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Florida Statute 298.66 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 298.66 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 298.66 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
298.66 Obstruction of public drainage canals, etc., prohibited; damages; penalties.—
(1) A person may not willfully, or otherwise, obstruct any public canal, drain, ditch or watercourse or damage or destroy any public drainage works constructed in or maintained by any district.
(2) Any person who willfully obstructs any public canal, drain, ditch, or watercourse or damages or destroys any public drainage works constructed in or maintained by any district shall be liable to any person injured thereby for the full amount of the injury occasioned to any land or crops or other property by reason of such misconduct and shall be liable to the district constructing the drainage work for double the cost of removing such obstruction or repairing such damage.
(3) Any person who willfully, or otherwise, obstructs any public canal, drain, ditch, or watercourse, impedes or obstructs the flow of water therein, or damages or destroys any public drainage works constructed in or maintained by any district commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
History.—s. 5, ch. 6190, 1911; s. 52, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 5293, 5294; ss. 1-3, ch. 10110, 1925; CGL 1518, 1519, 7413-7415; s. 163, ch. 71-136; s. 28, ch. 79-5; s. 48, ch. 2010-205.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 298.66

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§298.66DAMAGE PROP-PUBLICDAMAGE DESTROY IMPEDE DISTRICT WATER FLOWF · 3rd
§298.66(2)DAMAGE PROPRENUMBERED. SEE REC #7035F · 3rd
§298.66(3)DAMAGE PROP-PUBLICDAMAGE DESTROY IMPEDE DISTRICT WATER FLOWF · 3rd

Cases Citing F.S. 298.66

Fla. Stat. § 298.66 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
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·Roach v. Loxahatchee Groves Water Control Dist., 417 So. 2d 814 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1982).

Cited 1 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 21194

...Although this section is not a model of clarity, we believe the Legislature intended to confer a right on landowners to build bridges across drainage canals. The Legislature, however, did not confer an unconditional right; landowner bridges must be built so as not to obstruct or destroy canals. § 298.66, Fla....
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Cited as authorityCastillo (2023)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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This Florida statute resource is curated by Florida Bar member Graham W. Syfert, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.