Managed IT and Cybersecurity in Florida

Fla. Stat. § 501.171. Notice to affected people: within 30 days.

Florida's breach law is section 501.171 of the Florida Statutes. A covered business must notify affected individuals no later than 30 days after it determines a breach occurred or has reason to believe one did. A law enforcement delay or a waiver can change that.

If a breach affects 500 or more individuals in Florida, the business must also notify the Department of Legal Affairs within 30 days, with a possible 15 day extension for good cause. A third party agent that holds the data must tell the business within 10 days. Civil penalties for late notice run $1,000 for each day during the first 30 days, with higher amounts after that, up to $500,000.

Florida's Digital Bill of Rights (section 501.701 and following) reaches only controllers with more than $1 billion in global annual revenue that also meet one of three further tests, such as running a large app store. A typical small business is outside it. The breach law above is the one that applies to most Florida businesses.

This is a plain language summary for orientation, reviewed in October 2026. It is not legal advice. Ask counsel about your own facts.