Employment & Worker Protection · Florida
Florida Non-Compete Law
F.S. 542.335 - enacted in Florida.
- Enacted
- Status
- 1996
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- Florida strictness
The bottom line
Florida Non-Compete Law is an enacted law in Florida, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 1996-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 48/100
- Florida strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Florida legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Florida Non-Compete Law
Florida Non-Compete Law (F.S. 542.335) is an enacted law in Florida under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 1996-01-01 and becomes effective on 1996-01-01. Florida currently reports 3 tracked regulations with 3 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Florida within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in F.S. 542.335 itself.
Applicability under Florida Non-Compete Law: All Florida employers using non-competes. Penalty exposure is documented as: Injunctive relief. Prevailing party attorney fees. Notable exemptions: Sale of business (extended durations). Professional practices..
Summary
Florida enforces non-competes strictly. Courts must enforce "reasonable" agreements. Rebuttable presumption: 6 months or less = reasonable.
Key Requirements
Must protect legitimate business interest. Time: 6 months presumed reasonable, >2 years unreasonable. Geographic: tied to actual operations. No judicial modification allowed.
Penalties
Injunctive relief. Prevailing party attorney fees.
Applicability
All Florida employers using non-competes.
Exemptions
Sale of business (extended durations). Professional practices.
Official Source
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0500-0599/0542/Sections/0542.335.htmlHow Florida compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Florida ranks #13 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Florida is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Florida Non-Compete Law enacted?
Florida Non-Compete Law was enacted on 1996-01-01 and became effective on 1996-01-01. It was introduced as F.S. 542.335.
What are the penalties for violating Florida Non-Compete Law?
Injunctive relief. Prevailing party attorney fees. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Florida Non-Compete Law apply to small businesses?
All Florida employers using non-competes. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Florida compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Florida has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 3 enacted regulations out of 3 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Florida Non-Compete Law?
The official text of Florida Non-Compete Law (F.S. 542.335) is available from the Florida legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Florida Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Florida Non-Compete Law is enacted in Florida, effective 1996-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Florida ranks #13 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Florida tracks across all five policy areas. Florida profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Florida source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.