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2025 Legislative Wins: Key Real Estate Policy Changes for Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors

2025 Legislative Wins: Key Real Estate Policy Changes for Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors

By Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors®

May 8th, 2025



Florida’s 2025 legislative session brought significant victories for Realtors and property owners. Here’s a breakdown of the most important new laws – and what they mean for the Bonita Springs and Estero real estate market.


Greater Condo Transparency and Buyer Protections (HB 913)



What changed: A new law boosts transparency in condominium transactions. Condo associations must now post the past 12 months of board meeting minutes on a public website, revealing any pending special assessments not yet formally (adoptedfloridarealtors.org). Additionally, condo buyers now have 7 days (up from 3 days) to cancel a purchase contract after receiving the association’s governing (documentsfloridarealtors.org.) (Effective July 1, 2025)


Why it matters: Bonita Springs and Estero have many condo communities, so this increased transparency is a big win for our market. Buyers can more easily discover looming expenses – for example, if a condo board has been discussing a future roof replacement or hurricane repairs in meeting (minutesfloridarealtors.org). The extended cancellation window gives buyers extra time to review complex condo documents and back out if they find unwelcome surprises. For local Realtors, these changes mean fewer last-minute shocks that could derail closings and reduced risk of post-sale disputes over undisclosed (issuesfloridarealtors.org). Overall, smoother condo sales build confidence in our market.


Streamlined Hurricane Recovery Permitting (SB 180)


What changed: In the wake of recent storms, lawmakers approved measures to simplify post-hurricane rebuilding. Every Florida city and county must create a dedicated online “Hurricane Recovery Permitting” guide for property owners, outlining steps and elevation requirements for rebuilding after major storm (damagefloridarealtors.org). Importantly, local governments participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (which includes our area) can no longer enforce extra “lookback” rules that counted past renovations against the 50% rebuilding (thresholdfloridarealtors.org). In short, if your property needs repairs, you won’t be penalized for improvements made years ago beyond what federal flood rules require. (Effective July 1, 2025)


Why it matters: After Hurricane Ian’s devastation in 2022, our community learned how critical clear rebuilding rules are. (Bonita Springs was near Ian’s epicenter with widespread property destructionhurricanedamage.com.) This law ensures that local governments provide a one-stop resource for homeowners to navigate post-storm (permittingfloridarealtors.org). It also prevents onerous local regulations from hindering repairs – so an owner fixing up a flooded home in Bonita or Estero can do so according to standard flood guidelines without unexpected local “lookback” penalties. Faster, clearer permitting means quicker recovery for our neighborhoods and less confusion for Realtors advising clients on rehab projects after a storm.


Safeguarding State Parks and Natural Assets (HB 209)


What changed: Florida is reinforcing its commitment to conservation in state parks. The new law directs that state-owned lands be used for conservation-based recreation, and it restricts any construction in state parks that could harm the (environmentfloridarealtors.org). Even proposals to add amenities like camping cabins face limits – cabins are allowed only if they don’t damage natural (resourcesfloridarealtors.org). The law also sets improved timelines for public input on state land decisions. (Effective July 1, 2025)


Why it matters: Our region is home to treasured state parks like Lovers Key State Park (which draws roughly 750,000+ visitors each (yearfriendsofloverskey.org) and Koreshan State Park in Estero. Protecting these parks from environmentally harmful development helps preserve the natural beauty and quality of life that attract residents and buyers to Bonita-Estero. For Realtors, this is a selling point – we can assure clients that Florida is actively safeguarding parks, beaches, and green spaces. Stable, well-protected parks bolster property values and tourism, and this law ensures our “paradise” remains an asset for generations to come.


Removing Squatters from Vacation Rentals (SB 606)


What changed: A victory for property rights – vacation rental owners and hoteliers now have a clearer legal path to remove squatters or unruly guests. SB 606 clarifies when a stay is considered “temporary” and establishes firm rules for removing guests who overstay or refuse to leave, treating them as trespassers rather than requiring a lengthy eviction (processfloridarealtors.org). Law enforcement is explicitly authorized to arrest guests who won’t depart when their rental period is (overfloridarealtors.org). (Effective July 1, 2025)


Why it matters: The Bonita Springs and Estero area sees a lot of short-term vacation rentals – from beach condos to golf community homes – and most owners are remote investors or seasonal residents. This law gives those owners peace of mind that if a guest turns into an unauthorized squatter, they can be promptly removed by police under clear (rulesfloridarealtors.org). Realtors who help clients buy investment rentals or manage vacation properties will benefit from fewer nightmare scenarios where an occupant refuses to vacate. Ultimately, strengthening these property rights encourages investment in our vacation rental market and protects the community (and neighbors) from the disturbances prolonged squatters can cause.


Cracking Down on Commercial Squatters and Scams (SB 322)




What changed: Another new law targets illegal squatters in vacant commercial buildings and other properties. SB 322 lets property owners go straight to the county sheriff with a complaint to initiate immediate removal of trespassers, instead of enduring a drawn-out eviction (lawsuitfloridarealtors.org). The penalties for any damage caused by squatters are increased to further deter (break-insfloridarealtors.org). Notably, the law also addresses fraudulent property listings – preventing scammers from, for example, pretending to rent out or sell a property they don’t (ownfloridarealtors.org). (Effective July 1, 2025)


Why it matters: While this law applies statewide, it has practical local impact. Southwest Florida has seen instances of vacant homes or storefronts being occupied or even listed for rent by people with no ownership. Now, commercial landlords in Bonita-Estero can reclaim their properties faster if squatters slip (infloridarealtors.org). This is good news for areas with seasonal vacancies (like shops in the off-season or homes left vacant by snowbirds). For our members in commercial real estate, it means less downtime and expense in dealing with unauthorized occupants. The crackdown on fake listings also protects Realtors and consumers – helping to weed out scams that could tarnish our market’s reputation.


Modernizing Landlord-Tenant Communications (HB 615)


What changed: Property managers and landlords can now use email for official notices to tenants, as long as both parties agree in writing (such as an addendum in the lease) (floridarealtors.org). Under HB 615, if landlord and tenant opt in, emails count as legally delivered notices (for things like lease termination, renewal offers, or repair notices) at the time sent, provided no bounce-back is (receivedfloridarealtors.org). Either party can revert to paper with written notice, and senders must keep a copy of the email and proof of (sendingfloridarealtors.org). (Effective July 1, 2025)


Why it matters: This is a practical update that catches the law up with modern life. In our region, many rental property owners and tenants are frequently away or manage their affairs remotely – think of an out-of-state owner of a Bonita Springs condo, or a tenant who travels for work. Being able to send official notices by email (with consent) saves time and (hasslefloridarealtors.org). For local Realtors involved in property management, it means faster communication and documentation when handling leases. For example, delivering a notice to renew or terminate can be as quick as hitting “send,” rather than mailing certified letters or pinning notes to doors. It’s important, however, to get that written agreement upfront and to keep records, but this change ultimately streamlines rental interactions and reduces paperwork.


New Flood-Risk Disclosure for Renters & Buyers (SB 948)


What changed: Building on recent flood transparency efforts, Florida now requires landlords to disclose a property’s flood risk to new tenants signing a lease of at least one (yearfloridarealtors.org). Landlords must provide the same “flood disclosure” form that home sellers must give buyers, detailing any known flood zone status or past flood damage, before a lease is (signedfloridarealtors.org). The law also closes a gap by obligating developers of condos, co-ops, and mobile home parks to give this flood-risk info to prospective purchasers of new (unitsfloridarealtors.org). (Effective October 1, 2025)


Why it matters: Flooding is a reality in parts of Bonita Springs and Estero – from riverfront neighborhoods to low-lying coastal zones – so transparent risk information is critical for our clients. Renters often overlook flood risk, only to find out the hard way during a heavy storm. Now, before a long-term tenant commits to a home, they’ll be informed if, say, the house is in a FEMA flood zone or has a history of (floodingfloridarealtors.org). This helps renters make safer choices (and consider renter’s flood insurance for their belongings). For Realtors, it means if you’re assisting landlords or working with property managers, you need to incorporate this disclosure in your leasing process. By avoiding nasty surprises from future floods, we also reduce legal disputes – tenants can’t claim they weren’t warned, since the risk is acknowledged (upfrontfloridarealtors.org). In the big picture, more awareness of flood zones in our area may encourage proactive mitigation, which benefits the whole community’s resiliency.


Bottom Line for BER Realtors


These 2025 legislative wins directly address everyday challenges we face in our market – from condo deal hurdles to hurricane recovery, squatters, and beyond. Each new law streamlines our business and adds protections for property owners and consumers. As Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors, we should familiarize ourselves with these changes and share the news with clients. Whether it’s explaining the new condo disclosure rules to a buyer or updating a lease agreement to allow emailed notices, staying ahead of these policies will give you and your clients a competitive edge locally. Above all, this session’s successes underscore the value of Realtor advocacy: when we speak up in Tallahassee, our local real estate industry (winsfloridarealtors.orgfloridarealtors.org). Here’s to a stronger, more transparent market in 2025 and beyond!


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