Early Lease Termination Laws in Florida

In Florida, service members can end a lease on 30 days' written notice for reasons such as a permanent change of station of 35 miles or more, the residential tenancy law has no early termination right for domestic violence victims or based on age or medical need, and a landlord may choose to hold the tenant liable for rent as it comes due instead of re-renting.

Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Domestic violence victims: No statutory right; Part II of Chapter 83 (Residential Tenancies) has no early termination section for victims.
State military protection: Yes, 30 days' notice with orders; Covers permanent change of station or temporary orders over 60 days at least 35 miles away, and premature or involuntary release from active duty or state active duty.
Senior, disability or medical: No statutory right; Part II of Chapter 83 has no early termination section based on age, disability or medical need.
Landlord must re-rent: No, landlord may stand by; After abandonment the landlord may choose to re-rent for the tenant's account, or do nothing and hold the tenant liable for rent as it comes due.

Sources

Last checked October 2026

The rules in Florida

Can domestic violence or sexual assault victims end a lease early in Florida?

No statutory right. Domestic violence victims in Florida: no statutory right. Part II of Chapter 83 (Residential Tenancies) has no early termination section for victims.

Does Florida law add early lease termination rights for service members beyond the federal SCRA?

Yes, 30 days' notice with orders. State military protection in Florida: yes, 30 days' notice with orders. Covers permanent change of station or temporary orders over 60 days at least 35 miles away, and premature or involuntary release from active duty or state active duty.

Can seniors or tenants with a disability or medical need end a lease early in Florida?

No statutory right. Senior, disability or medical in Florida: no statutory right. Part II of Chapter 83 has no early termination section based on age, disability or medical need.

Does a landlord in Florida have to try to re-rent the unit after a tenant leaves early?

No, landlord may stand by. Landlord must re-rent in Florida: no, landlord may stand by. After abandonment the landlord may choose to re-rent for the tenant's account, or do nothing and hold the tenant liable for rent as it comes due.

Where do the Florida early lease termination laws come from?

The rules above come from Fla. Stat. 83.682 and Fla. Stat. 83.595. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A lease may provide an early termination fee or liquidated damages of up to two months' rent if the tenant agrees in a separate addendum (s. 83.595(4)).

What this means in practice

Read the lease first. Many leases contain an early termination clause, a buyout fee or a sublease option that may be easier to use than a statutory right. A statutory right usually applies even if the lease says nothing about it, and a lease generally cannot waive it.

Statutory early termination rights usually come with conditions. Common ones are written notice to the landlord, a minimum notice period, and proof such as a protective order, police report, military orders or a doctor's statement. Keep copies of everything you send and note the date and method of delivery.

If you leave without a statutory right, you may still owe rent until the unit is re-rented or the lease ends. Where a landlord has a duty to mitigate, it must make reasonable efforts to find a new tenant, and the amount you owe is reduced by rent the landlord collects or reasonably could have collected. Returning keys and documenting the condition of the unit can help limit disputes.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

Compare with neighboring states

Compare all states