Broward County Florida Government: Structure, Services, and Resources

Broward County operates as one of Florida's 67 chartered counties under the framework established by the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes Chapter 125. With a population exceeding 1.9 million residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census), Broward ranks as the second most populous county in Florida and the 17th most populous county in the United States. This page covers the county's governmental structure, administrative functions, service delivery mechanisms, and the jurisdictional boundaries that define what Broward County government does and does not govern.

Definition and scope

Broward County is a charter county, meaning it operates under a home-rule charter adopted by voters rather than solely under general state law. The charter, originally adopted in 1975, grants the county broader self-governance authority than non-charter counties receive under Florida Statutes Chapter 125. This structure allows the Broward County Commission to exercise powers not expressly prohibited by state law or the charter itself.

The county seat is Fort Lauderdale. Broward County encompasses 31 incorporated municipalities — including Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach — along with unincorporated areas governed directly by the county commission. The county's land area covers approximately 1,209 square miles, of which a significant portion falls within the Everglades or otherwise protected conservation land.

Broward County government is distinct from the governments of its 31 municipalities. Municipal governments administer their own zoning, local ordinances, and municipal services within city limits. County government provides services county-wide, fills service gaps in unincorporated areas, and administers state-mandated functions regardless of municipal boundaries. For a broader comparison of how Florida county government is structured across all 67 counties, see Florida County Government Structure.

How it works

Broward County government operates under a commission-administrator model. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) consists of 9 members elected from single-member districts to staggered four-year terms. The BCC sets policy, adopts the annual budget, enacts county ordinances, and appoints the County Administrator, County Attorney, and County Auditor.

The County Administrator functions as the chief executive for day-to-day operations, overseeing more than 30 county divisions and agencies. This separation between elected policy-setting (the BCC) and appointed professional administration is a defining feature of Broward's charter government.

Key constitutional officers operate independently of the BCC. These offices — established under Article VIII of the Florida Constitution — include:

  1. Sheriff — Law enforcement for unincorporated areas and county detention facilities; the Broward Sheriff's Office also contracts services to incorporated municipalities.
  2. Property Appraiser — Determines taxable value of all real and tangible personal property in the county for ad valorem tax purposes.
  3. Tax Collector — Collects property taxes, issues motor vehicle registrations, and processes concealed weapon license applications as a state-delegated function.
  4. Supervisor of Elections — Administers voter registration, maintains the voter roll, and conducts all federal, state, and local elections within the county (Florida Division of Elections, F.S. §98.015).
  5. Clerk of Courts — Maintains court records, processes civil and criminal filings, and serves as county comptroller and auditor of public funds under Florida Statutes §28.

The Broward County budget for Fiscal Year 2023 totaled approximately $5.7 billion across all funds (Broward County Office of Management and Budget, FY2023 Adopted Budget). General Fund revenues are primarily funded through property taxes, state revenue sharing, and charges for services.

Common scenarios

Residents and professionals interact with Broward County government across a defined set of recurring administrative and service scenarios:

Decision boundaries

Scope and coverage: This page covers Broward County government specifically — its charter structure, constitutional officers, and county-administered services. It does not cover the governance of Broward's 31 incorporated municipalities, which operate under separate city charters or general law. Federal programs administered locally (such as HUD community development grants or FEMA flood mapping) fall under federal jurisdiction even when delivered through county channels.

What Broward County government does not control:
- State agency offices located in Broward County (e.g., regional offices of the Florida Department of Transportation or the Florida Department of Health) operate under state authority, not county authority.
- School governance is vested in the Broward County School Board, a constitutionally independent entity under Article IX of the Florida Constitution, separate from the BCC.
- Water management in Broward County falls primarily under the South Florida Water Management District (Florida Water Management Districts), a state-created regional body with independent taxing authority.

Broward vs. adjacent counties: Broward County borders Miami-Dade County to the south and Palm Beach County to the north. Jurisdictional questions involving properties or incidents at county boundaries are resolved by the statutory boundaries defined in Florida Statutes §7.28. For Miami-Dade government reference, see Miami-Dade County Florida. For a broader orientation to Florida's statewide government landscape, the Florida Government Authority home page provides the full structural overview across all branches and counties.

References