Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Florida City is a small but growing city in the southernmost part of Miami-Dade County, situated near the entrance to the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. With a significant share of residents who rent rather than own, many Florida City tenants rely on Florida's statewide landlord-tenant law for their core housing protections. Understanding those rights is essential — particularly given the area's rising housing costs and limited affordable rental stock.
Florida City has not enacted any local tenant protections beyond what state law requires, and under a 2023 state law, it cannot do so. That means renters here are governed entirely by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, found at Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682. This law addresses security deposits, habitability, eviction procedures, retaliation, and self-help eviction prohibitions — all of which apply equally to Florida City tenants.
This page explains your key rights as a renter in Florida City in plain language, with citations to the specific statutes that govern each protection. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you face an eviction, lease dispute, or other housing emergency, contact a qualified attorney or one of the legal aid organizations listed below.
Florida City has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which effectively banned all local rent control ordinances statewide. That law is codified at Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and Fla. Stat. § 166.043 (for municipalities). The legislation was enacted specifically to override local ballot measures — including one passed by Orange County voters in November 2022 — that had attempted to cap residential rent increases.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Florida City can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, with just 15 days' written notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.57. There is no cap on annual increases, no percentage limit, and no requirement that a landlord justify a rent hike. Florida City itself has no ordinance that limits, conditions, or regulates rent in any way.
Renters who are concerned about affordability should review their lease terms carefully, particularly renewal clauses, and budget for the possibility of significant increases at lease-end. If you believe a rent increase is being used as retaliation for a complaint you made about housing conditions, that may be illegal under Fla. Stat. § 83.64 — see the section on state protections below.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides the full set of tenant protections available to Florida City renters. The key protections are summarized below.
Habitability & Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51 & § 83.56): Landlords must maintain rental units in a condition that complies with applicable building, housing, and health codes. They must keep roofs, windows, screens, floors, steps, porches, exterior walls, and plumbing in good repair, and ensure working heating facilities. If your landlord fails to make a required repair after you give written notice, you may serve a 7-day written notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1) specifying the issue. If the problem is not fixed within 7 days, you may terminate the lease or pursue remedies in court.
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): See the dedicated Security Deposit section below for full details, including return timelines and penalties.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For a month-to-month tenancy, either party must give at least 15 days' written notice before the end of any monthly period. For a week-to-week tenancy, 7 days' written notice is required. These are the minimum notice periods — your lease may provide for longer notice.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not increase your rent, decrease services, or threaten or bring an eviction action against you in retaliation for: (1) complaining to a governmental agency about a housing code violation; (2) organizing or joining a tenant union or similar organization; or (3) exercising any right protected under the law. If a landlord takes such action within 60 days of a protected activity, the law presumes it is retaliatory. You may raise retaliation as a defense in an eviction proceeding or sue for damages.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): Landlords are strictly prohibited from using self-help eviction tactics. This includes removing doors, windows, or locks; cutting off electricity, water, or other utilities; removing your personal property; or otherwise interfering with your use of the premises. Violations entitle you to the greater of three months' rent or actual damages, plus court costs and attorney's fees.
Security deposit rules in Florida City are governed entirely by Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Florida law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit — your landlord may require any amount agreed upon in the lease.
Return Timeline: After you vacate, your landlord has two possible deadlines depending on whether they plan to make deductions:
Penalty for Non-Compliance: A landlord who fails to give the required 30-day notice forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit for damages (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a)). In addition, if the landlord wrongfully withholds the deposit, you may sue for the amount wrongfully retained plus court costs. Keep documentation of the property's condition at move-in and move-out — photographs, written records, and the landlord's written acknowledgment of your deposit — as this evidence is critical in any dispute.
Holding Requirement: Landlords must hold security deposits either in a separate non-interest-bearing Florida bank account, a separate interest-bearing Florida bank account (with interest paid to the tenant or held per the lease), or post a surety bond. The landlord must notify you in writing within 30 days of receiving the deposit which method is being used (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(1)–(2)).
Evictions in Florida City follow the procedures set out in Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.625). Florida does not require just cause for eviction — a landlord may decline to renew a lease at the end of its term or terminate a month-to-month tenancy with proper notice, without providing a reason. However, the landlord must strictly follow the required procedures.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve you with written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If you do not comply with the notice or vacate, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Miami-Dade County Court. You will be served with a summons and have 5 business days to file a written response (Fla. Stat. § 83.60). Failure to respond may result in a default judgment.
Step 3 — Hearing & Judgment: If you file a response, the court will schedule a hearing. If the eviction is based on non-payment of rent and you are contesting it, you may be required to deposit the disputed rent into the court registry (Fla. Stat. § 83.60(2)). If the judge rules for the landlord, a Writ of Possession will be issued.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office serves the Writ of Possession, giving you 24 hours to vacate before the landlord can re-enter. Only the sheriff may enforce an eviction — the landlord cannot physically remove you or your belongings.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord who locks you out, removes your belongings, or shuts off utilities to force you out — without a court order — violates Fla. Stat. § 83.67 and may owe you three months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees. If this happens, call law enforcement and contact legal aid immediately.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Florida City and Florida state law may be amended after the last-updated date shown on this page. Renters should verify current rules with a qualified attorney or a local legal aid organization before making any decisions based on this content. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by accessing or using this site.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.