Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida S658: Water Safety Requirements for the Rental of Residential and Vacation Properties
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
(THIS BILL COMBINES SB's 658 & 608) Requiring a landlord to equip certain rental properties with specified water safety features; providing criminal penalties; requiring a public lodging establishment licensed as a vacation rental to equip certain rental units with specified water safety features; providing an exception; requiring certain public lodging establishments to file a certificate of compliance upon licensure and renewal, etc.
What the bill says
An act relating to water safety requirements for the rental of residential and vacation properties; amending s. 83.51, F.S.; requiring a landlord to equip certain rental properties with specified water safety features; providing criminal penalties; providing an exception; defining the terms "swimming pool" and "water body"; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; providing applicability; amending s. 509.211, F.S.; requiring a public lodging establishment licensed as a vacation rental to equip certain rental units with specified water safety features…
From the engrossed text, February 19, 2026:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to water safety requirements for the rental of residential and vacation properties; amending s. 83.51, F.S.; requiring a landlord to equip certain rental properties with specified water safety features; providing criminal penalties; providing an exception; defining the terms "swimming pool" and "water body"; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; providing applicability; amending s. 509.211, F.S.; requiring a public lodging establishment licensed as a vacation rental to equip certain rental units with specified water safety features; authorizing the Division of Hotels and Restaurants to suspend or revoke the license and fine the licensee for noncompliance; providing criminal penalties; providing an exception; defining terms; requiring certain public lodging establishments to file a certificate of compliance upon licensure and renewal; requiring the division to adopt rules; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Present subsection (4) of section 83.51, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5) and amended, and a new subsection (4) and subsection (6) are added to that section, to read: 83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises.-- (4)(a) At all times during a tenancy, if a water body that is not a swimming pool exists within 150 feet of the dwelling unit, the landlord must ensure that either: 1. All …