Fake News: State Of Florida Did NOT Pass Law Which Makes Nudity Legal At All Public Beaches

Fact Check

  • by: Maarten Schenk
Fake News: State Of Florida Did NOT Pass Law Which Makes Nudity Legal At All Public Beaches

Did the State of Florida pass a law that makes nudity legal at all public beaches? No, that's not true: the story was put out in 2015 by a website that hides a satire disclaimer behind a footer link. The story went viral again in 2019 after it was reshared in several Facebook groups and pages.

The story originated from an article published by Empire News on July 8, 2019 titled "State Of Florida Passes Law Which Makes Nudity Legal At All Public Beaches" (archived here) which opened:

TALLAHASSEE, Florida-

The state of Florida has made a bold change to its laws concerning nudity at public beaches, and this one might ruffle some feathers. Beginning August 1st, full nudity will be legal at all public beaches - as long as you obtain a Florida State Nudity License (FSNL).

Governor Rick Scott approved the bill passed by the state legislature making public nudity at state-owned beaches legal, and he encourages tourists and residents to make use of new law. "Today is a great day. Not only will it be legal to hang out at the beach totally nude, but we encourage you do to so," Governor Scott said. "As long as you are a fairly attractive person, nobody is going to complain."

One part of the new law, which may be infuriating to some, is the weight limits for those who may strip down completely. "If you are overweight by more than twenty pounds, you will not be given a license.

Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail:

State Of Florida Passes Law Which Makes Nudity Legal At All Public Beaches

We found no trace of the mentioned legislation existing. And before heading to Florida you might want to check these laws first:

Florida Indecent Exposure Laws - FindLaw

Thank you for subscribing! Created by FindLaw's team of attorney writers and editors. Florida indecent exposure laws prohibit the display, exhibition, or exposure of an individual's sexual organs in a public place or while in public view. To prosecute a defendant for indecent exposure, the state prosecutor must establish the defendant's unlawful intent, the act of exposure, and the location of the act.

Here is an actual list of nude beaches in Florida you can go to and you don't even have to get a $10 license and submit a picture of your genitals to get in:

Top Nude Beaches in Florida | VISIT FLORIDA

It seems fitting that the Sunshine State would be a magnet for sun worshipers from around the world. Florida is much more than just a place for naturists to gather, says Ramon Maury, naturist industry representative and voice in Tallahassee.

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  Maarten Schenk

Lead Stories co-founder Maarten Schenk is our resident expert on fake news and hoax websites. He likes to go beyond just debunking trending fake news stories and is endlessly fascinated by the dazzling variety of psychological and technical tricks used by the people and networks who intentionally spread made-up things on the internet.  He can often be found at conferences and events about fake news, disinformation and fact checking when he is not in his office in Belgium monitoring and tracking the latest fake article to go viral.

Read more about or contact Maarten Schenk

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