Castle Doctrine in Florida
State-specific overview · Criminal Law
Florida's Stand Your Ground law eliminates retreat duty everywhere and presumes reasonable force against unlawful intruders.
How Florida treats Castle Doctrine
Florida Statute 776.013 creates a strong presumption that you acted reasonably and lawfully when using force against someone unlawfully and forcibly entering your home, vehicle, or workplace. You have no duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be. Florida also grants immunity from criminal prosecution and civil liability if you use justified force. The law applies to any unlawful and forcible entry, not just burglary.
The general definition of Castle Doctrine
A law stating that a person's home is their castle and they can use force to defend it without duty to retreat.
The castle doctrine is a legal principle that treats a person's home as a safe place where they have the right to defend themselves and their family with force, including deadly force, without any duty to retreat. The doctrine applies specifically to your own home and sometimes extends to your vehicle or workplace. It's based on the idea that your home is your private sanctuary where you should feel secure. The castle doctrine is narrower than stand your ground laws because it applies only to your own property, not public spaces.
Read the full Castle Doctrine entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Florida.