DeSantis Signs Law Curbing Inflated RV Park Fees in Treasure Coast Counties

Florida law now bars Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties from calculating certain property fees on RV parks as if each campsite were a fully occupied home — a formula critics said produced inflated charges out of step with how the properties actually operate.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 118 into law Wednesday, restricting how counties, cities, and special districts levy non-ad valorem special assessments on regulated RV parks. Those fees fund local services and infrastructure improvements tied to specific properties. The law took effect immediately upon signing and will first apply to the 2026 property tax roll.

Under the new rules, local governments must treat RV parks as commercial properties — in the same category as hotels or motels — rather than as clusters of residential units. The distinction matters because some local assessment formulas counted each campsite as a fully occupied residence, even when sites sat vacant for stretches of the year or included land that extended well beyond the footprint of a parked RV.

The law caps how much square footage can be counted per space, barring governments from assessing any portion of a campsite that exceeds the maximum physical size of a recreational vehicle unit. Local officials must also factor in actual occupancy rates when apportioning costs.

The Florida Association of Counties, while acknowledging the law aims to standardize assessment practices statewide, warned it carries fiscal implications. Counties and cities that have relied on square-footage-based formulas may have to rework their methodologies, potentially shrinking the revenue they collect from RV parks where sites exceed the new size cap. Tracking occupancy rates will also add administrative demands, requiring local officials to obtain usage data directly from park operators.

SB 118 passed the Senate 40-0 on March 12. The House cleared a companion bill 111-1, with Dade City Republican Rep. Kevin Steele casting the lone dissenting vote. Tavares Republican Sen. Keith Truenow sponsored the legislation and the Florida RV Park and Campground Association backed it.

The Treasure Coast is home to a cluster of RV parks and campgrounds along its coastline and inland waterways, many of which operate seasonally — precisely the usage pattern the new occupancy-rate requirement is designed to reflect. Local budget offices in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties will need to audit their current assessment formulas before the 2026 tax roll to determine whether changes are required, public documents indicate.

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