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Lighthouse Point is a small, affluent city in Broward County, Florida, situated along the Intracoastal Waterway just north of Pompano Beach. Although the city is known for its waterfront homes and boating community, a meaningful share of residents rent apartments, condominiums, and single-family homes in and around the area. Renters in Lighthouse Point most commonly search for information about security deposit returns, eviction notice requirements, and what protections exist against sudden rent hikes.
All residential landlord-tenant relationships in Lighthouse Point are governed by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, found at Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682. The City of Lighthouse Point has enacted no additional local tenant protections beyond what the state provides. That means renters here must rely entirely on Florida law for their rights around habitability, deposits, notice, and anti-retaliation protections.
This article is intended as an informational overview of tenant rights applicable in Lighthouse Point, Florida. It is not legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may involve facts that affect your rights. If you have an urgent housing problem, contact a qualified attorney or one of the legal aid organizations listed at the bottom of this page.
There is no rent control in Lighthouse Point, Florida — and local governments across the state are expressly prohibited from enacting it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which amended Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 to ban counties and municipalities from adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property. The governor signed the bill into law on March 29, 2023.
This statewide preemption directly overrode a voter-approved rent stabilization measure in Orange County and prevented similar measures from taking effect anywhere else in Florida. Because Lighthouse Point is a municipality within Broward County, both the city and the county are legally barred from passing any form of rent cap or stabilization program under the current state framework.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Lighthouse Point can raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide proper advance notice as required by your lease or by Fla. Stat. § 83.57. There is no limit on the size of a rent increase and no requirement that a landlord justify a rent hike. Renters on fixed-term leases are protected from rent increases until the lease expires, but month-to-month tenants are especially vulnerable to large increases with relatively short notice.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides several important protections for renters in Lighthouse Point.
Habitability (Fla. Stat. § 83.51): Landlords are required to maintain rental units in a habitable condition, including compliance with applicable building, housing, and health codes. This means the landlord must maintain the roof, windows, screens, plumbing, heating, and structural components, and must provide functioning facilities for trash removal. If a landlord fails to meet these obligations, tenants have remedies under Fla. Stat. § 83.56, including the right to terminate the lease or, in some circumstances, to withhold rent after providing the required notice.
Repair Remedies (Fla. Stat. § 83.56): Before pursuing any remedy for a landlord's failure to maintain the premises, a tenant must deliver a written notice giving the landlord at least 7 days to make the required repairs. If the landlord still fails to act, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement. Alternatively, if the issue is not severe enough to warrant termination, the tenant may pursue a court remedy. Tenants should document all written notices carefully.
Notice to Terminate (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): A landlord must give a month-to-month tenant at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, the required notice is 7 days. These minimums apply when there is no lease provision specifying a different period. Tenants must provide the same notice periods to their landlords when they wish to vacate.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a governmental agency about a code violation, organizing or joining a tenant union, or exercising any right protected by law. Retaliation includes increasing rent, decreasing services, or threatening eviction within a period that creates a presumption of retaliatory conduct. A tenant who successfully proves retaliation is entitled to actual and consequential damages, plus attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): A landlord is strictly prohibited from using self-help eviction tactics. Removing doors, windows, or locks; changing the locks without providing a new key; or intentionally interrupting or cutting off electricity, water, or other essential utilities in order to force a tenant out are all illegal acts. A tenant subjected to such conduct may recover actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Security deposit rules for Lighthouse Point rentals are governed exclusively by Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Florida imposes no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit, so landlords may require any amount they choose at lease signing.
How deposits must be held: Landlords who collect a security deposit must either hold it in a separate, non-commingled Florida bank account, post a surety bond, or hold it in an interest-bearing account. The landlord must give the tenant written notice within 30 days of receiving the deposit, identifying the financial institution where it is held, whether interest is accruing, and the rate if applicable (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(2)).
Return timeline — no deductions: If the landlord intends to return the full deposit with no deductions, they must do so within 15 days after the tenant vacates the unit.
Return timeline — with deductions: If the landlord intends to make any deductions, they must send the tenant written notice by certified mail within 30 days of the tenant vacating, itemizing every claimed deduction. The tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. If the tenant does not object within 15 days, the landlord may deduct the stated amounts and return the remainder.
Penalty for non-compliance: A landlord who fails to give the required 30-day notice of deductions forfeits the right to make any deductions from the deposit and must return it in full. A landlord who wrongfully withholds a deposit in bad faith may be liable for the full deposit amount plus damages (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)). Tenants should always provide the landlord with a forwarding address in writing when vacating to ensure timely return.
Evictions in Lighthouse Point follow the Florida statutory process set out in Fla. Stat. §§ 83.55–83.62. Florida law does not require just cause for eviction — a landlord may choose not to renew a tenancy for any lawful reason as long as proper notice is given.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, the landlord must serve the tenant with the appropriate written notice. The type of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Broward County Court. The tenant must be properly served with the summons and complaint.
Step 3 — Tenant Response: The tenant has 5 business days after service to file a written response (answer) with the court. Tenants who owe rent and want to contest the eviction must deposit the disputed rent amount into the court registry at the time of filing their answer (Fla. Stat. § 83.60).
Step 4 — Hearing and Judgment: If the tenant responds, the court schedules a hearing. If the tenant does not respond, the landlord may seek a default judgment. If the court rules for the landlord, a Writ of Possession is issued.
Step 5 — Writ of Possession: Once a Writ of Possession is issued and served by the Broward County Sheriff, the tenant has 24 hours to vacate. The sheriff may then return possession of the property to the landlord.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord in Lighthouse Point cannot lock out a tenant, remove belongings, shut off utilities, or otherwise force a tenant out without going through the court process. Any such conduct violates Fla. Stat. § 83.67, and the tenant may sue for actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of the law to any specific situation depends on facts that may differ from those described here. Residents of Lighthouse Point, Florida with specific legal questions or housing problems should consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact one of the legal aid organizations listed above. RentCheckMe makes no representation that the information on this page is current, complete, or applicable to your individual circumstances.
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