Florida Flood Disclosure Requirements: for Landlords

Quick Answer: What documents are required for Florida flood disclosure?
Under Florida Statute 83.512 (2025), landlords must provide a Flood Disclosure Form to all tenants before signing a lease of 12 months or longer. This disclosure must be a separate document that clearly states whether the landlord has knowledge of past flooding, previous insurance claims, or FEMA assistance related to flood damage at the property.

In October 2025, a new legal requirement known as the “Florida Flood Disclosure Law went into effect. This law was introduced under Senate Bill 948 and signed into law as Chapter 2025-166 of the Florida Statutes.

The purpose of the law is to improve transparency about flood risk in residential rentals, and the legal and financial consequences for landlords who ignore it are serious.

This blog tells you:

• Required documentation for compliance
  
• What must be disclosed
  
• Tenant rights under the law
  
• Best practices to protect yourself as a landlord or real estate investor
  

What is the Florida Flood Disclosure Law?

The Florida flood disclosure law requires landlords of residential properties to provide tenants with written flood risk disclosures before a lease is signed for a term of 1 year or longer.

This requirement is codified under Florida Statute 83.512 (2025)

and applies to:

• Single-family rentals
  
• Condos and townhomes
  
• Multifamily rental units
  
• Long-term rental agreements (12+ months)
  

Short-term rentals and seasonal leases under 12 months are currently excluded.

Florida Flood Disclosure Requirements: The Flood Disclosure Form

Landlords must use the official statutory flood disclosure form, which must be:

1. In writing
2. Signed by the tenant (this is a requirement of Vintage Real Estate’s tenants, and is not required by law)
3. Provided before the lease is executed
4. Delivered as a separate document (not buried inside the lease)

This document asks landlords to disclose whether they:

1. Have knowledge of past flooding
2. Have ever filed flood-related insurance claims
3. Have received FEMA or government flood assistance
   

Florida Flood Disclosure Requirements: What Must Be Disclosed

As defined in the statute, “flooding” includes

• Overflow of inland or tidal waters
  
• Rapid accumulation of rainwater or runoff
  
• Standing water caused by heavy rainfall
  

Importantly, the law doesn’t require landlords to research flood history before answering — but they must respond truthfully based on what they do know.

Florida Flood Disclosure Requirements: Penalties for Non-Compliance

If a landlord fails to provide the disclosure and later experiences a flood event that damages a tenant’s property, the tenant has the right to:

1. Terminate the lease with 30 days’ notice
2. Walk away with no termination penalty
3. Receive a refund of prepaid rent

Under the statute, “substantial loss” means flood damage equal to 50% or more of the tenant’s property value.

Failure to follow the law may also expose landlords to:

1. Civil disputes
2. Insurance complications
3. Potential legal claims

Florida Flood Disclosure Requirements: Best Practices

We recommend that landlords and rental property investors in Florida follow these steps:

1. Use the exact statutory disclosure form

Do not modify the language—use the exact required text as provided by the statute.

2. Keep documentation in every tenant file

Maintain a signed Flood Disclosure Form alongside the lease agreement.

3. Train your leasing staff

Every agent or admin handling lease agreements should know when and how to issue the form.

4. Review property history

Check for prior insurance claims or known drainage issues before answering disclosure questions.

5. Be truthful

Incorrect “no” answers could result in costly liability. If unsure, document what you do and don’t know.

6. Encourage renters' insurance

The form reminds tenants that standard renters insurance doesn't cover flood damage, presenting a smart opportunity to educate your tenants.

Florida Flood Disclosure Requirements: Who Is Most Affected? 

This impacts:

• Accidental landlords renting inherited homes
  
• New investors who are buying in Florida for the first time
  
• Owners in flood-prone areas like Tampa Bay, St. Pete, Clearwater, Pasco, and Largo
  
• Portfolios managed without formal documentation
  

If your lease agreements are outdated or loosely managed, now is the time to tighten up.

Flood Disclosure Compliance Checklist

Flood Disclosure Compliance Help in Tampa

If you own rental property in Florida, you can’t afford to ignore the new flood disclosure law. Failing to follow it exposes you to legal problems and financial losses—especially in flood-prone areas like Tampa Bay. Get compliant now before leases renew. Vintage Real Estate Services can review your leases and documents to make sure you meet Florida Statute 83.512 requirements. Schedule a Free Rental Portfolio Compliance Review here.