Winter Haven, FL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2009 International Property Maintenance Code
- Heat duty
- 68°F, Oct. 1 to Mar. 30 (§ 602.3)
- Water duty
- Hot and cold running water required
- Fire safety
- Listed smoke alarm in every dwelling unit
- Enforcement
- City Code Enforcement Unit, demand for correction
Summary
Winter Haven Code of Ordinances Section 5-71 adopts the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code as the city's Minimum Property Maintenance Standards, and Section 5-73 layers on local habitability duties: landlords must supply heat to 68°F from October 1 to March 30, keep plumbing fixtures connected to running water, and provide a working smoke alarm in every dwelling unit.
Sec. 5-71. - International Property Maintenance Code adopted. The International Property Maintenance Code, 2009 edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc. is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as the minimum property maintenance standards of the city subject to and including by reference such additions and amendments that may be adopted by the city by ordinance. ... 602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 1 to March 30 to maintain a temperature of not less than 68°F (20°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. ... 505.1 General. Every sink, lavatory, bathtub or shower, drinking fountain, water closet or other plumbing fixture shall be properly connected to either a public water system or to an approved private water system.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-71 adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2009 edition, by reference as the city's Minimum Property Maintenance Standards, and Section 5-73 rewrites dozens of its sections to fit local practice. 2 requires dwellings to have heating facilities capable of maintaining 68°F in every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room, and cooking appliances cannot be used to satisfy that requirement. 1: every sink, lavatory, bathtub, shower, water closet and other plumbing fixture must be properly connected to a public or approved private water system, and dwelling units must have both hot and cold running water at kitchen sinks, lavatories, laundry facilities, bathtubs and showers.
2, requiring an approved, listed smoke alarm with an audible alarm in every dwelling unit. 1, requiring the interior of every structure and its shared or public areas to be maintained in good repair and sanitary condition. 2, which can issue a citation, a notice of hearing, or a demand for correction.
Violations & Fines
A property maintenance violation is enforced as a declared nuisance under amended Section 106.3: the Code Official notifies the owner in writing and sets a reasonable deadline to correct it, and an uncorrected violation lets the city perform the repair itself and bill the owner, recording the cost as a special assessment lien on the property. Violations otherwise fall under the general penalty in Section 1-13, up to $500 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Winter Haven landlord required to provide heat?
Does my rental need a smoke alarm in Winter Haven?
What can I do if my landlord won't fix a habitability problem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winter Haven
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