Fla. Stat. § 83.51 requires landlords to comply with applicable building, housing, and health codes or keep the structure, plumbing, and (for most multi-unit buildings) heat, running water, hot water, and pest control in working order. Tenants enforce these duties through the § 83.56 seven-day written notice to cure before withholding rent or terminating.
Under § 83.51(1), a landlord must comply with applicable codes or, absent codes, maintain 'roofs, windows, doors, floors, steps, porches, exterior walls, foundations, and all other structural components in good repair' plus plumbing in reasonable working condition. For dwellings other than single-family homes and duplexes, § 83.51(2) adds reasonable pest extermination, working locks, clean common areas, garbage removal, and 'functioning facilities for heat during winter, running water, and hot water.' To enforce, a tenant must deliver written notice under § 83.56(1) specifying the noncompliance; if the landlord does not cure within 7 days and the unit is untenantable, the tenant may vacate without further rent liability. Rent may be withheld only after the same 7-day written notice.
No specific statutory penalty. If the landlord fails to maintain the premises and the unit becomes untenantable after a 7-day written notice, the tenant may terminate and owe no rent during the uninhabitable period, or may withhold rent; a court may also award damages.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Winter Haven, FL
Most residential wood or chain-link fences in Winter Haven do not require a building permit if they stay within Sec. 21-103 height limits (typically 4 ft fro...
Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven Minimum Property Maintenance Standards Sec. 704.2 (Ord. O-10-15) requires every dwelling unit to have a listed, approved smoke alarm installed a...
Winter Haven, FL
Backyard recreational fire pits in Winter Haven are governed by the Florida Fire Prevention Code (adopted via Code Chapter 6) and NFPA 1, which require fire ...
Winter Haven, FL
Outdoor burning of yard waste in Winter Haven is regulated by Code Chapter 6 (Fire Prevention and Protection), the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and Florida ...
Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven Code Chapter 6 (Fire Prevention and Protection) adopts the Florida Fire Prevention Code, which incorporates Florida Statute Chapter 791 regulati...
Winter Haven, FL
Tree removal on private property in Winter Haven is regulated by Chapter 21 ULDC tree-protection provisions and Florida Statute §163.045 which preempts most ...
See how Winter Haven's repairs & habitability rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.