Doral's Rental Property Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles rental property rules a little differently. In Doral, Florida, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Just Cause Eviction

Doral does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance. All evictions follow the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (FL Statute Chapter 83). Landlords may terminate month-to-month tenancies with 30 days written notice without stating a reason. Fixed-term leases end at expiration.

Key details: Just-Cause Required: No, not required in Florida. Month-to-Month Notice: 30 days written notice. Nonpayment Notice: 3-day pay or vacate. Lease Violation Notice: 7-day notice to cure. Governing Law: FL Statute Chapter 83.

Self-help evictions are illegal under FL Statute 83.67. Landlords who lock out tenants, remove belongings, or shut off utilities face liability for actual damages plus three months rent. Only a Miami-Dade County Court order can legally remove a tenant. Tenants may raise defenses including landlord failure to maintain premises.

The rules around just cause eviction in Doral lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Repairs & Habitability

Every dwelling in Doral, rented or owner-occupied, has to meet the city's Minimum Housing Code. City Code § 5-61 sets minimum standards for sanitation, utilities, and safe occupancy, backed by hard numbers like 120-degree hot water and required plumbing fixtures, enforced by the code compliance department.

Key details: Hot water minimum: 120°F at every outlet (§ 5-151). Required fixtures: Kitchen sink, toilet, tub/shower, lavatory. Applies to: Every dwelling, regardless of construction date. Landlord penalty: Automatic forfeiture of rental rights. Vacant units: Cannot be occupied until fully compliant.

Violations are enforced by the code compliance department, and Section 5-60 makes each day a dwelling stays out of compliance a separate offense. An owner of leased premises who fails to comply forfeits the right to rent that unit under Section 5-60(d), and any further renting after that point is itself an additional violation of the Code.

Rent Control

Florida preempts local rent control under Statute 166.043. Doral cannot impose rent caps or limit rent increases. Landlords may raise rent by any amount at lease renewal or with proper notice for month-to-month tenancies. No local rent stabilization ordinance exists.

Key details: State Preemption: FL prohibits local rent control. Rent Caps: None: no limit on increases. Month-to-Month Notice: 30 days under state law. Governing Law: FL Statute 166.043. Code Enforcement: (305) 593-6740.

There are no local rent control violations because no rent control ordinance exists. Landlords who raise rent without proper notice under state law may face tenant claims under FL Statute 83.57. Retaliatory rent increases within 12 months of a tenant exercising legal rights may be challenged under FL Statute 83.64.

Doral is more permissive than most cities when it comes to rent control. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Doral gives residents more room on rental property rules. 2 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Doral's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.