Because a CDD is a unit of local government, it is subject to two of Florida's most important transparency laws: the Public Records Act (Chapter 119) and the Sunshine Law (Chapter 286). These are not optional guidelines; they are statutory mandates with enforcement mechanisms.
Public Records (Chapter 119)
What is a public record?
Under 119.011(12), a public record includes "all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency."
For a CDD, this means: budgets, meeting minutes, agendas, contracts, correspondence, financial reports, audit reports, engineering reports, and any other document created or received in the course of district business.
Access rights
Any person can inspect and copy public records during regular business hours. The district can charge the actual cost of duplication but cannot charge for the time spent locating or reviewing records (119.07(1)(a)).
CDD website mandate (189.069)
Every independent special district must maintain an official website containing specific information including: the district charter, contact information for the registered agent, meeting agendas and minutes, budgets, audits, and other items specified in 189.069(2). This is in addition to the general public-records-access rights under Chapter 119.
Sunshine Law (Chapter 286)
Open meetings
All meetings of the CDD board of supervisors must be open to the public (286.011(1)). A "meeting" includes any gathering, whether formal or informal, of two or more board members to discuss any matter that foreseeably will come before the board for official action.
This means two supervisors cannot discuss CDD business by phone, email, text message, or at a dinner party. If they do, it is a Sunshine Law violation.
Notice requirements
Regular meetings must be publicly noticed. For CDDs, the notice requirements come from 189.015 (special district meeting notice) and 286.011. Regular meeting schedules are typically adopted by resolution at the beginning of the fiscal year and published on the district website.
Minutes
Minutes of all board meetings must be taken and made available as public records. The minutes must be a summary of the proceedings, not a verbatim transcript (unless the board chooses to keep one).
Why this matters for district managers
District managers are the front line for public-records requests and meeting administration. When a resident asks "can I see the budget?" the answer is always yes: it is a public record. When a resident asks "when is the meeting?" the schedule should be on the website per 189.069. CDDStream can surface the statutory basis for these requests so your team gives the correct answer with the correct citation, every time.
CDDStream is software; it is not a law firm and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Verify specifics with your district counsel.