Guide Florida (FL)

Florida utility billing and RUBS: what landlords should know

By MeterEase · Updated October 14, 2026

Florida addresses water resale and electric apportionment, and some counties add their own rules. Fla. Stat. § 367.022 exempts landlords who resell water at no more than cost (plus limited meter-reading and billing costs) from utility regulation, PSC Rule 25-6.049 allows reasonable apportionment of master-metered electricity where individual meters are not required, and Miami-Dade County has its own remetering ordinance.

What the Florida sources say

Fla. Stat. § 367.022(8)–(9): a person who resells water or wastewater at no more than the actual purchase price, or resells water to tenants for no more than the purchase price plus the actual cost of meter reading and billing (capped at 9 percent of the cost of service), is exempt from regulation as a utility.
Fla. Admin. Code R. 25-6.049: where master metering is used instead of individual meters, reasonable apportionment methods, including submetering, may be used to allocate the cost of electricity billed by the utility.
Fla. Stat. § 83.67: a landlord may not cause utility service to a tenant to be shut off or interrupted, even if the landlord controls or pays for it.
Miami-Dade County’s remetering ordinance sets its own rules for water submetering and bills. Other counties and water authorities may too.

Each point links to its source at the bottom of this page. Rules change, and cities, counties and utilities can add their own. Read the source before you rely on it.

Where the sources are thin

We did not find a Florida statute that spells out RUBS methods for apartments. The state sources cover water resale pricing and electric apportionment, and local rules vary. Check your lease and local rules.

Common lease and disclosure practices

State in the lease which utilities are billed back, the method, and any billing fee.
Keep total tenant charges at or below the master bill plus any fee your rules allow.
Never threaten or use a utility shutoff to collect (§ 83.67).

Electricity and gas

PSC Rule 25-6.049 allows reasonable apportionment of master-metered electricity, but generally requires individual electric meters in newer buildings. Check with your utility before billing electricity.

How to split it fairly

Where a formula split is allowed, pick one method, put it in the lease, and use it every month. Water tends to follow the number of people, so occupants or a blend of occupants and square footage is common. Trash is usually split equally per unit. Take common-area use out first if your rules call for it, and never bill tenants more in total than the master bill plus any fee your rules allow.

Run your units through the free RUBS calculator to see each tenant’s share.
Compare methods in square footage vs occupants.
Send each tenant the master bill total, the method, their factor and their amount. The tenant utility bill template shows a layout.
Want it done every month? Sign up for MeterEase and it emails each tenant their share with the source bill attached, after you check the numbers.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes public sources in plain English as of the date above. It is not legal advice and does not mean any billing method complies with the law for your property. Check your lease and local rules, and talk to a Florida attorney if you are unsure.

Other states

Run this split every month without the spreadsheet

MeterEase reads the master bill PDF, applies your method and vacancy rule, and emails each tenant their share with the source bill attached, after you check the numbers. Plans start at $14/month.

Questions

Can Florida landlords charge tenants for water?

Florida law contemplates landlords reselling water to tenants: Fla. Stat. § 367.022 exempts landlords who charge no more than cost, plus limited meter-reading and billing costs, from utility regulation. Local ordinances, such as Miami-Dade’s, can add rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

Is RUBS allowed in Miami-Dade?

Miami-Dade County has its own remetering ordinance for water billing. Read it, or ask the county water department, before billing tenants by formula there.

Can a Florida landlord shut off water for unpaid utility charges?

No. Fla. Stat. § 83.67 bars a landlord from causing utility service to a tenant to be interrupted.

Related guides

Sources

Example numbers on this page are made up to show the math. This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules differ by state, city and utility.