Introduction
The State of Florida has been the leader in the regulation of the timeshare
form of real property ownership. In 1976, the Florida Department of Legal
Affairs promulgated the nation’s first timeshare regulation based on Florida’s
"Little FTC" act. The regulations called for a 15-day rescission
period, strict escrow protections until time of deeding, and specifically
enumerated twelve prohibited developer practices including investment emphasis
and sales representations on amenities to be provided in the future if not
financially assured.
Over the years, the State has devoted a great deal of legislative scrutiny to
timesharing by strengthening the law’s enforcement powers, balancing consumer
rights with the needs of the business and making various technical corrections.
Since its inception, Florida’s timeshare law has been amended in twelve
different legislative sessions, most notably in a dramatic extension of the Act
in 1993 to cover multisite
