Foreign Principal Registration

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Effective July 1, 2023, specified foreign principals are prohibited from owning, having a controlling interest, or acquiring by any means more than a de minimis indirect interest in agricultural land in Florida. If a foreign principal owns or acquires interest in such land prior to July 1, 2023, the foreign principal must register with FDACS by January 1, 2024. Failure to timely register subjects a foreign principal to civil penalties.

Agricultural land means land classified as agricultural by the property appraiser for tax assessment purposes as defined by s. 193.461, F.S.

Foreign principals are defined through their connections to statutorily designated foreign countries of concern. Foreign countries of concern are identified specifically as the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity of significant control of such foreign country of concern.

A foreign principal is:

  • The government or any official of the government of a foreign country of concern.

  • A political party or member of a political party or any subdivision of a political party in a foreign country of concern.

  • A partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the law of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country of concern or a subsidiary of such entity.

  • Any person who is domiciled in a foreign country of concern and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

  • Any person, entity, or collection of persons or entities, as described above, having a controlling interest in a partnership, association, corporation, organization, trust, or any other legal entity or subsidiary formed for the purpose of owning real property in this state.

Program Resources

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Section 692.201, Florida Statutes         ​

Section 692.202, Florida Statutes