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Rent Regulations

Fla. Stat. § 83.40 et seq. § 83.54

Enforcement of rights and duties; civil action; criminal offenses.

In Force
Verified 10/28/2026 · Next check 11/4/2026
FloridaLease Requirements

Operative Text

Fla. Stat. § 83.40 et seq. § 83.54
Any right or duty declared in this part is enforceable by civil action. A right or duty enforced by civil action under this section does not preclude prosecution for a criminal offense related to the lease or leased property.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Florida Statute § 83.54 establishes that any right or duty created under Part II of Florida's residential landlord-tenant law can be pursued through a civil lawsuit. Importantly, bringing a civil action does not bar a separate criminal prosecution if the same conduct also constitutes a criminal offense connected to the lease or leased property. The two legal tracks — civil and criminal — can run independently of each other.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 28, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Fla. Stat. § 83.54, the rights and duties set out in Florida's residential landlord-tenant statutes carry real legal weight: either party may bring a civil lawsuit to enforce them. Operators who maintain properties in compliance with lease terms and statutory obligations, document their actions carefully, and respond promptly to tenant concerns are generally better positioned if a civil claim arises. Because § 83.54 also preserves the possibility of criminal prosecution for lease-related conduct, compliant record-keeping and lawful practices are a consistent part of responsible property management.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Fla. Stat. § 83.54 gives tenants a civil-court avenue to enforce any right granted under Florida's residential landlord-tenant law, such as rights related to habitability, security deposits, or proper notice. If a landlord's conduct also rises to the level of a criminal offense — for example, certain forms of unlawful entry or harassment — § 83.54 makes clear that a civil claim and a criminal complaint are not mutually exclusive. Tenants who believe their rights have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand which enforcement paths are available in their situation.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

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References Out

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References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Fla. Stat. § 83.515
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.40
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.515
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.49
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.51
Fla. Stat. § 83.505
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.49
Fla. Stat. § 83.45
Fla. Stat. § 83.47
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.43
Fla. Stat. § 83.505
Fla. Stat. ch. 83
Fla. Stat. § 83.505
Fla. Stat. § 83.59
Fla. Stat. § 83.51
Fla. Stat. § 83.52
Fla. Stat. § 83.505
Fla. Stat. § 83.60
Fla. Stat. § 83.49
Fla. Stat. § 83.46
Fla. Stat. § 83.56
Fla. Stat. § 83.56
Fla. Stat. § 83.57
Fla. Stat. § 83.59
Fla. Stat. § 83.575
Fla. Stat. § 83.55
Fla. Stat. § 83.51
Fla. Stat. § 83.64
Fla. Stat. § 83.50
Fla. Stat. § 83.60
Fla. Stat. § 83.49
Fla. Stat. § 83.56
Fla. Stat. § 83.682
Fla. Stat. § 83.52
Fla. Stat. § 83.59
Fla. Stat. § 83.56
Fla. Stat. § 83.49
Fla. Stat. § 83.49

Related Rules

§ 244.280
Tenant to be given copy of lease
§ 151.35
SEVERABILITY
§ 165.12
SEVERABILITY

Source Information

Source:https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter83/All
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