{"id":3195,"date":"2026-10-24T04:35:41","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T04:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawayala.com\/resources\/resources-business-real-estate-disputes-florida\/resources-commercial-tenant-lockout-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T08:30:55","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T08:30:55","slug":"resources-commercial-tenant-lockout-florida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lawayala.com\/resources\/resources-business-real-estate-disputes-florida\/resources-commercial-tenant-lockout-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Landlord Changed the Locks? Florida Commercial Tenant Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Commercial Litigation | Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County<\/p>

Landlord Changed the Locks? Know Where a Florida Business Tenant Stands<\/h1>

Ayala Law PA focuses on commercial and real estate litigation for businesses and entrepreneurs in Florida courts. If your landlord has locked you out of your commercial space, talk with our team about the lease, the facts and your options.<\/p>

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By Eduardo A. Maura \u00b7 Published October 24, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Generally, a landlord cannot change the locks on a business tenant in Florida and take the space back on its own. In most cases, the landlord must use the court system. This page explains how Florida’s commercial tenancy rules work, what a lockout often looks like, and which records to gather now.<\/p>\n

The Short Answer: Florida Generally Requires a Court Process<\/h2>\n

Changing the locks is a self-help step, and Florida’s commercial tenancy rules point to the courts instead. A claim that the tenant owes rent or broke the lease is not the same as a right to take the space.<\/p>\n

The answer depends on the facts, including what the lease says and whether the tenant has already moved out. Even so, a lockout without a court order can add a second dispute to the first one.<\/p>\n

The sooner a business acts after a lockout, the more options it generally has. Waiting can make it harder to show what happened and when.<\/p>\n\n

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If your business is locked out of its space, or your landlord has threatened to change the locks, you can call (305) 570-2208 to talk through your lease with our team. Talk it through with our team — we can walk you through how a situation like yours is usually handled and what your options are.<\/p>

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Which Florida Statute Governs Commercial Tenancies<\/h2>\n

Part I of Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes governs commercial tenancies. Fla. Stat. \u00a7 83.001<\/a> says the part applies to nonresidential tenancies and to all tenancies not governed by Part II of the chapter.<\/p>\n

Many business disputes involve commercial space, such as a store, office or warehouse. Business owners often find residential rules first when they search for eviction help. Check which part of the chapter applies to your lease before you act.<\/p>\n

Chapter 83 also covers money owed when a tenant stays past the lease. Fla. Stat. \u00a7 83.06<\/a> says that when a tenant refuses to give up possession at the end of the lease, the landlord may demand double the monthly rent. The statute also says the landlord may recover that amount by distress, in the manner the statute describes.<\/p>\n

What a Self-Help Lockout Looks Like<\/h2>\n

A self-help lockout happens when a landlord takes back space without a court order. It often takes one of these forms:<\/p>\n