Tenant rights in Florida.
A working reference for what Florida’s residential tenancy law actually requires — the kind of details a lease can’t legally override, and the citations that back them.
Regulator · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
Deposit must be returned within 15 days if no claim, or notice of claim within 30 days. Tenant has 15 days to dispute.
Florida Statutes §83.49 (Fla. Stat. §83.49)
Landlord must comply with all building, housing, and health codes; maintain plumbing, hot water, heat, structural soundness, and pest control.
Florida Statutes §83.51 (Fla. Stat. §83.51)
Landlord must give at least 24 hours' notice for entry, with reasonable purpose, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Florida Statutes §83.53 (Fla. Stat. §83.53)
Retaliatory conduct prohibited — eviction or rent increase within reasonable time after a tenant complaint to authorities is presumed retaliatory.
Florida Statutes §83.64 (Fla. Stat. §83.64)
Things a lease can’t change.
- Florida preempts local rent control — only in declared housing-emergency municipalities, and not currently in effect.
- No statutory cap on late fees, but courts strike down fees that are not a reasonable estimate of damages.
- FL §83.595 requires landlord to mitigate damages after early termination; lease cannot waive this.
Where to escalate.
Informational, not legal advice. Statutes change — verify current text before relying on a citation.