Tamarac, FL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Adopted by Ord. No. 2011-09 in 2011, Tamarac's Minimum Housing Code sets specific, numeric livability standards under § 5-206: a dwelling unit needs at least 150 square feet of floor area for the first occupant plus 100 for each additional occupant, sleeping rooms need at least 70 square feet (50 per occupant when shared) and a 7-foot minimum width, habitable rooms need a 7-foot ceiling for at least half the floor area, and every unit needs at least 24 square feet of kitchen storage shelving and 12 square feet of closet space for the first bedroom.

Every habitable room needs a window or skylight equal to at least 8 or 15 percent of floor area, screened against insects, plus at least two electrical outlets or an outlet and ceiling fixture. Basic plumbing is mandatory: a flush toilet, lavatory basin, tub or shower, an approved drinking water source, a kitchen sink, and hot water of at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Section 5-209 makes the owner responsible for not occupying or renting out a unit that is not "clean, sanitary, safe, and fit for human habitation," while assigning occupants their own duties to keep their space clean, dispose of waste properly, and control pests.

When conditions are severe enough, § 5-218 lets the enforcing agency's director declare a dwelling unfit for human occupancy, order it vacated within five days, post a placard reading "THESE PREMISES NOT FIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY," and, after a special magistrate hearing, condemn and demolish the structure if repairs would cost more than half its replacement value. Violations of the article are punished under § 5-220, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense.