A new bill that gives state law enforcement more power to remove squatters and increases criminal penalties for violators took effect Monday, potentially giving Florida homeowners a way to protect their property while avoiding lengthy court proceedings.
In a video posted to X, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state will “put an end to this squatter scam for good” with HB 621.
“While other states are siding with squatters, we’re protecting property owners and punishing criminals who try to game the system,” DeSantis said at a press conference at the Orange County State’s Attorney’s Office after signing the bill in March.
How Homeowners Can Combat Squatter Madness
Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, signed the anti-squatter bill in March, and it goes into effect Monday. (Governor Ron DeSantis/FB)
“We have people who are here seven months out of the year and then they go to Michigan or New York or Canada. They come back after the summer and someone’s in the house and they just stay there for six months. In Florida, you call, you fill out the paperwork, the sheriff comes and the sheriff kicks you out,” DeSantis previously told Sean Hannity about the law.
“Without private property rights, we cannot have a free society. That’s what Florida stands for and we’re proud of it,” he continued.
Attorney Kevin Fabricant, who oversees Florida’s eviction law office, told Fox News Digital that Florida’s legal process for removing squatters from property was the quickest in the country even before the bill was passed, typically taking about a month.
By comparison, squatters in states like New York and California have caused months of headaches for some homeowners.
Squatting in the United States: A History of Squatting of Buildings and Land Dating Back to Before World War II
But Fabricant said it can be costly for homeowners, starting with a $300 filing fee and typically involving costly legal fees.
But under the new law, law enforcement officials who previously had no power to do anything will now be able to avoid court proceedings and evict people as long as the homeowner provides a sworn statement and the trespasser meets several criteria.
“If you’re a squatter, I’m not coming to live in Florida.”
A squatter must have unlawfully entered the property and already been evicted by the homeowner, and must not be a current or former tenant of the home, nor a close relative of the homeowner they are trying to evict from the property.
“This is designed for very specific situations. If you want someone to come onto your property and then leave, it probably doesn’t apply,” Fabricant said.
Republican governor signs bill to crack down on squatters: ‘The best place for them to live’ is a prison cell
An Atlanta property owner claims squatters ripped electrical wires out of his walls, causing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. (Fox News)
Fabricant said the standard removal fee from local sheriff’s departments is $90 in most Florida counties and $115 in Miami.
“If you’re a squatter, you’re not coming to Florida to live,” Fabricant said.
According to the new law, once authorities have verified ownership and determined that the claimant is eligible, the sheriff must evict the squatter.
The bill states that “persons who encourage or engage in illegal squatting” will face increased penalties under the law.
Squatters who forge leases or other proof of occupancy would be charged with making a false document statement or forgery, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Anyone who causes damages amounting to $1,000 or more while occupying property can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.
“If someone breaks into your house and destroys your house, [the type of person] The governor intended [to police with this law]”If you try to get a handyman or contractor to fix what the squatters are doing to the building, it will cause untold damage,” Fabricant said.
Anyone who knowingly advertises a residential property for sale or rental without the owner’s permission will now be charged with a first-degree felony.
“Sometimes Bob Squatter finds somebody,” Fabricant said. “Bob Squatter and [may not be aware that they’re illegally living on the property]”
It’s unclear how Florida law enforcement agencies will operate under the new law.
“Officials have to make an on-the-spot determination as to whether a person qualifies under these circumstances,” Fabricant said.
“The sheriff’s office can be put in a tough position because of the language and arguments of residents,” Fabricant said. “The sheriff’s office will likely be subject to civil lawsuits… If the sheriff’s office unfairly evicts someone, they will likely be sued.”
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Martin County Sheriff William Snyder previously appeared on “Fox & Friends First.”“ He believes the law will “definitely” ease the situation.
“If you go to a house and someone claims to live there, then the rightful owner has proven that it’s their home, and this is really a technicality,” he said in March.
“This bill gives us the power to enforce the law and return homes to their rightful owners,” he said. “We will be on the scene right away, and our goal in Martin County is to get those homes back into the hands of their rightful owners and get rid of the trespassers… and I want to tell them, [the squatter] Housing. They’re not going to lose their homes. I’m going to put them in jail right away.”
