How Much Can You Raise the Rent in Florida? (2026 Rules Every Rental Owner Should Know)

Written by Jon C. Schmitt, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker & Owner of True Patriot Property Management. Last updated July 2026.

If you own a rental in South Florida, one question comes up every renewal season: how much can you raise the rent in Florida, and what rules do you have to follow? The short answer is that Florida gives owners a lot of freedom on the amount, but strict rules on the timing and notice. Get the notice wrong and an increase can be unenforceable — or cost you a good tenant. This guide walks South Florida owners through exactly what the law says in 2026, with the specific statutes, so you can raise rent correctly and confidently.

Is there rent control in Florida?

No. Florida does not have rent control, and state law heavily restricts local governments from creating it. Under Florida Statutes §125.0103 (counties) and §166.043 (cities), a local government can only impose rent control through a narrowly defined, voter-approved “housing emergency” declaration that lasts no more than one year — a bar so high that no Florida community currently has active rent control. When Orange County voters approved a rent-control measure in 2022, it was struck down in court and never took effect. On top of that, Florida’s 2023 landlord-tenant law (Chapter 2023-314, effective July 1, 2023) preempted most local regulation of the landlord-tenant relationship, so statewide rules generally control.

Bottom line: there is no legal maximum on how much you can raise the rent in Florida. The increase is set by the market — but only when the timing and notice rules below are followed.

When can you raise the rent?

This is where owners get into trouble. The answer depends on the type of tenancy:

• Fixed-term lease (e.g., a 12-month lease): the rent is locked for the entire term. You cannot raise it mid-lease unless the lease itself contains a clause that specifically allows it. You can only increase the rent when the lease comes up for renewal.
• Month-to-month tenancy: you can raise the rent, but you must give proper written notice before the increase takes effect (see the next section).

Notice requirements to raise the rent in Florida (2026)

Florida doesn’t have a statute titled “rent increase notice.” Instead, raising the rent on a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy is treated as changing the terms of the tenancy, which requires the same written notice used to end that tenancy under Florida Statutes §83.57. As of the 2023 update, those notice periods are:

• Month-to-month: at least 30 days’ written notice before the end of the monthly period.
• Quarter-to-quarter: at least 30 days’ notice.
• Year-to-year: at least 60 days’ notice before the end of the annual period.
• Week-to-week: at least 7 days’ notice.

A few critical points for South Florida owners:

• Your lease can require more. If your lease specifies a longer notice period (for example, 60 days before renewal), you must honor it. Always follow the stricter of the two — the statute or the lease.
• Local ordinances may add notice for large increases. Some Florida localities, most notably Miami-Dade County, have required 60 days’ written notice for rent increases above 5%. Florida’s 2023 preemption law has created legal uncertainty around these local rules, so confirm what currently applies in your county or city before relying on the 30-day minimum.
• Put every increase in writing. A verbal rent increase invites disputes. Deliver written notice (in person, by mail, or by the method your lease allows) and keep proof of delivery.
• Count the days carefully. The notice generally must be delivered before the start of the rental period in which the new rent begins — not on the day it takes effect.

How to raise the rent the right way

A rent increase done poorly can trigger a vacancy that wipes out the extra income. Here is the owner-friendly, compliant way to do it:

1. Check current market rents for comparable homes in your neighborhood so your number is defensible.
2. Confirm the tenancy type and lease terms — is it fixed-term (wait for renewal) or month-to-month (give notice)?
3. Calculate the correct notice period using §83.57 and your lease, plus any local ordinance.
4. Deliver written notice on time, stating the new rent amount and the exact date it takes effect.
5. Frame the increase around value — reliable maintenance, upgrades, and responsive service make an increase easier for a good tenant to accept.

You can read the law yourself in Florida’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Florida Statutes Chapter 83). For a plain-English overview of your other obligations, see our Florida landlord-tenant law cheat sheet.

What owners can’t do when raising rent

No cap on the amount doesn’t mean anything goes. Florida law still limits the reasons and manner of an increase:

• No retaliatory increases. Florida Statutes §83.64 prohibits raising rent (or otherwise retaliating) because a tenant did something legal — like complaining to a code enforcement agency or requesting a repair.
• No discriminatory increases. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, you cannot raise rent based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.
• No mid-lease surprises. You cannot raise rent during a fixed term unless the lease expressly allows it.
• No skipping notice. An increase without the required written notice is not enforceable for that period.

How much should you actually raise it?

This is the part that protects your bottom line. Raise too little and you leave money on the table; raise too much and you risk a costly vacancy — and in South Florida, a single month empty plus turnover costs (cleaning, marketing, screening, lost rent) can erase a full year’s worth of an increase. The right number comes from real market data for your specific property and neighborhood, not a guess. Weigh the increase against your tenant’s payment history, current demand, and what comparable homes are actually renting for today.

Should you raise the rent at all?

Not always. Keeping a reliable, on-time tenant is often worth more than a modest bump, because turnover is expensive and vacancy is the biggest hidden cost in property management. Many owners do best with steady, modest annual increases that keep pace with the market rather than a large jump that pushes a good tenant out. A good property manager runs that math for you every renewal and handles the notice correctly — see how our Boynton Beach property management team helps local owners.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice do I have to give to raise the rent in Florida?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days’ written notice before the end of the monthly period (§83.57), unless your lease or a local ordinance requires more. You cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease until it renews.

Is there a maximum rent increase in Florida?

No. Florida has no rent control and no legal cap on the amount of an increase. The market sets the ceiling, and proper notice sets the timing.

How often can I raise the rent?

There’s no statewide limit on frequency. In practice, most Florida owners raise rent once a year at lease renewal, or with proper 30-day notice on a month-to-month tenancy.

Can I raise the rent in the middle of a lease?

Not unless the lease specifically allows it. During a fixed term, the rent stated in the lease is locked until the term ends.

This article is general information for South Florida rental owners and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant rules change and can vary by locality — confirm the specifics for your property with a qualified attorney.