By Ryan Searles 

Florida House Bill 837 is a new law designed to limit a multifamily owner/operator’s liability against third-party crime on the property.  

To comply, your residential properties (apartments, townhouses, and condominiums with five or more units) must be assessed by a Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) practitioner or law enforcement agency by Jan. 1, 2025, and reviewed every three years after that.  

The assessment will document your property meets certain security measurements, including:  

  • A security camera system that captures views of the entry and exit. The system must be able to record and maintain footage (for at least 30 days). 
  • Parking lot illumination from dusk to dawn of at least 1.8 foot-candles per square foot at 18 inches or controlled by photocell or similar technology. 
  • Communal areas, like walkways, laundry rooms, and porches, must be lit from dusk until dawn or controlled by photocell or similar technology. 
  • One-inch deadbolts are required on unit doors. 
  • Locking devices are required on windows, exterior sliding doors, and other doors that aren’t used by the whole community. 
  • Pools are fenced and need key or fob access.  
  • For units without a window next to the door, a peephole or door viewer is needed.  

To verify your property meets these requirements, your CPTED practitioner can perform a preliminary study to pinpoint any areas that may need to be addressed before the official assessment.  

In addition, the law requires employees to undergo crime deterrence and safety training by Jan. 1, 2025. New employees after that date must have training within 60 days of hiring. Your CPTED practitioner can also help you create or review training materials, so you know they meet the legal requirements. 

Owners may not realize the new law does not encompass all aspects of CPTED, which is based on four principles: natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, natural access control, and maintenance. CPTED practitioners can also create a plan to improve or add CPTED strategies to your property or offer consultations to incorporate the principles during the design stage of a new build. Incorporating these crime deterrence strategies into your properties is a good practice. We expect more states and municipalities will adopt CPTED requirements in the future.  

For a deeper understanding of the principles, read my blog, “CPTED and Placemaking: Integrating landscape architecture and security for safer environments.”  

By following these steps, you can minimize potential liability and make your properties safer for residents and staff.