What disclosures must every Florida lease include?
Florida's required disclosures come from a mix of Chapter 83 (landlord-tenant), Chapter 404 (radon), and federal law. The core set that applies to a typical residential rental:
| Disclosure | Governing Authority | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord / agent identity and address | Fla. Stat. § 83.50 | All residential leases |
| Security deposit holding & interest | Fla. Stat. § 83.49(2) | Any lease where a deposit is collected |
| Deposit-rights statutory notice | Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3) | Written leases collecting a deposit |
| Radon gas notice | Fla. Stat. § 404.056(5) | All rental agreements |
| Lead-based paint hazard + EPA pamphlet | Title X, 42 U.S.C. § 4852d (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
| Flood disclosure (separate rider) | Fla. Stat. § 83.512 (effective Oct. 1, 2025) | Residential leases of 1 year or longer |
New for 2025 — flood disclosure (§ 83.512): Effective October 1, 2025, for any residential lease with a term of one year or longer the landlord must provide a separate flood disclosure at or before signing. It must state whether the landlord is aware of flooding that damaged the unit during the landlord's ownership, whether a flood-insurance claim (including NFIP) was filed, and whether flood-damage assistance (including FEMA) was received. If the disclosure is not given and the tenant later suffers substantial loss or damage to personal property from flooding, the tenant may terminate the lease by written notice within 30 days of the loss.
Some local ordinances (for example, certain counties' tenant bills of rights) add notices on top of these. Verify whether your county or city imposes additional disclosure requirements.
Landlord identity and where to send notices (§ 83.50)
Fla. Stat. § 83.50 requires the landlord, or a person authorized to enter into the rental agreement on the landlord's behalf, to disclose in writing at or before the start of the tenancy the name and address of the landlord or the party authorized to receive notices and demands on the landlord's behalf. Putting this in the lease itself satisfies the requirement and gives the tenant a clear address for statutory notices — which matters because Florida's eviction and deposit procedures depend on properly delivered written notice.
Security deposit disclosures — where it's held and the tenant's rights (§ 83.49)
Florida does not cap the security deposit amount, but it strictly regulates how the deposit is disclosed and handled.
Where the deposit is held (§ 83.49(2)): Within 30 days of receiving a security deposit, the landlord must give the tenant written notice of the manner in which the deposit is being held — the name of the depository, whether the account is interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing, and the rate of interest, if any — though this deposit-holding disclosure duty does not apply to a landlord who rents fewer than five dwelling units. (Alternatively, the landlord may post a surety bond.)
Statutory deposit-rights notice (§ 83.49(3)): If the lease is in writing, it must contain a substantially verbatim copy of the statutory disclosure explaining the tenant's rights when the landlord intends to make a claim against the deposit.
Return timeline (§ 83.49(3)): If the landlord does not intend to make a claim, the deposit must be returned within 15 days of the tenant vacating. If the landlord intends to keep any portion, the landlord must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days; the tenant then has 15 days to object. Missing the 30-day notice window forfeits the landlord's right to keep any of the deposit. For the full mechanics, see our Florida security deposit laws guide.
The mandatory Florida radon gas disclosure (§ 404.056)
Florida is one of the few states that mandates a radon notice in essentially every rental agreement. Fla. Stat. § 404.056(5) requires the following language (or substantially similar) to appear in the lease:
The disclosure is informational — it does not require testing — but omitting it from a Florida lease means the lease is missing a statutorily required notice.
Federal lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 housing)
For any dwelling built before 1978, federal law (Title X; 42 U.S.C. § 4852d and 40 C.F.R. Part 745) requires the landlord to: disclose the known presence of lead-based paint and hazards, provide any available records or reports, attach the standard lead-warning disclosure form signed by both parties, and give the tenant the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. This is a federal requirement that applies in Florida just as it does everywhere else.
What happens if a Florida landlord skips a required disclosure?
The consequences depend on which disclosure is missing:
- Deposit disclosures: Failing to give the § 83.49(2) holding notice, or missing the 30-day certified-mail claim notice under § 83.49(3), can cost the landlord the right to retain any part of the deposit and expose them to the tenant's damages and attorney's fees.
- Radon notice: Omitting the § 404.056(5) language leaves the lease non-compliant with a state mandate.
- Federal lead paint: Violations carry federal civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties, plus liability for tenant damages.
Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare Florida's list with our Texas required lease disclosures checklist, and see what belongs in any lease in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
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Create your Florida lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
Does Florida require a radon disclosure in every lease?
Yes. Fla. Stat. § 404.056(5) requires a specific radon gas notice to appear in rental agreements. The statute provides the exact language, which informs tenants that radon is a naturally occurring gas that may present health risks and that additional information is available from the county health department.
Is there a security deposit limit in Florida?
No. Florida does not cap the security deposit amount. However, the landlord must disclose within 30 days how and where the deposit is held (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(2)) and must follow the 15-day/30-day return-and-claim procedure in § 83.49(3).
What must a Florida landlord disclose about the security deposit?
Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must give written notice of the depository's name, whether the account is interest-bearing, and the interest rate if any (§ 83.49(2)). A written lease must also include the statutory notice describing the tenant's rights when the landlord makes a claim against the deposit (§ 83.49(3)).
Does Florida require a lead-based paint disclosure?
Yes, for any dwelling built before 1978. This is a federal requirement (Title X): the landlord must disclose known lead hazards, provide the signed lead-warning form, and give the tenant the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home.
How long does a Florida landlord have to return the security deposit?
If the landlord makes no claim against the deposit, it must be returned within 15 days of the tenant vacating. If the landlord intends to keep part of it, the landlord must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days; the tenant then has 15 days to object (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)).
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.