Big Changes Coming to Florida Real Estate Laws on October 1, 2025
- Sion Gil
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
Two major real estate law changes are taking effect in Florida on October 1, 2025. If you’re a landlord, tenant, buyer, seller, or commercial tenant, here’s what you need to know—in simple terms.
1. Expanded Flood Disclosure Requirements (SB 948)
Starting October 1, landlords must tell tenants about a property’s flood history before signing a lease that’s one year or longer.
This means:
The disclosure must be a separate document, not just fine print in the lease.
It must state if the landlord knows about:
Any flood damage during their ownership
Any flood insurance claims filed
Any flood-related financial aid received (state, federal, local, or private)
If a landlord doesn’t disclose truthfully and a tenant later suffers serious flood damage, the tenant has the right to break the lease (with written notice and by moving out within a certain timeframe).
It’s not just rental homes—condo and co-op developers must provide the same flood disclosure to prospective buyers, and mobile home park owners must do so for new lessees.
Florida Realtors has already updated their forms to include these new requirements.
Sources:
The Florida Senate – SB 948
2. Elimination of Sales Tax on Commercial Leases (HB 7031)
Another big change: Florida is getting rid of the state sales tax and county surtax on commercial rent.
What this means:
Starting October 1, 2025, business tenants will no longer pay sales tax on office, retail, or warehouse leases.
The repeal only applies to rental periods on or after October 1, 2025. If you paid for time before that date, the tax still applies—even if you prepaid.
Some rentals are still taxable (short-term residential rentals, parking, docking, equipment rentals, etc.).
For commercial landlords and tenants, this could mean lower occupancy costs and possible updates to how leases are structured.
Sources:
What This Means for You
Landlords & Property Managers: Make sure your leases include the new flood disclosure form starting October 1.
Tenants: You now have stronger rights if a landlord hides flood history.
Commercial Tenants: Expect to see lower rent bills since the sales tax is going away.
Comments