” includes affirmations.

(6) Reference to any office or officer includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of such office.

(7) Reference to the population or number of inhabitants of any county, city, town, village, or other political subdivision of the state shall be taken to be that as shown by the last preceding official decennial federal census, beginning with the Federal Census of 1950, which shall also be the state census and shall control in all population acts and constitutional apportionments, unless otherwise ordered by the Legislature.

(8) The words “public body,” “body politic,” or “political subdivision” include counties, cities, towns, villages, special tax school districts, special road and bridge districts, bridge districts, and all other districts in this state.

(9) Crude turpentine gum (oleoresin), the product of a living tree or trees of the pine species, and gum-spirits-of-turpentine and gum resin as processed therefrom, shall be taken and understood to be agricultural products, farm products, and agricultural commodities.

(10) The term “natural barrier” when used with reference to the possession of real estate includes any cliff, river, sea, gulf, lake, slough, marsh, swamp, bay, lagoon, creek, saw grass area, or the like.

(11) The term “registered mail” includes certified mail with return receipt requested. The term also includes any delivery service by the United States Postal Service or a private delivery service that is regularly engaged in the delivery of documents which provides proof of mailing or shipping and proof of delivery.

(12) Whenever the terms “agriculture,” “agricultural purposes,” “agricultural uses,” or words of similar import are used in any of the statutes of the state, such terms include aquaculture, horticulture, and floriculture; aquacultural purposes, horticultural purposes, and floricultural purposes; aquacultural uses, horticultural uses, and floricultural uses; and words of similar import applicable to agriculture are likewise applicable to aquaculture, horticulture, and floriculture.

(13) The word “minor” includes any person who has not attained the age of 18 years.

(14) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under honorable conditions only or who later received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions, notwithstanding any action by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with other than honorable discharges. To receive benefits as a wartime veteran, a veteran must have served in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or during one of the following periods of wartime service:

(a) Spanish-American War: April 21, 1898, to July 4, 1902, and including the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion.

(b) Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, to April 5, 1917, in the case of a veteran who during such period served in Mexico, on the borders of, or in the waters adjacent to Mexico.

(c) World War I: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; extended to April 1, 1920, for those veterans who served in Russia; also extended through July 1, 1921, for those veterans who served after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921, provided such veterans had at least 1 day of service between April 5, 1917, and November 12, 1918.

(d) World War II: December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946.

(e) Korean War: June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955.

(f) Vietnam War: February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.

(g) Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, to January 2, 1992.

(h) Operation Enduring Freedom: October 7, 2001, and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law.

(i) Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 19, 2003, and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law.

(15) The term “wrecker operator” means any person or firm regularly engaged for hire in the business of towing or removing motor vehicles.

(16) The term “Administrative Procedures Committee” means a committee designated by joint rule of the Legislature or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(17) The term “Legislative Auditing Committee” means a committee or committees designated by joint rule of the Legislature, by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(18) The term “Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability” means an entity designated by joint rule of the Legislature or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(19) The term “Office of Economic and Demographic Research” means an entity designated by joint rule of the Legislature or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

History.—RS 1, 2064; GS 1, 2580; RGS 1, 3939; CGL 1, 5858; s. 1, ch. 16297, 1933; CGL 1936 Supp. 1(1); s. 1, ch. 17750, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 1365(43); s. 1, ch. 24139, 1947; s. 1, ch. 57-98; s. 1, ch. 61-486; s. 1, ch. 63-572; s. 1, ch. 69-195; s. 1, ch. 73-21; s. 1, ch. 78-10; s. 1, ch. 84-114; s. 8, ch. 88-33; s. 1, ch. 90-92; s. 1, ch. 92-80; s. 1, ch. 95-147; s. 3, ch. 96-224; s. 1, ch. 96-247; s. 1, ch. 98-121; s. 1, ch. 98-324; s. 1, ch. 2003-42; s. 1, ch. 2007-32; s. 10, ch. 2011-34; s. 1, ch. 2014-63; s. 1, ch. 2024-147.

Note.—Subsection (10) former s. 1.03.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 1.01

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd

§1.01(15)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDI

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 239 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1953–2026 · leading case: Childers v. State, 936 So. 2d 585 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006).

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Childers v. State, 936 So. 2d 585 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006). · cites it 11× “" A separate definition exists for "public body," "body politic," or "political subdivision," which are defined as including: "counties, cities, towns, villages, special tax *598 school districts, special roads and bridge districts, bridge districts and all other districts in…”

William R. Crews v. State of Florida, 183 So. 3d 329 (Fla. 2015). · cites it 8× “, § 1.01(6), Fla. Stat. (2015) (references to “office or officer” includes persons authorized to perform duties of the office); § 22.”

Miami Shores Vill. v. Cowart, 108 So. 2d 468 (Fla. 1958). · cites it 11× “" The Chancellor also found and declared that § 1.01A(18) of the Home Rule Charter, providing the methods by which a municipality may transfer to the Board a municipal service or function, "imposes no limitation or restriction upon the [Board] in the exercise of any of the…”

PNR, Inc. v. Beacon Prop. Mgmt., Inc., 842 So. 2d 773 (Fla. 2003). · cites it 2× “See § 1.01(1), Fla. Stat. (2002) (providing that the plural includes the singular where the context of the statutory provision allows).”

& SC16-400 Elizabeth White v. Mederi Caretenders Visiting Servs. of Se. Florida, LLC., & Americare Home Therapy, Inc., etc. v. Carla Hiles, 226 So. 3d 774 (Fla. 2017). · cites it 2× “1st DCA 2006) (interpreting “includes” in section 1.01(3), Florida Statutes (2002), expansively); Miami Country Day Sch.”

Zorc v. City of Vero Beach, 722 So. 2d 891 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998). · cites it 5× “011(8), when read in conjunction with section 1.01, Florida Statutes. Section 1.”

SunN Lake of Sebring Dist. v. McIntyre, 800 So. 2d 715 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001). · cites it 6× “See also § 1.01(8), Fla. Stat. (2000). The District is an independent special district as defined by the Uniform Special District Accountability Act of 1989.”

DeGrandy v. Wetherell, 794 F. Supp. 1076 (N.D. Fla. 1992). · cites it 4× “" Additionally, § 1.01(6), Fla.Stat. (1967) provided that "the words `Negro,' `colored,' `colored persons,' `mulatto,' or `persons of color,' when applied to persons, include every person having one-eighth or more of African or Negro blood.”

Daugherty v. Daugherty, 308 So. 2d 24 (Fla. 1975). · cites it 8× “On July 1, 1973, Fla. Stat. § 1.01 (14), F.S.A., changed the definition of "majority" and "minority" so that a minor was defined as "a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.”

City of Gainesville v. STATE, DOT, 778 So. 2d 519 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001). · cites it 2× “Under the express provisions of section 1.01, the definitions contained therein apply only where the context permits.”

Christina Daly, in her Off. capacity as Sec'y of the Florida Dep't of Juv. Just. v. Polk Cnty., Florida, & Seminole Cnty., Florida, political subdivisions of the State of Florida, 265 So. 3d 644 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018). · cites it 6× “01(3), Florida Statutes, which establishes how Florida Statutes must be generally construed, defines person to include “individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all…”

City of Parker v. State, 992 So. 2d 171 (Fla. 2008). · cites it 3× “I, § 1.01 (Feb. 8, 2007). Absent Parker's approval of supplemental ordinances, the tax increment revenues deposited into the trust fund are the only source of revenues pledged to repay the bonds.”

Show all 239 citing cases →

— 1.01(04) — 1 case

Martin Cnty. v. Makemson, 464 So. 2d 1281 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985).

— 1.01(1) — 16 cases

PNR, Inc. v. Beacon Prop. Mgmt., Inc., 842 So. 2d 773 (Fla. 2003). “See § 1.01(1), Fla. Stat. (2002) (providing that the plural includes the singular where the context of the statutory provision allows).”

Allstate Indem. Co. v. Hingson, 808 So. 2d 197 (Fla. 2002).

Champagne v. State, 269 So. 3d 629 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019).

Bd. of Pub. Instruction of Broward Cty. v. Doran, 224 So. 2d 693 (Fla. 1969).

Watts v. State, 440 So. 2d 505 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983).

— 1.01(10) — 1 case

City of Miami v. Lewis, 104 So. 2d 70 (Fla. 3d DCA 1958).

— 1.01(13) — 3 cases

State v. J.P., 907 So. 2d 1101 (Fla. 2004).

Vitra-Spray of Florida, Inc. v. Gumenick, 144 So. 2d 533 (Fla. 3d DCA 1962).

State v. JP, 907 So. 2d 1101 (Fla. 2004).

— 1.01(14) — 13 cases

Morris v. Div. of Ret., 696 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997).

Cronebaugh v. Van Dyke, 415 So. 2d 738 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982).

Nicolay v. Nicolay, 387 So. 2d 500 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980).

Hanley v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 334 So. 2d 11 (Fla. 1976).

Owens v. Owens, 415 So. 2d 855 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982).

— 1.01(15) — 1 case

Franzone v. State, 58 So. 3d 329 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011).

— 1.01(17) — 1 case

City of Opa-Locka v. Dade Cnty., 384 So. 2d 937 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980).

— 1.01(18) — 1 case

Levy v. Miami-Dade Cnty., 254 F. Supp. 2d 1269 (S.D. Fla. 2003).

— 1.01(24) — 1 case

State Ex Rel. Dade Cnty. v. Brautigam, 224 So. 2d 688 (Fla. 1969).

— 1.01(3) — 42 cases

Childers v. State, 936 So. 2d 585 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006). “" A separate definition exists for "public body," "body politic," or "political subdivision," which are defined as including: "counties, cities, towns, villages, special tax *598 school districts, special roads and bridge districts, bridge districts and all other districts in…”

& SC16-400 Elizabeth White v. Mederi Caretenders Visiting Servs. of Se. Florida, LLC., & Americare Home Therapy, Inc., etc. v. Carla Hiles, 226 So. 3d 774 (Fla. 2017). “1st DCA 2006) (interpreting “includes” in section 1.01(3), Florida Statutes (2002), expansively); Miami Country Day Sch.”

Christina Daly, in her Off. capacity as Sec'y of the Florida Dep't of Juv. Just. v. Polk Cnty., Florida, & Seminole Cnty., Florida, political subdivisions of the State of Florida, 265 So. 3d 644 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018). “01(3), Florida Statutes, which establishes how Florida Statutes must be generally construed, defines person to include “individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all…”

Belanger Ex Rel. Est. of Belanger v. Salvation Army, 556 F.3d 1153 (11th Cir. 2009).

Attorney Ad Litem for DK v. Parents of DK, 780 So. 2d 301 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001).

— 1.01(4) — 2 cases

Storey Mountain, LLC a/a/o Iberiabank v. Majestic Land Holdings, Inc. (Fla. 4th DCA 2023).

Hamilton v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 660 So. 2d 729 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995).

— 1.01(40) — 1 case

In Re Hall, 14 B.R. 186 (Bankr. S.D. Florida 1981).

— 1.01(5) — 1 case

Battle v. Gentry, 898 So. 2d 263 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005).

— 1.01(6) — 5 cases

William R. Crews v. State of Florida, 183 So. 3d 329 (Fla. 2015). “, § 1.01(6), Fla. Stat. (2015) (references to “office or officer” includes persons authorized to perform duties of the office); § 22.”

DeGrandy v. Wetherell, 794 F. Supp. 1076 (N.D. Fla. 1992). “" Additionally, § 1.01(6), Fla.Stat. (1967) provided that "the words `Negro,' `colored,' `colored persons,' `mulatto,' or `persons of color,' when applied to persons, include every person having one-eighth or more of African or Negro blood.”

In Re Senate Jt. Resolution 2G, 597 So. 2d 276 (Fla. 1992).

LaMorte v. State, 984 So. 2d 548 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008).

Platt v. Bd. of Pub. Instruction, 8 Fla. Supp. 116 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Lake Cty. 1955).

— 1.01(7) — 1 case

Calvin v. Jefferson Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 172 F. Supp. 3d 1292 (N.D. Fla. 2016).

— 1.01(8) — 7 cases

SunN Lake of Sebring Dist. v. McIntyre, 800 So. 2d 715 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001). “See also § 1.01(8), Fla. Stat. (2000). The District is an independent special district as defined by the Uniform Special District Accountability Act of 1989.”

Adams v. Sch. Bd. of St. Johns Cnty., 318 F. Supp. 3d 1293 (M.D. Fla. 2018).

Dept. of Revenue v. Canaveral Port Auth., 642 So. 2d 1097 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994).

Repub. Party of Miami-Dade Cnty. v. Davis, 18 So. 3d 1112 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009).

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—report 2016-06, 217 So. 3d 965 (Fla. 2017).

— 1.01(9) — 6 cases

ST. v. Falls Chase Spec. Taxing Dist., 424 So. 2d 787 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983).

In re Advisory Opinion to the Governor—Dual Off.-Holding, 630 So. 2d 1055 (Fla. 1994).

Johnson v. Wilson, 336 So. 2d 651 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976).

Andrews v. Pal-Mar Water Control Dist., 388 So. 2d 4 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980).

— 1.01(A) — 11 cases

Dressel v. Dade Cnty., 219 So. 2d 716 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969).

Buzzi v. Gomez, 62 F. Supp. 2d 1344 (S.D. Fla. 1999).

State v. Dade Cnty., 142 So. 2d 79 (Fla. 1962).

Hershell Gill Consulting Engineers, Inc. v. Miami-Dade Cnty., 333 F. Supp. 2d 1305 (S.D. Fla. 2004).

Pozdol v. City of Miami, 996 F. Supp. 2d 1290 (S.D. Fla. 2014).

— 1.01(A)(11) — 3 cases

Metro-Dade Fire Rescue Serv. Dist. v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 616 So. 2d 966 (Fla. 1993).

Metro. Dade Cnty. v. Metro-Dade Fire Rescue Serv. Dist., 589 So. 2d 920 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).

City of North Miami Beach v. Metro Dade Cnty., 405 So. 2d 204 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).

— 1.01(A)(14) — 3 cases

City of Hialeah Gardens v. Dade Cnty., 348 So. 2d 1174 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

Dade Ambulance Serv., Inc. v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 18 Fla. Supp. 2d 85 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 1986).

Yellow Cab Maxi-Taxi Co. v. Dade Cnty., 490 So. 2d 207 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986).

— 1.01(A)(14)(a) — 1 case

City of Hialeah Gardens v. Dade Cnty., 348 So. 2d 1174 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

— 1.01(A)(18) — 1 case

City of Hialeah Gardens v. Dade Cnty., 348 So. 2d 1174 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

— 1.01(A)(21) — 2 cases

Merrill v. Dade Cnty., 272 So. 2d 187 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973).

Vill. of Palmetto Bay, Florida v. Miami-Dade Cnty., Florida (Fla. 3d DCA 2024).

— 1.01(A)(3) — 2 cases

Miadeco Corp. v. Miami-Dade Cnty., 249 F. Supp. 3d 1296 (S.D. Fla. 2017).

City of Miami v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 407 So. 2d 243 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).

— 1.01(A)(5) — 1 case

Wolff v. Dade Cty., 370 So. 2d 839 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979).

— 1.01(A)(9) — 2 cases

Moviematic Indus. Corp. v. Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners, 349 So. 2d 667 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

Moviematic Ind. v. BD. OF CTY. COM'RS, 349 So. 2d 667 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

— 1.01(A)(a) — 1 case

Newman v. Eli Witt Co. (In Re Eli Witt Co.), 20 B.R. 778 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1982).

— 1.01(B) — 1 case

Merrill v. Dade Cnty., 272 So. 2d 187 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973).

— 1.01(D) — 2 cases

Bearden v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 258 So. 2d 344 (Fla. 3d DCA 1972).

Merrill v. Dade Cnty., 272 So. 2d 187 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973).

— 1.01(G) — 1 case

Kearney v. Cnty. of St. Lucie, 126 So. 2d 140 (Fla. 1961).

— 1.01(H) — 1 case

In Re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-report No. 2014-08, 176 So. 3d 938 (Fla. 2015).

— 1.01(a) — 5 cases

Boschen v. City of Clearwater, 777 So. 2d 958 (Fla. 2001).

City of Jacksonville v. Cook, 765 So. 2d 289 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000).

Est. of Adler v. Suntrust Bank, N.A. (In Re Am. Capital Corp.), 425 B.R. 714 (Bankr. S.D. Florida 2010).

Rushfeldt v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 630 So. 2d 643 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994).

Florida Water & Utils., Inc. v. Metro. Dade Cnty. Envirmonental Quality Control Bd., 46 Fla. Supp. 59 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Miami-Dade Cty. 1977).

— 1.01(a)(12) — 2 cases

Bennett M. Lifter v. METRO. DADE CTY., 482 So. 2d 479 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986).

Bennett M. Lifter, Inc. v. Metro. Dade Cnty., 15 Fla. Supp. 2d 60 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 1985).

— 1.01(a)(18) — 1 case

Miami-Dade Cnty. v. Vill. of Pinecrest, 994 So. 2d 456 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008).

— 1.01(a)(20) — 1 case

Buzzi v. Gomez, 62 F. Supp. 2d 1344 (S.D. Fla. 1999).

— 1.01(a)(ii) — 1 case

Est. of Adler v. Suntrust Bank, N.A. (In Re Am. Capital Corp.), 425 B.R. 714 (Bankr. S.D. Florida 2010).

— 1.01(c) — 1 case

Boschen v. City of Clearwater, 777 So. 2d 958 (Fla. 2001).

— 1.01(e) — 1 case

In Re Wheat, 149 B.R. 1003 (Bankr. S.D. Florida 1992).

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