Do this today
- Write the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance.
- Keep texts, emails, or posted notes about entry.
- If you felt unsafe, that is a safety issue as well as a tenancy issue — 911 if someone is in danger.
- Do not change locks without confirming Florida rules and the lease.
What usually depends on the reason?
Emergencies, agreed-upon repairs, and showings to buyers or new tenants are often treated differently in Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. A national “24 hours” line is a rumor, not a rule we will print. The hour-count, if Florida has one, is in the chapter.
What if it keeps happening?
Repeated unannounced entry is worth a dated log. Whether Florida treats that as a breach, a privacy violation, or something a court can stop is a legal-aid question. The log is what you take them.
Does Florida Chapter 83 apply the same in Miami and Jacksonville?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is statewide. City and county code enforcement, and which county court hears the case, are local. Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Orange are different stacks. Confirm the county of the unit.
The Florida chapter
Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40 to 83.683) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Florida places residential tenancy rules in Part II of Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services maintains a landlord–tenant consumer page.
Florida cities and counties run code-enforcement programs for housing conditions, and some have local human-relations ordinances that add protected classes beyond federal fair housing law.
Official sources
- StatuteFlorida Statutes, Chapter 83 — Landlord and TenantOnline Sunshine, the Legislature's official statute publisher.
- State agencyFlorida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services — Landlord/Tenant Law in FloridaState consumer-resources overview for renters.
- Free legal helpFlorida Law Help — Your Rights as TenantsStatewide legal-aid guides and a provider finder.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant tableFla. Stat. §§ 83.40 to 83.683
- FederalHUD — Florida
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — Florida
Common questions
Can my landlord in Florida enter without notice?
Sometimes, for emergencies. For other reasons, Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act usually requires notice of some kind. We do not print an hour-count. Write down what happened and confirm the chapter.
Can I refuse entry in Florida?
It depends on the reason, the notice, and the lease. Refusing a lawful entry can become a lease issue. Ask legal aid before you change locks or bar a posted repair visit.
Does Florida Chapter 83 apply the same in Miami and Jacksonville?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is statewide. City and county code enforcement, and which county court hears the case, are local. Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Orange are different stacks. Confirm the county of the unit.
The national landlord entry guide has the full sequence. Open the landlord entry guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org