Rental Property Rules in Hollywood, FL

Hollywood maintains 134 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Hollywood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Repairs & Habitability

Hollywood's Property Standards chapter bars anyone from occupying or renting out a dwelling that fails minimum space, light, ventilation and sanitation standards. Bedrooms need at least 70 square feet, and every unit needs a working toilet, sink and bathtub or shower under §§ 157.15, 157.16 and 157.18.

Key details: Minimum unit floor area: 150 sq ft, first occupant. Minimum sleeping room area: 70 sq ft. Minimum ceiling height: 7 ft over half the room. Required fixtures: Toilet, sink, tub or shower. Hot water minimum: 20 gal at 120°F per occupant/day.

Code Enforcement Special Magistrates have jurisdiction over Chapter 157 violations under § 157.75, with unsafe-building cases instead routed to the Hollywood Unsafe Structures Board; the city's Code Team, drawn from Police, Fire, Code Enforcement and the Building Division, can also prosecute violations under § 36.27 or in county court under the penalty provisions of § 10.99. Inspectors may enter with consent or a court order under § 157.76, and can inspect at any hour if there is probable cause of an immediate threat to health or safety.

Rent Control

Hollywood has no rent control ordinance. Florida preempts all local rent control under Fla. Stat. Sec. 125.0103, and the 2023 Live Local Act (SB 102) eliminated the housing-emergency exception. HB 1417 (Fla. Stat. Sec. 166.0444) further preempted local tenant-protection ordinances. Hollywood cannot adopt rent stabilization, rent caps, or any local limit on rent increases.

Key details: State Preemption: Fla. Stat. Sec. 125.0103 + Sec. 166.0444. Live Local Act: SB 102 (2023) bans local rent control. Hollywood Authority: None: cannot adopt rent control. Notice for Rent Increases: Per lease; 30 days for month-to-month. Rent Caps: No state or local cap.

There is no local rent-control rule to violate: state law bars Hollywood from adopting one. Landlords remain bound by lease terms and required notice before rent increases.

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

Just Cause Eviction

Hollywood does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance. Evictions are governed by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. Ch. 83, Part II). The 2023 Live Local Act (HB 1417, codified at Fla. Stat. Sec. 166.0444) preempted local tenant-protection ordinances exceeding state law. Landlords must give a 3-day written notice for non-payment (Sec. 83.56) and 30 days' notice to terminate month-to-month tenancies (Sec. 83.57). Self-help evictions are prohibited under Sec. 83.67.

Landlords who use self-help evictions, lockouts, utility shutoffs, face liability under the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; evictions must go through the court process.

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

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Hollywood 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.

Keep in mind that Hollywood can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.