🏨 Florida’s New “No Pay, No Stay” Law
What Property Owners & Hoteliers Need to Know!
As of July 1, 2025, Florida has a new law that gives hotel owners and short-term rental operators more power to deal with guests who don’t pay or refuse to leave. It’s called Senate Bill 606, nicknamed the “No Pay, No Stay” law, and it’s designed to help property owners avoid long, frustrating eviction battles with non-paying guests.
But while this law makes things easier in many ways, it also introduces new rules that every property owner should understand.
🛏️ What’s the Difference Between a Guest and a Tenant?
One of the biggest changes in the law is how it defines who’s considered a short-term guest (called a “transient”) and who’s considered a long-term occupant (a “nontransient” or tenant).
Here’s the breakdown:
- A transient guest is someone staying for less than 30 days, unless they have a written agreement saying the unit is their only home.
- A nontransient guest is someone staying for more than 30 days, or someone with a lease that says the property is their primary residence.
Why does this matter? Because it determines whether you can ask law enforcement to remove someone quickly, or whether you have to go through a formal eviction process. This new law makes that line much clearer.
🚓 Can I Call the Police to Remove a Guest?
Yes, under the new law, if a guest refuses to leave after their stay is over, doesn’t pay, or breaks your property’s rules, you can now call law enforcement to have them removed. Before this law, even if someone didn’t have a lease, you often had to go through a full eviction process, which could take weeks or months.
Now, if someone is clearly a short-term guest and they’re violating your policies, you have more immediate options.
⚠️ But be careful: If you remove someone improperly, they can sue you. That means you still need to follow the right steps and document everything.
🧾 What Should Property Owners Do Now?
If you run a hotel, vacation rental, or any short-term lodging, here’s how to stay protected and compliant:
- ✅ Post clear checkout and payment policies – Make sure guests know when they need to leave and what happens if they don’t pay.
- 📝 Document everything – Keep records of guest communications, complaints, and any notices you give.
- 📄 Update your contracts and house rules – Make sure your terms reflect the new law and are easy to understand.
- 👥 Train your staff – Everyone on your team should know how to handle situations with non-paying or overstaying guests.
🛡️ Protect Your Property—The Right Way
The “No Pay, No Stay” law gives property owners more control, but it also comes with new responsibilities. With the right legal guidance, you can take full advantage of these protections while avoiding costly mistakes.
At Gulati Law, we help hotel and rental property owners navigate Florida’s evolving laws. If you have questions about SB 606, rental agreements, or how to protect your property, reach out to us today.
📞 Contact us
🌐 Visit us at www.GulatiLaw.com
