- Who can be a Florida registered agent
- The written acceptance every Florida agent signs
- What a Florida registered agent has to do
- The penalty for running without an agent
- How to change your Florida registered agent
- Florida registered agent fees
- When your Florida agent resigns
- A simple checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Every Florida LLC must keep a registered office and a registered agent in Florida under section 605.0113 of the Florida Statutes. The agent can be a Florida resident or an authorized business entity whose business address matches the registered office, and the agent must sign a written acceptance of the role. Changing your agent costs $25, and an agent's resignation from an active LLC costs $85 to file, as of October 2026.
Florida's rules for LLC agents sit in Chapter 605, the Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act. They're clear and fairly strict, and they come with a court penalty that most owners have never heard of. Here's what the statute requires, what it costs, and what to do when your agent walks away.
Who can be a Florida registered agent
Section 605.0113(1) says each LLC, and each foreign LLC with a certificate of authority, must designate and continuously maintain in Florida a registered office, which can be the same as its place of business, and a registered agent. The agent must be one of these:
| Agent | Condition in 605.0113 |
|---|---|
| An individual | Resides in Florida and has a business address identical to the registered office |
| A domestic entity | An authorized entity whose business address is identical to the registered office |
| A foreign entity | Authorized to transact business in Florida, an authorized entity, with a business address identical to the registered office |
An authorized entity, under section 605.0113(6), includes business types such as limited partnerships and limited liability limited partnerships, along with the other entity types listed there. In plain terms, you can be your own agent if you live in Florida and use your Florida business address as the registered office.
The written acceptance every Florida agent signs
This is the step that makes Florida different from many states. Section 605.0113(2) says each initial registered agent, and every successor, must file a written statement with the Department of State accepting the appointment at the same time they're designated. The statement must say the agent is familiar with and accepts the obligations of the position.
So you can't name a friend, a relative or your accountant without their signature. If they haven't signed the acceptance, the filing isn't complete.
What a Florida registered agent has to do
Section 605.0113(3) lists two duties:
- forward any process, notice or demand served on or received by the agent to the company, at the address the company most recently gave the agent
- if the agent resigns, give the company the notice section 605.0115 requires, at that same address
Notice the phrase most recently supplied. If your company moves and you don't tell your agent, they've done their job by forwarding papers to your old address. Keep them updated whenever you move.
The penalty for running without an agent
Section 605.0113(5) is the part to remember. An LLC that hasn't complied with the agent rules may not prosecute or maintain an action in a Florida court until it complies, pays any amounts due to the Department, and, to the extent a court orders it, pays a penalty of $5 for each day it failed to comply, as of October 2026.
In practice, that means a lapsed agent can stop you suing a customer who owes you, right when you need to. It's cheaper to keep the agent current than to fix it in the middle of a dispute.
How to change your Florida registered agent
Under section 605.0114, you deliver a statement of change to the Department of State with the company's name, the name of the new agent if the agent is changing, the street address of the current registered office, and the new street address if the office is moving. If the agent changes, the new agent's written acceptance has to be included or attached.
You don't always need a separate filing. The same section lets you make these changes on your LLC's Florida annual report, in an application for reinstatement, or in an amendment or restatement of your articles of organization.
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Florida registered agent fees
Section 605.0213 sets the Department of State's fees, as of October 2026:
| Filing | Fee in 605.0213 |
|---|---|
| Certificate designating or changing a registered agent | $25 |
| Agent's statement of resignation from an LLC that hasn't been dissolved | $85 |
| Agent's resignation from a dissolved LLC, or a composite resignation from two or more dissolved LLCs | $25 |
| Original articles of organization (for comparison) | $100 |
| Application for reinstatement | $100 |
| Certificate of status | $5 |
Once this one is done, our Wyoming registered agent explainer covers what often comes next.
When your Florida agent resigns
Section 605.0115 lets an agent resign by filing a signed statement of resignation with the company's name, then promptly mailing a copy to the company's current mailing address. The agent is terminated on the earlier of the 31st day after the Department files the resignation, or when a statement of change naming a new agent is filed.
Once the resignation takes effect, the agent isn't responsible for anything served on it afterwards. An agent can resign whether or not the company is active, and an agent resigning from companies that have been dissolved for 10 years or longer can file one composite statement for several of them.
If you operate in more than one state, our Texas registered agent explainer is worth a read.
A simple checklist
- Pick an agent who lives in Florida or a business authorized to act, with a Florida business address.
- Get their signed acceptance before you file your Florida LLC articles.
- Give the agent a mailing address you check, and update it when you move.
- If you change agent, file the statement of change with the new acceptance, or use your annual report.
- If you get a resignation copy in the mail, appoint someone new within the 31 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes, if you live in Florida and your business address is the same as the registered office. You still sign the written acceptance required by section 605.0113(2).
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Florida?
A certificate designating or changing a registered agent costs $25 under section 605.0213, as of October 2026. You can also make the change on your annual report.
What happens if a Florida LLC has no registered agent?
Under section 605.0113(5), it can't bring or maintain a court action in Florida until it complies, pays amounts due and, if a court orders it, pays a penalty of $5 for each day it failed to comply.
How long does a Florida registered agent resignation take?
The agent is terminated on the earlier of the 31st day after the Department files the resignation, or when a statement of change naming a new agent is filed.
Does a Florida registered agent have to accept in writing?
Yes. Every initial and successor agent files a written statement accepting the appointment and confirming they're familiar with the obligations of the position.
