Fla. Stat. § 347.21
The county commissioners of any county in this state, whenever it shall have been made to appear to them that the convenience of the public requires the maintenance of a ferry for teams and passengers operated on regular schedules at frequent intervals across any river between any two points on opposite sides of the river in the same county, shall by resolution, grant a leave, license and franchise for the establishment, maintenance and operation of such ferry by a grantee or grantees named in the resolution, from a street or a public road on one side of the river to a street or a public road on the other side of the river; which leave, license and franchise shall vest in and be enjoyed by the grantee or grantees and the heirs, successors, and assigns thereof for the terms and on the conditions as in ss. 347.22 - 347.25 provided. The word "grantee," as used in said sections, shall include the heirs, successors, and assigns of the grantee, and the word "franchise" shall include leave, license, and all rights and privileges pertaining to ferries.
Fla. Stat. § 347.21