Housing · Rent control
Does Florida Have Rent Control?
Whether Florida caps how much rent can rise, whether cities can set their own limits or are barred from it, and the exemptions. Rent control is separate from the notice a landlord must give before an increase. Cited to the statute.
What the rent control law says in Florida
Whether rent increases are capped, who sets the limit, and the housing the rule does not reach.
| What the law says | What it means |
|---|---|
| Local rent control is barred | Florida Statutes section 125.0103, with section 166.043 for cities, provides that no county, municipality, or other local government may adopt or maintain a measure that has the effect of imposing controls on rents. The bar is flat, with no ordinary path for a local rent cap. |
| No statewide cap | Florida does not set a statewide rent limit. With local caps preempted and no state ceiling, rent is governed by the lease and the market, subject only to notice for a change. |
| What is exempt | What it means |
|---|---|
| Affordable-housing land use measures | A local government may still adopt land use tools, such as an inclusionary housing ordinance, to increase the supply of affordable housing. Those measures are allowed because they are not treated as controls on rent. |
| Former emergency exception removed | Before July 1, 2023, a local government could impose rent control for up to one year to address a declared housing emergency if voters approved it. The Live Local Act deleted that carve-out, so it is no longer available. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you are facing a rent increase in Florida. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Know that no cap applies
Because Florida preempts local rent control and sets no state limit, a landlord may raise the rent by any amount at renewal or when a month-to-month tenancy continues. Plan around the lease, not a legal ceiling.
- Read the increase terms in your lease
Your protection comes from the lease. During a fixed term the rent is locked at the agreed figure. Check when your term ends and what notice the lease requires before an increase can take effect.
- Confirm the notice was proper
A cap does not apply, but notice rules still do. Make sure any increase came with the notice your tenancy requires, and that a month-to-month increase takes effect only after that notice runs.
- Get Florida tenant help
If an increase or a notice looks improper, The Florida Bar consumer guide on tenant rights explains your options. The issue will turn on the lease and notice, since there is no rent limit to enforce.
If you think an increase breaks a cap or a local ordinance, a legal aid office or the state consumer-protection unit can tell you whether a limit applies to your unit.
→ The Florida Bar: Rights and Duties of TenantsThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Caps, local ordinances, and exemptions turn on the specific unit and city, so confirm your situation against the statute.
What renters in Florida get wrong about rent control
Florida bans local rent control across the board. Section 125.0103 covers counties and section 166.043 covers cities, and both say a local government may not adopt or keep any measure that has the effect of imposing controls on rents. For years there was a narrow exception, a one-year cap during a declared housing emergency that voters had to approve, but the 2023 Live Local Act deleted it. As of July 1, 2023 that path is gone, so no Florida county or city may impose rent control under any circumstances. The state adds no cap of its own, which means rent is set by the lease and the market everywhere in Florida. During a fixed term your rent is locked at the agreed amount, and after that a landlord may raise it by any figure with the notice your tenancy requires. Local governments can still use land use tools to encourage affordable housing, but those are not rent control.
Common questions
Does Florida have rent control?
Can my rent be raised any amount in Florida?
Yes, at renewal or when a month-to-month tenancy continues. Because no rent cap applies in Florida, the increase is governed by the lease and the market, not a legal ceiling, as long as proper notice is given.
Can a Florida city cap rent during a housing emergency?
No, not anymore. A one-year emergency measure approved by voters used to be allowed, but the 2023 Live Local Act removed that exception effective July 1, 2023. There is no local rent-control path today.
Is there a statewide rent limit in Florida?
No. Florida sets no statewide cap on rent. With local rent control preempted and no state ceiling, the rent amount is set by the lease and the market.
What protects me from a rent increase in Florida?
Your lease and the notice rules, not a rent cap. During a fixed term the rent is locked at the agreed amount, and any increase after that must come with the notice your tenancy requires before it can take effect.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.