Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two new bills into law this week targeting squatting and unauthorized occupancy on private property. At a press conference in Sarasota attended by local officials and business leaders, DeSantis promoted the measures as tools to help property owners and law enforcement take faster action against squatters. The laws, Senate Bill 322 and Senate Bill 606, are set to take effect on July 1 and reflect a growing trend of states addressing the issue through tougher enforcement rules.
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Streamlining Property Repossession
Governor DeSantis described the new laws as giving property owners a more straightforward path to reclaim control over properties taken over by unauthorized occupants. The key change is the establishment of a process that does not require a court order to remove squatters, allowing local sheriffs to act directly in certain cases.
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Commercial Property Protections
Senate Bill 322 specifically targets commercial real estate. It provides counties with a legal process outside of the court system to authorize sheriffs to remove individuals unlawfully occupying commercial properties. This includes motels and other residential businesses affected by squatters who do not pay or have been asked to leave.
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Law Enforcement to Take Lead Role
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman supported the legislation, noting that his department already conducts nearly 700 evictions annually. He said the new laws reinforce the role of sheriffs in upholding property laws and responding swiftly to squatting incidents.
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Not Intended to Target the Homeless
Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, the House sponsor of SB 322, clarified that the legislation is not intended to criminalize homelessness. She explained that if individuals cooperate with law enforcement, they will not face prosecution under the new rules. However, she acknowledged the difficulty in tracking squatting trends due to limited data.
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Rising Homelessness in Florida
Since 2021, Florida’s homeless population has grown by nearly 49 percent, increasing from 21,141 to 31,462 according to data from Florida Health. This increase has occurred alongside surging rent and mortgage rates across the state. Although the connection between squatting and homelessness remains debated, Gossett-Seidman suggested that housing insecurity may play a role.
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Orlando Among Cities with High Squatting Rates
A survey by the National Rental Home Council ranked Orlando as having the third-highest rate of squatting incidents in Florida. While this data has been cited by lawmakers, critics argue that the methodology lacks transparency and the findings are hard to verify beyond media summaries.
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Critics Warn of Unintended Consequences
The National Housing Law Project, a national advocacy group focused on low-income housing issues, raised concerns about anti-squatting laws in a 2024 report. The group warned that such laws could lead to wrongful evictions, violent confrontations, and misuse by landlords to pressure tenants. They also questioned the credibility of the National Rental Home Council’s squatting data.
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Political Backdrop and Public Messaging
Governor DeSantis used the bill-signing event to emphasize Florida’s law-and-order stance in contrast to other states. Standing behind a lectern labelled “No Tolerance for Squatting,” he drew comparisons to California and New York. Attendees included key local officials such as Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche and State Senators Jim Boyd and Joe Gruters. One audience member displayed a shirt that read “Don’t California My Florida,” echoing the governor’s frequent messaging against progressive housing policies elsewhere.
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