Just cause eviction rules in Fort Lauderdale, FL — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Fort Lauderdale does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance. Evictions are governed by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. Ch. 83, Part II). The 2023 Live Local Act (HB 1417, codified at Fla. Stat. Sec. 166.0444) preempted local tenant-protection ordinances exceeding state law. Landlords must give a 3-day written notice for non-payment (Sec. 83.56) and 30 days' notice to terminate month-to-month tenancies (Sec. 83.57). Self-help evictions are prohibited under Sec. 83.67.
Fort Lauderdale has no just-cause eviction ordinance, and after the 2023 Live Local Act (HB 1417, codified at §166.0444) preempted local tenant protections beyond state law, it can't adopt one. Evictions run on the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Chapter 83, Part II: 3-day written notice for non-payment under §83.56, 30 days' notice to end a month-to-month tenancy under §83.57, and no reason required to decline renewal at lease end. What landlords cannot do is take matters into their own hands — self-help evictions such as lockouts and utility shutoffs are prohibited by §83.67, and formal evictions must go through the courts.
No local ordinance applies, so there are no city penalties. Landlords who resort to lockouts or utility shutoffs violate the state self-help ban in Fla. Stat. §83.67.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Section 17-7(1) bars amplified sound from residential property that is plainly audible for one minute or longer at 25 feet from the property line (10 p.m.-7 ...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Section 17-7(4) makes it unlawful to operate construction, repair, alteration, or demolition equipment Monday through Saturday before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale Code Section 17-8(7) expressly exempts 'all noises coming from the normal operations of an aircraft' from the city noise ordinance. Aircraft ...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale Code Chapter 17 (Noise Control) caps residential outdoor sound at 60 dBA / 70 dBC from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA / 60 dBC from 10:00...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale addresses abandoned vehicles under Chapter 26 (Traffic and Parking) and Chapter 18 (Nuisances). Vehicles left unattended on public property f...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale regulates retaining walls under the ULDR and the Florida Building Code. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require building permits with s...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Broward County.
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