Florida Contract-Driven

Florida Lien Waiver Requirements

Florida lien waiver rules are relatively flexible under state law, but in practice most requirements come from contracts and GC portals. Using the wrong language is one of the most common reasons waivers get kicked back.

Florida does not prescribe a single mandatory lien waiver form. That flexibility often leads to confusion, because GCs and owners frequently impose their own waiver templates through contracts or payment portals.

How Florida lien waivers typically work

  • No universal statutory waiver form
  • Contracts often specify required language
  • Waivers are usually submitted with pay applications
  • Conditional vs unconditional still matters

Choosing the correct waiver in Florida

Florida follows the same two-decision framework used in most non-statutory states:

  1. Has payment actually cleared?
  2. Is this a progress or final billing?

Common Florida billing scenarios

  • Progress + Conditional → most monthly billings
  • Progress + Unconditional → after payment clears
  • Final + Conditional → requesting final payment
  • Final + Unconditional → after final payment clears

Common Florida lien waiver mistakes

  • Ignoring contract-required waiver language
  • Submitting unconditional waivers before payment clears
  • Amounts that don’t match the pay application
  • Missing dates or unclear coverage periods
  • Party names that don’t match the contract

Florida waivers and pay applications

On many Florida projects, lien waivers are reviewed alongside pay applications. Any mismatch between the two can delay approval, even if the waiver itself is technically valid.

How LienWaiverPro helps with Florida waivers

  • Aligns waiver details with pay application data
  • Supports contract-driven waiver language
  • Reduces mismatch errors that cause rejections
  • Generates clean PDFs ready for GC portals
Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Florida lien laws and contract requirements vary by project. Consult a qualified Florida construction attorney for guidance specific to your situation.