Highlands County, FL Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Highlands County Code § 3-5
- Covered property
- County-owned, leased or maintained land, not highways
- Exempt venues
- 8 named community centers, non-child events
- Enforcing agency
- Highlands County Sheriff's Office
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail
Summary
Unincorporated Highlands County bans drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol on county property under Code § 3-5, with exceptions for board-approved events and eight named community facilities such as the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center and the Sun 'n Lakes Community Building. The Sheriff's Office enforces the ban; violators face up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
(a)Policy and intent. ... It is the intent of the board of county commissioners to prohibit consumption of alcoholic beverages and the possession of any open container while on county property, except as specifically permitted in the exceptions set forth herein. ... (c)Prohibitions. No person shall drink from nor have in his or her possession any open container containing any alcoholic beverage while in or on county property except as specifically permitted in the exceptions set forth herein. ... (f)Penalty. Any person convicted of violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 60 days, or both such fine and imprisonment for each such offense.
Full Breakdown
Section 3-5 of the Highlands County Code states the Board of County Commissioners' intent to prohibit consumption of alcoholic beverages and possession of any open container on county property, defined as land owned, leased, or maintained by the county other than a public highway. An open container is any bottle, can, or receptacle holding an alcoholic beverage, defined as anything more than one percent alcohol by weight, that has been opened, had its seal broken, or had its contents partially removed. The ban does not reach every county facility: the Board can grant a temporary exception in advance of a specific event at a specific property, with notice to the Sheriff's Office, and the ordinance separately lists eight facilities where drinking is allowed without a board exception whenever the event's primary focus is not children and the facility's own use rules are followed, including the Bert J.
Harris, Jr. L. Bishop Park Clubhouse, the Highlands County Multi-Sports Complex, Highlands Park Estates Clubhouse, the Lorida Community Center, Placid Lakes Community Building, and Sun 'n Lakes Community Building. The ordinance also exempts anyone collecting empty containers for their deposit value or as part of a litter control campaign. All law enforcement officers, meaning the Sheriff's Office in unincorporated Highlands County, are charged with enforcing section 3-5.
Violations & Fines
A conviction under section 3-5 carries a fine of up to $500.00, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, with each violation treated as a separate offense. The identical fine and jail exposure apply to a vendor who fails to post the required alcohol health-warning sign under section 3-3, since each day the sign stays missing is its own separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink alcohol at a Highlands County park or community building?
What counts as an open container under the county ordinance?
Who enforces the county's open container rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida public conduct overview
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