Jacksonville Sheriff's Office addresses 'squatting' law that takes effect July 1

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is reminding homeowners of the new “squatting” law that goes into effect July 1.

The new law was established to “defend the rights of residential property owners with respect to persons found illegally occupying, or 'squatting,' a residence owned by them,” JSO said in a news release Thursday.

Read: Governor DeSantis signs bill targeting 'residential squatters'

If you are the owner or agent of a residential property and someone is illegally occupying it and refuses to vacate it, you can ask JSO to remove it.

However, for the police to enforce the law, all of the following conditions must be met:

• The applicant is the landowner or his agent.

• The occupied real estate includes residential accommodation.

• One or more unauthorized persons have entered illegally and remain or continue to reside on the owner's property.

• The building was not open to the public at the time the unauthorized person(s) entered.

• The owner ordered the unauthorized person to leave the property.

• The unauthorized person(s) are not current or former tenants under any written or oral rental agreement authorized by the landlord.

• The unauthorized person(s) are not immediate family members of the owner.

• There are no pending disputes regarding the real property between the owner and any known unauthorized persons.

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When the law takes effect, you will need to fill out a form on the JSO website and then call the non-emergency number.

Then an agent will respond and determine next steps.

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