Governor Ron DeSantis took a sledgehammer to squatters’ schemes on Monday.
He signed two bills that give Florida business owners and hoteliers powerful new weapons against unauthorized occupants.
And Ron DeSantis just crushed squatter scams by putting property owners back in control.
The Governor signed the anti-squatting legislation during a ceremony in Sarasota, where he made it clear that Florida stands firmly with property owners – not those trying to game the system.
“Florida doesn’t tolerate squatters; we stand with property owners,” DeSantis declared. “What we’ve seen is hotel guests just not pay and squat in the hotel. This forces the owner of the hotel to go through basically a traditional eviction process.”
The pair of bills dramatically expand protections that were previously offered only to residential property owners last year.
SB 322: Commercial Property Protection
Senate Bill 322 gives commercial property owners a streamlined process to regain possession of their buildings from unauthorized occupants.
The bill:
● Allows sheriffs to immediately remove squatters from commercial properties;
● Protects owners from financial losses and property damage caused by squatters;
● Provides legal safeguards for both property owners and law enforcement; and
● Creates specific criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy and teaching others to squat.
SB 606: Hotel and Restaurant Protection
Senate Bill 606 strengthens the rights of hotels and restaurants by:
● Preventing hotel guests from claiming residency to avoid being removed;
● Allowing police to remove a person from a hotel and arrest them if they refuse to leave after receiving written notice;
● Clarifying that stays at hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts are considered transient unless a written agreement states otherwise; and
● Requiring food service establishments to clearly disclose operations charges like service fees by July 2026.
The need for these laws became apparent after a series of troubling incidents across the state, including at The Westin Sarasota, where one woman refused to leave after causing scenes in the hotel pool and dining area.
“It’s a big win for the hotel industry. Hospitality industry as a whole,” Gil Reyes, the regional general manager for Westin Sarasota, said. “We are excited about this bill and what it does, it protects the hotels and innkeepers.”
State Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who sponsored SB 322 in the House, explained that the legislation was filed after a constituent reached out because people had taken over their family-owned restaurant.
“The rightful owners have spent a lot of money and time trying to have these persons evicted from the property with no success,” Gossett-Seidman said during Monday’s press conference. “This bill is proof that when we listen to residents, good things happen.”
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman highlighted how the new laws will benefit his deputies.
“Those folks are trying to make money, pay their employees, pay their rent. Many times we would come in there and find the facilities destroyed,” Hoffman said. “Having that language in there that defines what transient is makes it easier for my deputies to go out and get these folks out and restore that.”
DeSantis noted that the bills built on Florida’s 2024 anti-squatting law that targeted residential properties.
That law, House Bill 621, authorized property owners to request sheriff assistance to immediately remove unauthorized occupants from residential dwellings.
The Governor took a swipe at other states that have taken a more lenient approach to squatting.
“You’re either paying or you’re not and if you’re not, it shouldn’t evolve into some major landlord tenant dispute,” DeSantis stated. “I think this is something that will be really good for our economy. Property rights are really important. If you don’t have private property rights you cannot have a free society.”
While some states have allowed squatting situations to fester into protracted legal battles, Florida’s approach provides immediate remedies and harsh penalties for those who unlawfully occupy properties.
The combination of last year’s residential protections and this year’s commercial and hospitality safeguards gives Florida some of the strongest anti-squatting laws in the nation.
