Last updated: April 2026
Orlando renters are protected by Florida state law on security deposits, habitability, eviction notice, and illegal lockouts — but there is no rent control anywhere in Florida. Here is what you need to know.
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Orlando is one of Florida's fastest-growing cities, home to more than 300,000 residents in Orange County, with a significant share of the population renting in a competitive housing market. As demand for rental housing has surged alongside the region's booming tourism and tech sectors, understanding tenant rights has become increasingly important for Orlando renters navigating lease terms, security deposits, and potential eviction.
Florida state law, primarily the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.683), governs the rights of virtually all residential renters in Orlando. There are no additional local ordinances in the City of Orlando or Orange County that provide protections beyond state law. This means your key protections — around deposits, habitability, notice, anti-retaliation, and illegal lockouts — all come from state statute.
This page is intended as a factual, educational overview of the tenant rights laws applicable to Orlando renters. It is not legal advice. Laws can change, and every tenancy has unique facts. If you have a specific legal issue, consult a licensed Florida attorney or a local legal aid organization.
Orlando has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits any local government from enacting it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which amended Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and related provisions to expressly ban counties and municipalities from adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property.
This law directly overturned a November 2022 Orange County ballot measure in which voters had approved a rent stabilization ordinance. Despite that local democratic vote, the state legislature invalidated the measure before it took effect. As a result, Orlando renters have no protection against rent increases of any amount, at any frequency, as long as the landlord provides proper notice before the increase takes effect at the end of a lease term or rental period.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Orlando can raise your rent by any amount when your lease expires or, for month-to-month tenants, with at least 15 days' written notice before the next rental period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57). There is no cap, no required justification, and no local authority you can appeal to for rent relief.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.683) provides Orlando renters with a meaningful set of baseline protections covering habitability, deposits, notice, retaliation, and illegal landlord conduct.
Habitability & Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51): Landlords must maintain rental units in compliance with building, housing, and health codes and must keep the premises structurally sound, with working plumbing, heating, and pest-free conditions. If your landlord fails to make essential repairs, you must first serve a written 7-day notice (for non-compliance affecting your health or safety) under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1). If the landlord still does not act, you may be entitled to terminate the lease or pursue damages in court.
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must hold security deposits in a Florida bank account (or post a surety bond) and must notify you in writing within 30 days of where the deposit is held. If no deductions are made, the deposit must be returned within 15 days after you vacate. If the landlord intends to make deductions, written notice must be sent within 30 days; you then have 15 days to object in writing. Failure to comply with these procedures forfeits the landlord's right to retain any portion of the deposit.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For month-to-month tenancies, your landlord must give at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a monthly period. Week-to-week tenants are entitled to at least 7 days' notice. These are minimum notice periods; your lease may provide for longer notice.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): It is unlawful for a landlord to increase rent, reduce services, or threaten or file an eviction in retaliation for a tenant complaining to a housing authority or inspector, joining or organizing a tenant union, or exercising any legal right. If retaliation is proven, you may recover actual damages, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Prohibition on Lockouts & Utility Shutoffs (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): A landlord cannot remove doors, windows, or locks, shut off your utilities, or remove your personal property as a means of forcing you to leave. Such conduct is illegal regardless of whether you owe rent. Violations entitle you to actual and consequential damages plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Florida law under Fla. Stat. § 83.49 governs every aspect of how Orlando landlords must handle security deposits. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord can charge as a security deposit in Florida — landlords may charge any amount agreed upon in the lease.
Holding requirements: Within 30 days of receiving your deposit, your landlord must notify you in writing of the name and address of the Florida financial institution where your deposit is held, or confirm that a surety bond has been posted. Failure to provide this notice is itself a violation.
Return timeline — no deductions: If the landlord makes no deductions, the full deposit must be returned to you within 15 days after the tenancy ends and you have vacated the unit.
Return timeline — with deductions: If the landlord intends to withhold any portion, they must send you written notice of the claim by certified mail within 30 days of you vacating. You then have 15 days from receipt of that notice to object in writing. If you do not object, the landlord may deduct the claimed amounts. If you do object, the dispute must be resolved in court.
Penalty for non-compliance: A landlord who fails to send the required written notice of deductions within 30 days forfeits all right to retain any portion of the deposit and must return the full amount. Courts may also award attorney's fees to a prevailing tenant (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)).
Orlando evictions are governed by Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.62) and must follow a specific legal process. There is no just cause requirement in Florida or Orlando — landlords may end a month-to-month tenancy for any reason with proper notice, but they must use the courts to remove a tenant; self-help eviction is illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing with the court, a landlord must deliver a written notice to the tenant. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Court Filing: If you do not pay, vacate, or cure by the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (unlawful detainer) in Orange County Court. You will be served with a summons and typically have 5 business days to file a written response (answer).
Step 3 — Hearing & Judgment: If you file an answer, the court schedules a hearing. If you do not respond, the landlord may receive a default judgment. If the court rules for the landlord, a Writ of Possession is issued.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: The Orange County Sheriff's Office enforces the Writ of Possession, giving you 24 hours' notice to vacate before physically removing you.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Fla. Stat. § 83.67, a landlord may not lock you out, remove your belongings, shut off utilities, or interfere with your access to the unit outside of the court process. Doing so entitles you to sue for actual damages plus attorney's fees.
No. Orlando has no rent control, and Florida state law prohibits any city or county from enacting it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, amending Fla. Stat. § 125.0103, which invalidated even the Orange County rent stabilization measure that voters approved in November 2022. Landlords in Orlando may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
There is no limit on how much a landlord can raise rent in Orlando. Florida law imposes no cap on rent increases. For month-to-month tenants, a landlord must provide at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a rental period before a rent increase takes effect (Fla. Stat. § 83.57). For fixed-term leases, the landlord may propose a new rent when the lease expires.
If your landlord makes no deductions, your full deposit must be returned within 15 days after you vacate (Fla. Stat. § 83.49). If the landlord intends to withhold any amount, they must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days. Failure to send timely written notice forfeits the landlord's right to make any deductions, and you are entitled to the full deposit back.
The required notice depends on the reason for eviction. For non-payment of rent, you must receive a 3-day written notice to pay or vacate (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)), not counting weekends or legal holidays. For lease violations, a 7-day notice to cure is required (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(2)). For a no-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give 15 days' written notice before the end of the rental period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57).
No. Under Fla. Stat. § 83.67, it is illegal for a landlord to lock you out, remove doors or windows, shut off your utilities, or remove your personal property as a means of forcing you to leave — even if you are behind on rent. These are called self-help evictions and are prohibited. If your landlord does this, you can sue for actual and consequential damages plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Florida law requires landlords to maintain rental units in a habitable condition (Fla. Stat. § 83.51). If your landlord refuses to make essential repairs, you must first deliver a written 7-day notice specifying the problem and demanding repair (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1)). If no action is taken within 7 days, you may have the right to terminate the lease or file a lawsuit for damages. Document everything in writing and keep copies of all notices.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. If you have a legal issue with your landlord or are facing eviction, you should consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a local legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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