Rental Property Rules in Pembroke Pines, FL

If you live in Pembroke Pines or are thinking about moving there, rental property rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Pembroke Pines has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental property rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Repairs & Habitability

Pembroke Pines sets minimum habitability standards for every dwelling, rental or owner-occupied, under the city's Property Maintenance Code, Code of Ordinances § 150.95. Owners must keep buildings weathertight, sanitary and free of infestation regardless of when the structure was built, permitted, or last altered, with the Code Enforcement Division empowered to inspect and cite violations.

Key details: Governing section: Code of Ordinances § 150.95. Enforcing agency: Code Enforcement Division. Core standard: Dwellings weathertight, sanitary, infestation-free. Applies regardless of: Prior permits or construction date. Max fine: $500 per § 10.99 general penalty.

Section 150.95(V) states any person found in violation of the section 'shall be punishable as provided by law.' Because no specific fine is set in § 150.95, the general penalty at § 10.99 applies: a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. The city may instead proceed under the nuisance-abatement track referenced in § 150.95(T).

Rent Control

Pembroke Pines 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. Pembroke Pines 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. Pembroke Pines 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. Pembroke Pines cannot regulate rent amounts. Lease disputes and rent-increase disagreements are civil matters handled under state landlord-tenant law.

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

Just Cause Eviction

Pembroke Pines 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.

There's no city ordinance to enforce. Landlords who skip state-required notices or use self-help evictions such as lockouts violate Fla. Stat. Ch. 83 and can be held liable.

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

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Pembroke Pines 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 Pembroke Pines 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.