3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Bay County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Florida flatly bans local rent control. Neither Bay County nor Panama City, Panama City Beach, or Lynn Haven may cap rent or limit increases. The 2023 Live Local Act deleted the old housing-emergency exception, so market rates apply.
Fla. Stat. § 125.0103(2) (2023)
A municipality, county, or other entity of local government may not adopt or maintain in effect any law, ordinance, rule, or other measure that would have the effect of imposing controls on rents.
Florida has no just-cause eviction law, and 2023's Fla. Stat. 83.425 preempts cities and counties from creating one. Bay County landlords may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' notice; no reason is required, but self-help and retaliation stay illegal.
Fla. Stat. § 83.425 (2023)
The regulation of residential tenancies, the landlord-tenant relationship, and all other matters covered under this part are preempted to the state.
Unincorporated Bay County has no general registration for long-term residential rentals, and Fla. Stat. 83.425 preempts local tenancy regulation. Registration and licensing fall mainly on short-term vacation rentals, which need a state DBPR license and a county Tourist Development Tax account.
1 cities in Bay County have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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