Breaking a Lease in Florida
Florida rules on breaking a lease for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act contains no domestic-violence lease-termination right; lease terms and federal VAWA (covered housing only) govern. Fla. Stat. ch. 83, part II (§§ 83.40-83.684)
The rules in Florida
| Ending a lease: domestic violence | No statute — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act contains no domestic-violence lease-termination right; lease terms and federal VAWA (covered housing only) govern. Checked the 2026 chapter table of contents and text. |
|---|---|
| Ending a lease: military, medical, death | Servicemembers may end a lease with at least 30 days' written notice, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's verification, for: permanent change of station 35+ miles away; early or involuntary discharge/release; release from active duty when the rental is 35+ miles from the home of record; orders or eligibility to move into government quarters; temporary duty or state active-duty orders over 60 days to 35+ miles away; or changed orders before move-in. Tenant owes only prorated rent to the termination date (nothing if terminated 14+ days before occupancy). If a servicemember dies on active duty, an adult immediate family member may terminate the same way with the death certificate. Cannot be waived. No statute for medical, senior, or general tenant-death termination (the landlord may recover possession after the last tenant's death under § 83.59(3)(d)). Applies to state active duty as well as federal service; broader than SCRA (e.g., 35-mile triggers). Source: Fla. Stat. § 83.682 |
Related questions
- Can I break my lease because of domestic violence?
- Can I break my lease for military orders, medical reasons or a death?
Florida vs. neighboring states
| State | Ending a lease: domestic violence | Ending a lease: military, medical, death |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | No statute — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act contains no domestic-violence lease-termination right; lease terms and federal VAWA (covered housing only) govern. Fla. Stat. ch. 83, part II (§§ 83.40-83.684) | Servicemembers may end a lease with at least 30 days' written notice, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's verification, for: permanent change of station 35+ miles away; early or involuntary discharge/release; release from active duty when the rental is 35+ miles from the home of record; orders or eligibility to move into government quarters; temporary duty or state active-duty orders over 60 days to 35+ miles away; or changed orders before move-in. Tenant owes only prorated rent to the termination date (nothing if terminated 14+ days before occupancy). If a servicemember dies on active duty, an adult immediate family member may terminate the same way with the death certificate. Cannot be waived. No statute for medical, senior, or general tenant-death termination (the landlord may recover possession after the last tenant's death under § 83.59(3)(d)). Fla. Stat. § 83.682 |
| Alabama | No statute — Alabama has no state law letting domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking survivors end a lease early. Ala. Code Title 35, Ch. 9A (checked) | No state-law early termination right found in the Alabama URLTA for military service beyond the federal SCRA, medical/disability, seniors, or tenant death. Ala. Code Title 35, Ch. 9A (checked) |
| Georgia | A tenant may end a residential lease when a civil family violence order, civil stalking order, criminal family violence order, or criminal stalking order has been issued protecting the tenant or the tenant's minor child (also available to a protected joint occupant). Give the landlord written notice with a copy of the order (plus a police report if the order is an ex parte temporary protective order); termination takes effect 30 days after notice. Tenant owes prorated rent to the effective date plus amounts already past due, but no other fees, rent or damages for the early termination; no damages if terminated 14+ days before move-in. Cannot be waived. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-23 | Service members (active duty in the regular or reserve armed forces, Coast Guard, or Georgia National Guard on federal orders of 90+ days) may end a lease on written notice effective at least 30 days after the landlord receives it, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's verification, for: permanent change of station 35+ miles away; release from active/state active duty when the rental is 35+ miles from the home of record; orders to, or eligibility for, government quarters (if staying would forfeit housing allowance); temporary duty or state active-duty orders over 60 days to 35+ miles away; or changed orders before move-in. Prorated rent only; nothing if 14+ days before occupancy. If the service member dies on active duty, an adult immediate family member may terminate with a death certificate. Cannot be waived. No state statute for medical, senior, or tenant-death termination was located. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-22 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Breaking a Lease in Florida FAQ
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Florida?
No statute — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act contains no domestic-violence lease-termination right; lease terms and federal VAWA (covered housing only) govern. (Fla. Stat. ch. 83, part II (§§ 83.40-83.684))
When can a tenant break a lease without penalty in Florida?
Servicemembers may end a lease with at least 30 days' written notice, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's verification, for: permanent change of station 35+ miles away; early or involuntary discharge/release; release from active duty when the rental is 35+ miles from the home of record; orders or eligibility to move into government quarters; temporary duty or state active-duty orders over 60 days to 35+ miles away; or changed orders before move-in. Tenant owes only prorated rent to the termination date (nothing if terminated 14+ days before occupancy). If a servicemember dies on active duty, an adult immediate family member may terminate the same way with the death certificate. Cannot be waived. No statute for medical, senior, or general tenant-death termination (the landlord may recover possession after the last tenant's death under § 83.59(3)(d)). (Fla. Stat. § 83.682)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.