Fla. Stat. § 83.40 et seq. § 83.425
Preemption.
Operative Text
The regulation of residential tenancies, the landlord-tenant relationship, and all other matters covered under this part are preempted to the state. This section supersedes any local government regulations on matters covered under this part, including, but not limited to, the screening process used by a landlord in approving tenancies; security deposits; rental agreement applications and fees associated with such applications; terms and conditions of rental agreements; the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and tenant; disclosures concerning the premises, the dwelling unit, the rental agreement, or the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and tenant; fees charged by the landlord; or notice requirements.
Florida Statutes § 83.425 establishes that the state of Florida holds exclusive authority over residential landlord-tenant matters covered under Part II of Chapter 83. This means that cities, counties, and other local governments in Florida cannot enact or enforce their own rules on topics such as security deposits, rental application fees, lease terms, landlord and tenant rights, required disclosures, or notice requirements. Any local ordinance that conflicts with or duplicates these state-governed areas is superseded by this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Fla. Stat. § 83.425, property owners and managers operating in Florida need only look to state law — not a patchwork of city or county ordinances — when structuring their rental application processes, security deposit practices, lease terms, fee schedules, and required disclosures. A compliant operator generally aligns their policies with the statewide standards set out in Part II of Chapter 83, rather than attempting to track varying local rules. Staying current with state-level updates to these requirements is the primary compliance focus.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Fla. Stat. § 83.425 means that tenants in Florida have their landlord-tenant rights defined by state law, and local governments cannot layer on additional protections or restrictions in the areas this provision covers — such as application fees, security deposits, lease terms, and disclosures. If a tenant believes a landlord has violated one of these state-governed standards, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a relevant state agency, raising the violation as a defense in a court proceeding, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance. Understanding which state statutes apply to a specific concern is an important first step that tenant advocacy groups and legal aid organizations can help clarify.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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