Florida’s Anti-HOA Bill May End Up Hurting Homeowners

New Bill Could Backfire on Homeowners

A new Florida bill would let neighborhoods dissolve their homeowners associations by majority vote. For the 3.9 million Florida homes governed by HOAs, that sounds like freedom from rising fees and petty rules.

But real estate experts are warning that the costs HOAs cover do not disappear when the association does. They just land on individual homeowners, often with nobody to coordinate payments or maintenance.

The bill is moving through the legislature right now, and what happens next could reshape neighborhoods across the state.

Just 20 Percent Can Force a Vote

House Bill 657 would begin the dissolution process when 20 percent of homeowners sign a petition. That triggers a mandatory community meeting within 60 days.

To actually abolish the HOA, two-thirds of all voting members must approve. If the vote fails, residents must wait 18 months before trying again.

State Representative Juan Carlos Porras, who filed the bill in December 2025, called HOAs a “failed experiment” that act like a “quasi-elected pseudo-government” with more power than many cities and counties.

Fees Jumped 60 Percent in Four Years

Between 2019 and 2023, the median monthly condo association fee surged by nearly 60 percent in Miami-Dade County, from $567 to $900.

Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale saw fees climb more than 15 percent in just one year. In Tampa, HOA fees reached a median of $614 per month as of July 2024, the steepest increase among 43 U.S. metro areas.

Many buildings without amenities now have dues topping $1,000 monthly. The increases are forcing some residents out of homes they have owned for years.

Surfside Collapse Changed Everything

On June 24, 2021, a 12-story beachfront condominium in Surfside disintegrated, killing 98 people.

In May 2022, Florida passed Senate Bill 4-D in response, requiring statewide recertification of condominiums over three stories tall.

Associations can no longer waive or underfund their reserves for structural repairs.

The new rules protect residents, but they also mean inspections, engineering studies, and reserve funds that cost tens of thousands of dollars, all passed along through higher monthly fees.

HOA Homes Sell for More Money

A study from George Mason University found that homes run by HOAs usually sell for 5 percent to 6 percent more than comparable properties without one.

That premium exists because buyers value maintained common areas, enforced standards, and shared amenities.

Dissolving an HOA means not only potentially losing that value on the market, but experts also warn that the costs shouldered by HOAs will not disappear but will simply shift onto owners.

In a state where home prices are already softening, that could hurt sellers twice.

Florida Home Values Already Falling

In 2026, median sales prices for existing homes and condominiums in Florida’s eight largest metro areas are expected to decline by an average of 1. 9 percent.

The most severe drops are anticipated in Gulf Coast markets, where Cape Coral, North Port, and Tampa are predicted to see falls of 10. 2 percent, 8.9 percent, and 3. 6 percent, respectively.

Critics say this is the wrong time to remove HOA protections that help maintain property values. Buyers already hesitant about Florida may think twice about neighborhoods without professional management.

Private Roads Become Your Problem

Private roads and stormwater ponds are the most troublesome to relinquish, because no one wants to bear the cost.

Most Florida HOAs maintain roads, gates, retention ponds, and drainage systems that local governments never agreed to take over.

Critics say the bill does not fully address surface water permits, private roads, and long-term maintenance obligations.

If the county refuses responsibility, homeowners must figure out how to split costs and coordinate repairs among themselves, often without any legal structure to enforce payment.

Neighbors Must Sue Each Other

Dissolving an HOA does not erase deed restrictions. Rules about fences, paint colors, and parking may still technically apply.

But without an association, if someone is injured in a common area, they would sue individuals personally, meaning you lose the protection of the HOA and still own the land and still have to maintain it.

If your neighbor lets their yard turn into a jungle or parks six cars in their driveway, your only option is to hire a lawyer and take them to court yourself.

Retirees Are Selling and Leaving

The financial strain is particularly challenging for retirees and those on fixed incomes, many of whom are being forced to sell and relocate because they cannot keep up with the payments.

Special assessments of $20,000 or more have blindsided owners in some communities. For people who planned to age in place, the math no longer works.

Some are choosing to sell now rather than gamble on whether their HOA will dissolve and leave them personally responsible for crumbling infrastructure.

Critics Say Chaos Will Follow

One critic warned dissolving HOAs could create widespread instability, saying it would be “borderline lawless.”

Real estate professionals point out that the bill does not explain what happens to pools, clubhouses, or security gates when an association disappears.

A top agent told one outlet that while some homeowners value the freedom, others may struggle with uneven standards and shared decision-making without a formal structure.

Before voting, she said, homeowners should carefully consider how dissolution could affect property values and relationships with neighbors.

45 Percent of Florida Homes Have HOAs

A full 45 percent of Florida homes are part of a homeowner association, the highest percentage by far among all U.S.states.

That is 3.9 million properties out of 8.6 million total. Florida residents pay nearly $19.5 billion annually in assessments to maintain their communities.

The sheer scale means any change to HOA law affects millions of people and billions of dollars in property value.

What happens in Florida could influence how other states approach similar reforms.

The Bill May Never Reach the Governor

HB 657 must still clear House and Senate committees and be signed by the governor. There is currently no companion bill in the Senate.

Without one, even a successful House vote means nothing. If approved, the changes would take effect in July 2026.

For now, frustrated homeowners can watch the legislature, attend HOA meetings, and push for reforms short of dissolution.

The bill has started a conversation, but whether it becomes law is far from certain.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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