Florida Rental Fee Rules
Florida rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute caps or regulates residential rental application or screening fees. Since 2023, local governments are preempted from regulating rental applications, screening and application fees. Fla. Stat. § 83.425
The rules in Florida
| Application / screening fees | No statute caps or regulates residential rental application or screening fees. Since 2023, local governments are preempted from regulating rental applications, screening and application fees. § 83.425 added by ch. 2023-314. Servicemember applicants have special rules on rental applications (§ 83.683). No portable-screening-report statute found. Source: Fla. Stat. § 83.425 |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | No general statutory cap on late fees or other rental fees. Specific rules: an optional fee in lieu of a security deposit requires written disclosures (including that the tenant may choose a deposit instead at any time); liquidated damages for failing to give end-of-lease notice require a landlord notice that lists all fees, penalties and charges. Local fee regulation is preempted. No total-cost-of-rent or online-payment-fee statute found in Part II of ch. 83. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Florida vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | No statute caps or regulates residential rental application or screening fees. Since 2023, local governments are preempted from regulating rental applications, screening and application fees. Fla. Stat. § 83.425 | No general statutory cap on late fees or other rental fees. Specific rules: an optional fee in lieu of a security deposit requires written disclosures (including that the tenant may choose a deposit instead at any time); liquidated damages for failing to give end-of-lease notice require a landlord notice that lists all fees, penalties and charges. Local fee regulation is preempted. Fla. Stat. §§ 83.425, 83.491, 83.575(2) |
| Alabama | No statute — Alabama's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Ch. 35-9A) does not cap or regulate rental application or screening fees, and has no portable-screening-report rule. Ala. Code Title 35, Ch. 9A (checked) | No general rental junk-fee statute. A lease may not require the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees or costs of collection, confess judgment, or waive deposit rules; a landlord who knowingly tries to enforce such a clause owes actual damages plus up to one month's rent and attorney fees. Security beyond one month's rent is allowed only for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risk. Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-163, 35-9A-201(a) |
| Georgia | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
City rules that may add to state law
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Florida Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Florida?
No statute caps or regulates residential rental application or screening fees. Since 2023, local governments are preempted from regulating rental applications, screening and application fees. (Fla. Stat. § 83.425)
What rental fees are banned or limited in Florida?
No general statutory cap on late fees or other rental fees. Specific rules: an optional fee in lieu of a security deposit requires written disclosures (including that the tenant may choose a deposit instead at any time); liquidated damages for failing to give end-of-lease notice require a landlord notice that lists all fees, penalties and charges. Local fee regulation is preempted. (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.425, 83.491, 83.575(2))
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.