Fair Housing: Florida

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Florida Protected Classes

(State of Florida Title 44 Ch 760 Pt 2 - Fair Housing Act § 760.20 et seq.)

  • Race
  • Color
  • National Origin
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial Status
  • Disability

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(§ 11.5-24)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status

Destin Protected Classes

(§ 8.7-21, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Mary Ester Protected Classes

(§ 10.5-21 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Volusia County Municipal Code § 36-51, et seq.)

In addition to federal and state protections, this jurisdiction also protected the following classes:

  • Age
  • Gender Identity
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation

Port Orange Protected Classes

(Port Orange Municipal Code § 83-1, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Lee County Code § 11 1/2-26, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Bonita Springs Protected Classes

(Bonita Springs Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Cape Coral Protected Classes

(§ 16-1, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status

Estero Protected Classes

(Estero Municipal Ordinances)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Ft. Myers Protected Classes

(Ft. Myers Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

 

(Alachua County Code §§111.03 and 111.40)

 

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Citizenship Status
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Source of Income
  • Veteran/Service Member Status
  • Victim of dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking

 

Gainesville Protected Classes

(§§ 8-86 et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Clay County Code § 8-24)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age

Orange Park Protected Classes

(Orange Park Municipal Code § 16-22)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(St Johns County Ordinance 90-65)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status

St. Augustine Protected Classes

(St. Augustine Municipal Code § 16-29)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Place of Birth
  • Sexual Orientation

(City of Jacksonville Municipal Code § 408.401)​

Jacksonville is consolidated with Duval County. In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age1
  • Marital Status1
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Identity

1This class is listed in a local fair housing source, not statutory code.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

 

(Polk County Code § 8.5-101, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Davenport Protected Classes

(Davenport Municipal Code § 6.7-1 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status

Lakeland Protected Classes

(Lakeland Municipal code § 50-56)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Broward County Code §16 ½ 3(p) and § 16 ½ 35 et seq)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Political Affiliation
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Identity
  • Gender Expression

 

  • Veteran Status
  • Service Member Status
  • Lawful Source of Income2
  • Victim of Dating/Domestic Violence, Stalking, or Human Trafficking

 

City of Fort Lauderdale Protected Classes

(City of Fort Lauderdale Municipal Code §§ 29-1 and 29-21)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Pregnancy

North Ft. Lauderdale Protected Classes

This is a neighborhood within Ft. Lauderdale

Coconut Creek Protected Classes

(Coconut Creek Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Davie Protected Classes

(Davie Municipal Code § 16-101, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Ancestry

Lauderhill Protected Classes

(Lauderhill Municipal Code §§ 11.5-46 to 11.5-50)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Margate Protected Classes

(Margate Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Miramar Protected Classes

(Miramar Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Plantation Protected Classes

(Plantation Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Pompano Beach Protected Classes

(Pompano Beach Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Weston Protected Classes

(Weston Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

2“Source of Income” means origin or cause of a legal gain or recurrent benefit including: SSI, Social Security, child support, alimony, veteran’s benefits, disability, unemployment, retirement or pension benefits, annuity, inheritance, interest in property, any Government assistance, etc.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Miami-Dade County Code § 11A-12)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Gender Identity
  • Gender Expression
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Source of Income3
  • Victim of domestic/dating violence or stalking

Coral Gables Protected Classes

(Coral Gables Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Doral Protected Classes

(Doral Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Hialeah Protected Classes

(Hialeah Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Miami Protected Classes

(Miami Fair Housing)4

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • HIV Status
  • Pregnancy

Miami Gardens Protected Classes

(Miami Gardens Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Sweetwater Protected Classes

(Sweetwater Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

3“Source of Income” means lawful, verifiable income paid directly to tenant or a tenant representative, including Section 8 vouchers, SSI, Social security, pensions and other retirement benefits.

4This is the fair housing page of Miami's government website, however the classes listed are not explicitly protected in the local code.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

 

(Palm Beach Municipal Code §§ 15-61, 15-56, 15-58)

 

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation

Boca Raton Protected Classes

(Boca Raton Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Boynton Beach Protected Classes

(Boynton Municipal Code § 1-12)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Genetic Information
  • Pregnancy

Delray Beach Protected Classes

(Delray Municipal Code § 137.01 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Genetic Information
  • Pregnancy

Palm Beach Gardens Protected Classes

(Palm Beach Gardens Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

West Palm Beach Protected Classes

(West Palm Beach Municipal Code §§ 42-39 and 42-41)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Collier County Code § 70-26, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Naples Protected Classes

(Naples Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Seminole County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Altamonte Springs Protected Classes

(Altamonte Springs Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Clermont Protected Classes

(Clermont Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Lake Mary Protected Classes

(Lake Mary Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Oviedo Protected Classes

(Oviedo Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Winter Park Protected Classes

(Winter Park Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Winter Springs Protected Classes

(Winter Springs Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Sanford Protected Classes

(Sanford Housing Authority Policies)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age5
  • Marital Status5
  • Sexual Orientation5

 

5These classes are protected per the administrative policy of the Sandford Housing Authority but are not codified in local law, and as such they are protected specifically in SHA properties

 

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Orange County Code §§ 22-50; 22-52)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation

Apopka Protected Classes

(Apopka Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Orlando Protected Classes

(Orlando City Code, §§ 57.33, 57.36, 57.48)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender Identity

Windermere Protected Classes

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Winter Garden Protected Classes

(Winter Garden Municipal Code § 19-1, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Osceola County Code § 27-16)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status

Kissimmee Protected Classes

(Kissimmee Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

St. Cloud Protected Classes

(St. Cloud Municipal Code §§26-31 et seq)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Brevard County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Melbourne Protected Classes

(Melbourne Municipal Code § 34-19, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal state, and county protected classes

Palm Bay Protected Classes

(Palm Bay Municipal Code §§ 94.01 - 94.03)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal state, and county protected classes

Rockledge Protected Classes

(Rockledge Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

West Melbourne Protected Classes

(West Melbourne Municipal Code § 59-1, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status
  • Place of Birth

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Manatee County Code § 2-17-41, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Bradenton Protected Classes

(Bradenton Municipal Code § 46-32)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Lakewood Ranch Protected Classes

This is a Census-Designated Place within Manatee and Sarasota counties

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Sarasota County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Lakewood Ranch Protected Classes

This is a Census-Designated Place within Manatee and Sarasota counties

Sarasota County Protected Classes

(Sarasota Municipal Code § 18-39)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Marital Status
  • Pregnancy
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Veteran/Military Status 

Venice Protected Classes

(§§2-352 and 2-355)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Creed
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Marital Status
  • Physical Characteristics
  • Sexual Orientation

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Leon County Code of Ordinances, Ch 9, Art. 4, § 9-50, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Marital Status
  • Pregnancy
  • Sexual Orientation

Tallahassee Protected Classes

(Tallahassee Code of Ordinances, §§ 11-31, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ethnic Background
  • Retaliation

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Hernanado County Code §§ 16-70 - 80)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age6
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status

6Exclusively those aged 18 or older.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Hillsborough County Code § 30-24 and §16-104)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Identity
  • Gender Expression
  • Lawful Source of Income7 8

City of Tampa Protected Classes

(City of Tampa Municipal Code §§ 12-71 - 114; 12-143)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Riverview Protected Classes

This is a census-designated place within Hillsborough County

7“Lawful Source of Income” [in Hillsborough County] means: any income from a lawful profession, Government or private assistance, grants, loans or subsidies, gift, inheritance, pension or retirement benefits, annuity, trust or investment income, alimony, child support, veteran’s benefits or the proceeds or interest from property.

8"Lawful Source of Income" [in Tampa] means the income from: 1) a lawful profession, occupation or job; 2) any government or private assistance, grant, loan or housing assistance program or subsidy, including but not limited to Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers, Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income; 3) a gift, an inheritance, a pension or other retirement benefits, an annuity, trust income, investment income, alimony, child support, or veteran's benefits; or 4) the sale of property or an interest in property. A person renting more than one rental unit may require reasonable verification of the lawful source of income from a tenant so long as such verification is required from all tenants leasing or renting rental units from that same person

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Pinellas County Code §§ 70-176 - 70-182)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender
  • Sexual Orientation

City of St. Petersburg Protected Classes

(City of St Petersburg Municipal Code §§ 20-303 - 20-310 , §20-330)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Gender Identity
  • Gender Expression
  • Veteran Status
  • Service Member Status
  • Pregnancy
  • Source of Income9

Clearwater Protected Classes

(Clearwater Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Pinellas Park Protected Classes

(Pinellas Park Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

9“Source of Income” is defined as means used to pay rent, limited to Government or Government-mandated program funds.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Pasco County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and protected classes.

New Port Richey Protected Classes

(New Port Richey Municipal Code § 14-73)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Place of Birth

River Ridge Protected Classes

This is a census-designated place within Pasco County

Trinity Protected Classes

This is a census-designated place within Pasco County