Florida lending rules
Personalloaner covers 411 Census places in Florida, which together hold an estimated 11,285,844 people. Licensed lenders set personal-loan terms here under Florida law, and the sourced rules below reach every borrower in the state.
Key rules for borrowers in Florida
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". |
Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". |
Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". |
Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". |
Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". |
Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
Places we cover in Florida
The Census Bureau counts 411 places in Florida, and the largest are linked below.
Common questions
How high can interest rates legally go in Florida?
The answer turns on the product and on which statute applies to it. This page's table sets out Florida's usury cap and licensing rules, and each row carries its publisher and a link to the primary source.
What is Florida's position on payday lending?
Each state handles payday lending on its own: some permit it, some cap it, some prohibit it. The sourced row on this page gives Florida's current position.
How do I know a lender is licensed in Florida?
Consumer lenders generally need a licence issued by the state regulator identified on this page. Verify that licence with the regulator before you commit to anything.