Jacksonville Landlord-Tenant Rules
Jacksonville adds local rules on top of Florida landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| State preemption | Florida law preempts the regulation of residential tenancies and the landlord-tenant relationship to the state, superseding local rules on matters covered by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (tenant screening, security deposits, application fees, lease terms, disclosures, landlord fees and notice requirements). Local rent control is also barred. Jacksonville has no local landlord-tenant ordinance of its own; state law (see the Florida page) governs. |
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| Local fair housing protected classes | Jacksonville's fair housing ordinance bans housing discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or age. Sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and age go beyond the federal Fair Housing Act. Source of income is not a protected class. Complaints go to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission within 1 year of the act (904-255-5397); a private lawsuit may be filed within 2 years. Exemptions include owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family homes rented without a broker, private clubs, and certain housing for older persons. The JHRC page cites both Chapter 60 and Chapter 408; the ordinance text itself was not read (Municode blocked). A JHRC 2019-2020 annual report omits age from the list, so the current list should be checked against Ch. 408. |
| Rental registration/inspection | No rental registration, rental license or routine rental inspection program was found. Rental units are covered by the general Property Safety and Maintenance Code (Ch. 518), enforced on complaint. Absence based on the Municipal Code Compliance page only. |
| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | Tenants can report unsafe rental conditions (for example plumbing that doesn't work, exposed wires, or holes in floors or ceilings) to the Municipal Code Compliance Division by calling (904) 630-CITY (2489), online through the MyJax portal under 'House or Unit Issues', or by email to myjax@custhelp.com. The division enforces the Property Safety and Maintenance Code (Ch. 518), which covers nuisances, unsafe structures and minimum housing standards. |
| Eviction diversion | The City-funded Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) pays up to 3 months of back rent (and certain utility and energy arrears) for eligible Duval County tenants facing a nonpayment eviction, if the landlord agrees. The landlord must start enrollment by signing a consent form and emailing it to evictioncoordinator@coj.net; tenants cannot enroll themselves. Eligibility includes Duval residency (including the Beaches and Baldwin), U.S. citizenship or legal residency, a short-term hardship after a consistent payment record, an eviction notice or filing, income at or below the ALICE threshold, a household member under 18 or a senior, and the ability to stay current afterward. If more than 3 months is owed, the tenant must pay the rest first. The Duval Clerk's county civil page describes eligibility more broadly: veterans, families with children under 18, seniors over 60, and disabled people. The two descriptions differ; the EDP site's age cutoff for seniors was truncated in the text read. Source: Official source |
| Local rental assistance | The City's Emergency Financial Assistance Program gives temporary help with rent, mortgage or utilities, paid directly to the landlord or utility, to Duval residents with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and a documented crisis such as an eviction or delinquency notice. Appointments open at 9:30 a.m. weekdays at (904) 255-2469, first-come, first-served, and people with court-ordered eviction notices get priority. Aid is limited to once in 24 months. Source: Official source |
Eviction cases in Jacksonville are heard in: Duval County Court (Fourth Judicial Circuit); filed with the Duval County Clerk, County Civil Department
Eviction court, fees and help
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
No. No right-to-counsel program for tenants was found. Official source
Local agencies
- Municipal Code Compliance Division — Investigates unsafe rental conditions and property maintenance violations. (904) 630-CITY (2489).
- Jacksonville Human Rights Commission — Takes housing discrimination complaints under the local fair housing ordinance. 904-255-5397.
- Social Services Division, Emergency Financial Assistance Program — One-time rent and utility help to prevent eviction. (904) 255-2469.
- Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program — City-funded back-rent assistance for eligible tenants whose landlords consent.
- Jacksonville Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal help, including eviction self-help resources, for low-income Duval County residents. (904) 356-8371.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Jacksonville add on top of Florida law?
State preemption: Florida law preempts the regulation of residential tenancies and the landlord-tenant relationship to the state, superseding local rules on matters covered by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (tenant screening, security deposits, application fees, lease terms, disclosures, landlord fees and notice requirements). Local rent control is also barred. Jacksonville has no local landlord-tenant ordinance of its own; state law (see the Florida page) governs.; Local fair housing protected classes: Jacksonville's fair housing ordinance bans housing discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or age. Sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and age go beyond the federal Fair Housing Act. Source of income is not a protected class. Complaints go to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission within 1 year of the act (904-255-5397); a private lawsuit may be filed within 2 years. Exemptions include owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family homes rented without a broker, private clubs, and certain housing for older persons.; Rental registration/inspection: No rental registration, rental license or routine rental inspection program was found. Rental units are covered by the general Property Safety and Maintenance Code (Ch. 518), enforced on complaint.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Tenants can report unsafe rental conditions (for example plumbing that doesn't work, exposed wires, or holes in floors or ceilings) to the Municipal Code Compliance Division by calling (904) 630-CITY (2489), online through the MyJax portal under 'House or Unit Issues', or by email to myjax@custhelp.com. The division enforces the Property Safety and Maintenance Code (Ch. 518), which covers nuisances, unsafe structures and minimum housing standards.
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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.