Florida businesses are not legally required to accept cash payments under state or federal law, but Miami-Dade County has its own rule that protects customers who rely on bills and coins.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has said that private businesses are free to set their own policies on whether they accept cash, unless a state law provides otherwise. Florida has no such law, meaning most businesses across the state can choose to accept only card, mobile app, or other electronic payments, according to the Miami Herald.
Miami-Dade’s local rule
Miami-Dade County is an exception. Since 2022, a county ordinance has prohibited businesses that sell goods or services to the public from refusing cash as a form of payment. Consumers who encounter a business that won’t take cash can file a complaint with the county’s Consumer Protection Division. Businesses that reject cash payments of $20 or less face fines of up to $1,000, though a first offense typically receives only a warning.
Commissioner René García, who championed the ordinance, said the goal was to protect residents who still depend on cash for daily purchases. He said he wanted to ensure that all people, including older adults, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities, continue to have access to events and parks.
The ordinance includes several exceptions. Sales that do not take place in person, such as electronic transactions, are not required to accept cash. Wholesale membership clubs are also exempt, as are certain professional services, including accountants, architects, lawyers, engineers, financial advisors, insurance agents, interior designers, and software developers.
A statewide push that stalled
A 2022 Pew Research Center report found that lower-income people use cash more frequently than those with higher incomes, since obtaining a bank card can require documentation that not everyone can provide.
In 2023, state senator Shevrin Jones introduced a bill that would have required certain businesses across Florida to accept cash. Jones argued that many people still lack access to payment apps or banking services, and that those people cannot participate in the economy if cash is refused. The bill did not pass during the 2024 legislative session.
