Hillsborough County, FL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 8-115, Structural standards for dwellings
- Window/light minimum
- 10% of room floor area
- Electrical service minimum
- 100-ampere, 120/240-volt service
- Hot water range required
- 120–130 degrees Fahrenheit
- Space minimum
- 150 sq ft for first occupant
- Scope
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County only
Summary
Sec. 8-115 bars anyone from occupying or renting out a dwelling in unincorporated Hillsborough County that lacks a working kitchen sink, bathroom, adequate light and ventilation, safe heating and electrical service, and a smoke detector. The section sets numeric minimums for window area, room size, water temperature, and electrical capacity, and violations are code-enforcement matters, not private lawsuits.
(a) Generally. No person shall occupy, let, or sub-let to another for occupancy, any building, dwelling, dwelling unit, structure, or accessory structure, designed or intended to be used for the purpose of living, sleeping or cooking or eating therein which does not comply with the requirements hereinafter set forth... (b)(2) Sanitary facilities required. Every dwelling or dwelling unit shall contain, all in good working condition and properly connected to an approved water and sewer system as approved by the Hillsborough County Health Department, not less than: a. One kitchen sink with counter work space; and b. One lavatory, including one tub or shower and one toilet... (c)(1) Light in habitable rooms. Every habitable room of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be ten percent of the floor area of such room.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 8-115(a) makes it unlawful to occupy, let, or sub-let, or to leave vacant, any dwelling that fails the structural standards that follow. Required facilities under (b) include a kitchen sink with counter space and a lavatory with tub or shower and toilet, connected to an approved water and sewer system approved by the Hillsborough County Health Department. Light and ventilation standards in (c) require every habitable room to have a window or skylight facing outdoors with a minimum glazed area equal to ten percent of the room's floor area, and openable area equal to at least 45 percent of that window area, with kitchens and dining areas exempted.
Mechanical and electrical standards in (d) require at least a 100-ampere, 120/240-volt electrical service, GFCI protection at lavatories, kitchen countertops, wet bars and exterior receptacles, and water heaters that deliver between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit; heating equipment must keep habitable rooms at 68 degrees three feet above the floor. Fire safety under (i) requires operational smoke detectors outside sleeping areas in every unit and fire extinguishers in buildings of two or more units. Occupancy limits under (k) require at least 150 square feet of habitable floor area for the first occupant plus 100 additional square feet per added occupant, and at least 70 square feet for the first two occupants of a sleeping room.
Like the lead-paint standard in the same article, Sec. 8-113 confines this section to unincorporated Hillsborough County; Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City enforce separate codes.
Violations & Fines
The Code Enforcement Official documents the deficiency and, under Sec. 8-110, serves written notice describing the section violated, the required fix, a reasonable compliance period, and the penalty for non-compliance; immediate-hazard conditions can bypass advance notice. Cases proceed to the Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Board or a Special Magistrate under Ordinance No. 10-27 and F.S. Ch. 162, or to misdemeanor prosecution under F.S. § 125.69, and irreparable conditions let the county make repairs and bill the owner under Sec. 8-118(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withhold rent if my Hillsborough County rental violates Sec. 8-115?
Does the county require smoke detectors in a rental home?
Is this rule enforced in the City of Tampa too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsborough County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hillsborough County to another location·View the Florida rental property rules overview
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