The maximum speed limit in Florida is 70 mph on limited-access highways such as I-95, I-75 and I-4, 65 mph on rural divided highways and 60 mph on other state highways. In towns the default is 30 mph, and school zones in urbanized areas are no more than 20 mph. Speed cameras in Florida are allowed only in school zones.
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Limited-access highways, including interstates | Maximum 70 mph |
| Four or more lanes with a median, outside an urban area of 5,000 or more | Maximum 65 mph |
| Other state highways | Maximum 60 mph |
| Business or residence district | 30 mph unless posted otherwise |
| Local residence streets, after a local finding | 20 or 25 mph |
| All other locations with no posted limit | 55 mph |
| School zones in urbanized areas | No more than 20 mph |
| Interstate minimum, four or more lanes | 40 mph, or 50 mph where the limit is 70 mph |
What is the speed limit on Florida roads?
The speed limit on a Florida road depends on its type, and the state sets a ceiling for each one. The Florida Department of Transportation can then post a lower number after an engineering and traffic investigation.
When no sign is posted, section 316.183 of the Florida Statutes sets the default: 30 mph in business or residence districts, and 55 mph at all other locations. The maximum within a city is also 30 mph unless a different limit is set, and a county or city may set 20 or 25 mph on local residence streets after finding that reasonable.
FDOT says it uses the 85th percentile method alongside the legal maximums. In plain terms, engineers measure the speeds of hundreds of vehicles to find a reasonable and safe limit for that road.
Who sets speed limits on Florida roads?
The legislature sets the ceilings, and FDOT sets the posted limits on state highways. Counties and cities handle their own roads. If you think a limit on a state highway needs a second look, FDOT says to contact the District Traffic Operations Engineer at your local office.
What is the speed limit in a Florida work zone?
The limit in a work zone is the number posted there, and the statute says you may not go above it. Temporary signs often show a lower number than the road's usual limit, so slow down when you see them.
What is the speed limit on Florida interstates?
The maximum speed limit on Florida interstates is 70 mph, and it applies to limited-access highways such as I-95, I-75, I-4, I-10 and Florida's Turnpike. This is a ceiling, not a promise, so the posted limit through a city can be lower.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists 70 mph on rural interstates and other limited-access roads in Florida, and 65 mph on urban interstates. For a comparison with every other state, read our guide to interstate speed limits by state.
What is the speed limit on I-75 and Alligator Alley?
I-75 is a limited-access highway, so the 70 mph ceiling applies, including across the Everglades on Alligator Alley. Posted limits can drop as you approach a city, so keep reading the signs.
Is there a minimum speed on Florida interstates?
Yes, there is. On interstates with at least four lanes, the minimum is 40 mph, and it rises to 50 mph where the posted limit is 70 mph. You will see both numbers on one sign, like the pair in the photo on I-10 at Tallahassee. In heavy rain or thick traffic, the law's "reasonable and prudent" rule still applies, so slow down when conditions call for it.
Did Florida raise the speed limit to 80 mph in 2026?
No, Florida did not raise the speed limit in 2026, and the maximum on limited-access highways remains 70 mph. Senate Bill 1220, a broad transportation bill, came close but did not become law.
Here is what happened:
- On March 11, 2026, the Florida House passed the bill 87 to 23 with an amendment raising the maximum from 70 mph to 80 mph on limited-access highways, and from 60 mph to 70 mph on other highways outside urban areas.
- On March 12, the Senate refused to concur with the House changes.
- On March 13, the bill died in returning messages.
The 2026 edition of the Florida Statutes still shows 70 mph. If someone tells you the limit has changed, the signs and the statute say otherwise.
What is the school zone speed limit in Florida?
The school zone speed limit in Florida can be no more than 20 mph in an urbanized area, and no lower than 15 mph unless a local regulation says otherwise.
The limit does not apply all day. It applies during these times:
- 30 minutes before school arrival.
- During arrival.
- During dismissal.
- 30 minutes after dismissal.
Permanent signs show those restricted hours clearly. Flashing beacons can replace the posted times, and they may be run by a time clock, an automatic device or by hand. So a school zone sign in Florida tells you two things at once: the number and when it counts.
Are there speed cameras in Florida?
Yes, but only in school zones. State law allows counties and cities to use speed detection systems there, and IIHS lists no other use in Florida. You will not meet one of these programs on I-95 or Florida's Turnpike.
A Florida Senate analysis, citing the state's December 2025 summary, counted 7 jurisdictions and 101 school zone cameras in fiscal year 2024-25. Examples around the state include:
- Hillsborough County: 28 schools have taken part in Operation Safe Passage.
- Bradenton: 10 cameras were active in August 2025, active during the entire school day.
- Lakeland and Lake Alfred, Polk County: Lakeland approved cameras near at least eight schools in 2025, and Lake Alfred decided to install them in fall 2024.
- Miami-Dade County: the Miami Herald reported in March 2026 on the program running there.
- Gainesville and Alachua County: four camera sites serving five schools were being installed in March 2026, with no go-live date set at that point.
Results from Hillsborough show how quickly habits can change. About 8,700 notices went out in the first three weeks after the program restarted in September 2025, and the camera contractor reported a 90 percent drop in notices after the program's first year. For the national picture, see school zone speed cameras in the US.
When are Florida school zone cameras active?
Florida school zone cameras can be active around breakfast programs and during the whole regularly scheduled school session. The statute sets the windows:
- 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the start of a regular breakfast program.
- 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the start of a regular school session.
- 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the end of a regular school session.
- The entire regular school session, for the posted speed limit on that road.
Do Florida school zone cameras work when the lights are not flashing?
Yes, they can, and this is where many drivers get confused. The Miami Herald reported that cameras can record violations when yellow lights are not flashing, and that many schools have no flashers at all, so the street signs listing start and end times define the zone. Rules differ locally: Hillsborough County said its cameras are active only when the school zone signs are flashing, while Bradenton's run through the school day.
A proposal to tighten these windows, Senate Bill 654, died in committee on March 13, 2026, so the current rules stand.
How do you know a Florida school zone has a camera?
You know from the signs, because the law requires local governments to post signage indicating photographic or video enforcement of the school zone limits. The signage must also show clearly when the limits are enforced.
Before a new program starts, there are several more steps:
- The county or city must pass an ordinance after a public hearing.
- At that hearing it must review traffic data and find that the zone is a heightened safety risk.
- On a state road, it needs permission from the Department of Transportation.
- It must run a public awareness campaign beginning at least 30 days before enforcement, and only warnings go out during that period.
How does a Florida school zone camera work?
The camera records the vehicle, and a notice goes to the registered owner by first-class mail within 30 days. It includes an image of the license plate, the date, time and location, the recorded speeds and how to review the evidence. The law also limits the footage: it may not be used for remote surveillance, and recordings must be destroyed within 90 days after final disposition.
What do Florida's speed rules mean for your next drive?
For your next drive, the highways are simple and the school zones take a little more attention. Set your speed to the sign on I-95 or I-75, leave extra room in the afternoon rain, and treat every school zone sign as worth reading all the way to the bottom line. Those few seconds at 15 or 20 mph are the ones that matter most for the kids on that sidewalk.
Ghost is a great fit for a state this long. It runs next to Google Maps and warns you safely from the background with a banner and a tone over your music, about 700 meters (roughly 0.4 mile) ahead of a known fixed speed camera and again at 250 meters, and as you get closer it shows the exact distance clearly. It works on CarPlay, Android Auto and Apple Watch and covers more than 125,000 speed cameras worldwide. Ghost does not warn about police checks and does not detect radar, so the signs still come first, and you can settle in for the drive from Pensacola to the Keys with one less thing on your mind.
