Homeowners associations in Land O' Lakes and other unincorporated Pasco County communities could be spared future maintenance headaches under a proposed county ordinance that would ban wooden bridges on county roads.

Pasco County posted a Business Impact Estimate on Friday, July 10, 2026, for proposed ordinance PDE26-0949, which would amend the Land Development Code (LDC) in three areas: prohibiting wooden bridges, adding construction haul route requirements, and clarifying landscaping standards.

The county's planning department wrote in the impact estimate that "studies and experience show that wooden bridges deteriorate faster and require more maintenance than a bridge constructed of traditional concrete or similar substance, and many HOAs are being left with the maintenance bills/responsibilities after the developers leave."

The bridge ban would apply to all county roads in unincorporated Pasco County, which includes Land O' Lakes, Odessa, and Lutz. The ordinance would not affect areas of these communities that fall within Hillsborough County.

Construction haul routes

The same ordinance would require developers to submit a Construction Route Plan before breaking ground. Builders would also need to sweep or water roads used by construction trucks on a daily basis.

The county's impact estimate states that requiring haul route plans could save both residents and the county money on wear and tear to local roadways. Developers who damage roads during construction hauling would be responsible for repairs, though the county noted the cost would vary by project.

No new fees

The county stated the ordinance imposes no new fees on businesses or residents and creates no new regulatory costs for the county itself. The landscaping changes to LDC Section 905.2 are described as clarifications to existing requirements with minimal economic impact.

The county stated it cannot calculate the exact economic impact of the wooden bridge ban because each bridge involves different engineering designs, materials, and site preparation costs.

What's next

The ordinance has not yet received a confirmed public hearing date. Under Florida law, the Board of County Commissioners must hold at least one public hearing before adoption. The Pasco County Planning Commission met Thursday, July 9, 2026, one day before the impact estimate was posted. The BCC met Tuesday, July 14, 2026, but its agenda has not been confirmed to include this ordinance.

Residents can check for upcoming hearing dates at pascocountyfl.gov/government/agendas_minutes.php.