THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 79
Water Safety Requirements for the Rental of Residential Property
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to water safety requirements for the
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rental of residential property; amending s. 509.211,
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F.S.; requiring a vacation rental licensee to equip
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certain rental units with specified water safety
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features; providing for civil liability; providing an
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exception; providing definitions; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 509.211,
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Florida Statutes, to read:
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509.211 Safety regulations.—
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(6)(a) If a public lodging establishment licensed as a
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vacation rental has, within 150 feet of the rental unit, a water
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body or swimming pool, the licensee must ensure that:
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1. All doors and windows that provide direct access to the
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exterior of the rental unit or to an indoor swimming pool within
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the rental unit are equipped with an exit alarm that has a
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minimum sound pressure rating of 85 dB A at 10 feet; or
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2. All doors that provide direct access to the exterior of
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the rental unit or to an indoor swimming pool within the rental
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unit are equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with
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a release mechanism placed at least 54 inches above the floor.
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(b) A licensee who violates paragraph (a) is liable to a
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guest of the public lodging establishment for such guest's
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actual damages incurred due to the violation, unless the
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violation is due to the removal or modification of any safety
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feature required under paragraph (a) by or at the request of the
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guest, a member of the guest's family, or a person on the
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premises of the rental unit with the guest's consent.
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(c) As used in this subsection, the term:
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1. "Swimming pool" has the same meaning as in s. 515.25.
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2. "Vacation rental" has the same meaning as in s.
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509.242(1)(c).
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3. "Water body" means any water or body of water that is
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regularly at a depth of at least 24 inches at its deepest point.
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The term does not include underground water that cannot be
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accessed by a person from an access point located within 150
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feet of the rental unit.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.