Florida Non-Compete Law
F.S. 542.335
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 last verified this entry on 2026-03-18.
Nationally, 107 states have enacted employment & worker protection statutes 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.htmlFrequently 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 last verification (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
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| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | Public state legislatures, IAPP, NCSL, and federal regulatory trackers |