Florida Late Fee Law
No Florida statute caps residential late fees or requires a grace period; the lease sets both.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Florida late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capFla. Stat. ch. 83, Part II (no late-fee limit); § 83.45 unconscionability |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace periodFla. Stat. § 83.46(1); ch. 83, Part II (silent on grace periods) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 3 business days (3-day notice to pay rent or deliver possession)Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)-(4) |
What Florida law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Florida?
Florida sets no cap on residential late fees; the fee must be in the lease and a court can refuse to enforce an unconscionable fee (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.43(12), 83.45) (Fla. Stat. ch. 83, Part II (no late-fee limit); § 83.45 unconscionability).
Does Florida require a grace period before a late fee?
Florida law requires no grace period before a late fee; rent is due on the date the lease sets (Fla. Stat. § 83.46(1)) (Fla. Stat. § 83.46(1); ch. 83, Part II (silent on grace periods)).
How much notice must a Florida landlord give for unpaid rent?
Before filing for eviction for unpaid rent, deliver a written 3-day notice demanding rent or possession; the 3 days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and court-observed legal holidays (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)) (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)-(4)).
How Florida compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
Alabama and Georgia follow the same rule as Florida; 0 of its 2 neighbors differ.
Local rules in Florida
Since July 1, 2023, Fla. Stat. § 83.425 preempts to the state all local regulation of residential tenancies (screening, deposits, application fees, lease terms, disclosures, landlord fees and notice requirements), and Fla. Stat. §§ 125.0103(2) and 166.043(2) bar counties and cities from adopting or keeping rent control. Local tenant ordinances on these matters are unenforceable; local building, housing and zoning codes still apply.
Other Florida rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capFla. Stat. § 83.49 (no amount limit) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 15 days after the lease endsFla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a)-(b) |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' noticeFla. Stat. § 83.53 |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleFla. Stat. ch. 83, Part II (no rent-increase notice rule); § 83.57(3) |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)Fla. Stat. § 83.57 |