Fla. Stat. 689.18
Reverter or forfeiture provisions, limitations; exceptions


(1)

It is hereby declared by the Legislature of the state that reverter or forfeiture provisions of unlimited duration in the conveyance of real estate or any interest therein in the state constitute an unreasonable restraint on alienation and are contrary to the public policy of the state.

(2)

All reverter or forfeiture provisions of unlimited duration embodied in any plat or deed executed more than 21 years prior to the passage of this law conveying real estate or any interest therein in the state, be and the same are hereby canceled and annulled and declared to be of no further force and effect.

(3)

All reverter provisions in any conveyance of real estate or any interest therein in the state, now in force, shall cease and terminate and become null, void, and unenforceable 21 years from the date of the conveyance embodying such reverter or forfeiture provision.

(4)

No reverter or forfeiture provision contained in any deed conveying real estate or any interest therein in the state, executed on and after July 1, 1951, shall be valid and binding more than 21 years from the date of such deed, and upon the expiration of such period of 21 years, the reverter or forfeiture provision shall become null, void, and unenforceable.

(5)

Any and all conveyances of real property in this state heretofore or hereafter made to any governmental, educational, literary, scientific, religious, public utility, public transportation, charitable or nonprofit corporation or association are hereby excepted from the provisions of this section.

(6)

Any holder of a possibility of reverter who claims title to any real property in the state, or any interest therein by reason of a reversion or forfeiture under the terms or provisions of any deed heretofore executed and delivered containing such reverter or forfeiture provision shall have 1 year from July 1, 1951, to institute suit in a court of competent jurisdiction in this state to establish or enforce such right, and failure to institute such action within said time shall be conclusive evidence of the abandonment of any such right, title, or interest, and all right of forfeiture or reversion shall thereupon cease and determine, and become null, void, and unenforceable.

(7)

This section shall not vary, alter, or terminate the restrictions placed upon said real estate, contained either in restrictive covenants or reverter or forfeiture clauses, and all said restrictions may be enforced and violations thereof restrained by a court of competent jurisdiction whenever any one of said restrictions or conditions shall be violated, or threat to violate the same be made by owners or parties in possession or control of said real estate, by an injunction which may be issued upon petition of any person adversely affected, mandatorily requiring the abatement of such violations or threatened violation and restraining any future violation of said restrictions and conditions.

Source: Section 689.18 — Reverter or forfeiture provisions, limitations; exceptions, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0689.­18 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

689.01
How real estate conveyed
689.02
Form of warranty deed prescribed
689.03
Effect of such deed
689.04
How executed
689.05
How declarations of trust proved
689.06
How trust estate conveyed
689.07
“Trustee” or “as trustee” added to name of grantee, transferee, assignee, or mortgagee transfers interest or creates lien as if additional word or words not used
689.08
Fines and common recoveries
689.09
Deeds under statute of uses
689.10
Words of limitation and the words “fee simple” dispensed with
689.11
Conveyances between husband and wife direct
689.12
How state lands conveyed for educational purposes
689.13
Rule against perpetuities not applicable to dispositions of property for private cemeteries, etc
689.14
Entailed estates
689.15
Estates by survivorship
689.17
Rule in Shelley’s Case abolished
689.18
Reverter or forfeiture provisions, limitations
689.19
Variances of names in recorded instruments
689.20
Limitation on use of word “minerals.”
689.25
Failure to disclose homicide, suicide, deaths, or diagnosis of HIV or AIDS infection in an occupant of real property
689.025
Form of quitclaim deed prescribed
689.27
Termination by servicemember of agreement to purchase real property
689.28
Prohibition against transfer fee covenants
689.29
Disclosure of subsurface rights to prospective purchaser
689.041
Curative procedure for scrivener’s errors in deeds
689.045
Conveyances to or by partnership
689.071
Florida Land Trust Act
689.072
Real estate interests transferred to or by a custodian or trustee of an individual retirement account or qualified plan
689.073
Powers conferred on trustee in recorded instrument
689.075
Inter vivos trusts
689.111
Conveyances of homestead
689.115
Estate by the entirety in mortgage made or assigned to husband and wife
689.175
Worthier title doctrine abolished
689.225
Statutory rule against perpetuities
689.261
Sale of residential property
689.301
Disclosure of known defects in sanitary sewer laterals to prospective purchaser
689.302
Disclosure of flood risks to prospective purchaser

Current through Fall 2025

§ 689.18. Reverter or forfeiture provisions, limitations; exceptions's source at flsenate​.gov