Florida AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Florida law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | No outright upkeep order for owners, but an owner loses civil immunity if harm came from failing to properly maintain and test the AED (Fla. Stat. § 768.1325(3)(a)). |
| Train expected users | Yes | Users are only encouraged to train (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(a)). An owner keeps immunity only if an employee or agent who used the AED was trained, unless it has instructions, the user was not expected to use it, or time was short (§ 768.1325(3)(b)). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Limited | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | No general registry. The school and state park rules that make owners register AED locations with a local EMS medical director are listed under placement reporting. |
| Report AED locations | Limited | Owners in general are only encouraged to tell the local EMS medical director or 911 center where the AED is (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(b)). |
| Physician medical direction | No | No physician oversight is required. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Limited | No general rule. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | Anyone who uses an AED must get EMS on the way as soon as possible after using it (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(c)). The duty falls on the user and is not tied to immunity. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every public school must develop a plan for urgent life-saving emergencies (PULSE) for sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds, built on evidence-based elements such as the AHA's, and fold it into local EMS protocols (Fla. Stat. § 1003.457(1)-(2), effective July 1, 2025). State Board of Education rules will fill in the details (§ 1003.457(4)). |
| Other requirements | Limited | No general rule. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | School sports, schools and nursing homes or assisted living. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Florida?
No. Florida law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
No physician oversight is required.
State guidelines for AEDs in state-owned or leased buildings suggest that a physician consult on the program (Fla. Admin. Code R. 64J-1.023(3)(a)).
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
Yes. Florida law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
Users are only encouraged to train (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(a)). An owner keeps immunity only if an employee or agent who used the AED was trained, unless it has instructions, the user was not expected to use it, or time was short (§ 768.1325(3)(b)).
FHSAA schools, public schools and parks with AEDs must train staff (§§ 1006.165(1)(b), 1003.457(3)(b), 258.0165(2)).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. Florida law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
No outright upkeep order for owners, but an owner loses civil immunity if harm came from failing to properly maintain and test the AED (Fla. Stat. § 768.1325(3)(a)).
Public schools must maintain their AEDs to the maker's recommendations and keep verification records (§ 1003.457(3)(a)).
Written plan and records: No general rule. Public schools must keep all verification records for their AEDs (Fla. Stat. § 1003.457(3)(a)). FHSAA member schools must tell trained employees and volunteers in writing each year where every AED on school grounds is (§ 1006.165(1)(c)).
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Only in some cases. Florida doesn’t require every AED owner to register or report AED locations.
Placement reporting: Owners in general are only encouraged to tell the local EMS medical director or 911 center where the AED is (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(b)). FHSAA member schools, all public schools and state parks that provide AEDs must register each AED's location with a local EMS medical director (§§ 1006.165(1)(c), 1003.457(3)(c), 258.0165(3)).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. Florida law requires the person who uses an AED to call 911 or notify EMS.
Calling 911: Anyone who uses an AED must get EMS on the way as soon as possible after using it (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(c)). The duty falls on the user and is not tied to immunity.
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Florida
Yes. Florida law requires AEDs at three kinds of sites.
- Public schools in the Florida High School Athletic Association (at every athletic contest and practice, with a trained person present) Fla. Stat. § 1006.165 (2026) (last amended by ch. 2026-90)
- Every public school, including charter schools (by July 1, 2027) Fla. Stat. § 1003.457 (2026) (created by ch. 2025-67, CS/HB 1607, eff. July 1, 2025)
- Assisted living facilities licensed for 17 or more beds Fla. Stat. § 429.255(3) (2026)
School cardiac emergency plans: Every public school must develop a plan for urgent life-saving emergencies (PULSE) for sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds, built on evidence-based elements such as the AHA's, and fold it into local EMS protocols (Fla. Stat. § 1003.457(1)-(2), effective July 1, 2025). State Board of Education rules will fill in the details (§ 1003.457(4)).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other Florida AED rules
No general rule.
FHSAA member schools must keep the AED in a clearly marked and publicized spot for every athletic contest, practice, workout and conditioning session (Fla. Stat. § 1006.165(1)(a)).
All public schools must do the same by July 1, 2027 (§ 1003.457(3)(a)).
Does Florida's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. Florida protects people who use an AED in good faith, but some of that protection depends on the AED program meeting the law’s duties.
What the Florida (FL) Good Samaritan law covers: Florida's Good Samaritan Act protects anyone, including doctors, who gives emergency care free and in good faith at an emergency scene outside a hospital or doctor's office, if the victim does not object and the helper acts as a reasonably prudent person would (Fla. Stat. § 768.13(2)(a)).
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses or tries to use an AED in what seems to be a medical emergency is shielded from civil claims unless the victim objects or the conduct was grossly negligent, reckless or willful. The owner who makes the AED available shares that immunity only if the harm did not stem from poor maintenance and testing or, in some cases, from failing to train the employee who used it.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Florida’s official legislature or code website.
- Fla. Stat. § 401.2915 (2026): Automated external defibrillators
- Fla. Stat. § 768.1325 (2026) (Cardiac Arrest Survival Act): Cardiac Arrest Survival Act; immunity from civil liability
- Fla. Stat. § 768.13 (2026) (Good Samaritan Act): Good Samaritan Act; immunity from civil liability
- Fla. Stat. § 1006.165 (2026) (last amended by ch. 2026-90): Well-being of students participating in extracurricular activities; training
- Fla. Stat. § 1003.457 (2026) (created by ch. 2025-67, CS/HB 1607, eff. July 1, 2025): Cardiac emergencies and automated external defibrillators on school grounds
- Fla. Stat. § 429.255(3) (2026): Assisted living facilities: use of personnel; emergency care
- Fla. Stat. § 258.0165 (2026): Defibrillators in state parks
- Fla. Stat. § 768.1326 (2026): Placement of automated external defibrillators in state buildings; rulemaking authority
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 64J-1.023: Guidelines for Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in State Owned or Leased Facilities
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Florida
AED Log keeps the records Florida law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Florida AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Florida?
Only certain kinds. Florida law requires AEDs at nursing homes or assisted living. Other businesses aren’t required to have one by Florida law, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Florida law require an AED?
Florida law requires AEDs in school sports, schools and nursing homes or assisted living. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Florida?
No. Florida law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Florida?
Yes, as a condition of civil immunity. Users are only encouraged to train (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(a)). An owner keeps immunity only if an employee or agent who used the AED was trained, unless it has instructions, the user was not expected to use it, or time was short (§ 768.1325(3)(b)).
Does Florida law require AED inspections?
Yes, as a condition of civil immunity. No outright upkeep order for owners, but an owner loses civil immunity if harm came from failing to properly maintain and test the AED. Public schools must maintain their AEDs to the maker's recommendations and keep verification records.
Do you have to register an AED in Florida?
Only in some settings. Owners in general are only encouraged to tell the local EMS medical director or 911 center where the AED is. FHSAA member schools, all public schools and state parks that provide AEDs must register each AED's location with a local EMS medical director.
What does Florida law require after an AED is used?
Anyone who uses an AED must get EMS on the way as soon as possible after using it (Fla. Stat. § 401.2915(2)(c)). The duty falls on the user and is not tied to immunity.
Are AEDs required in Florida schools?
Florida law requires AEDs at public schools in the Florida High School Athletic Association (at every athletic contest and practice, with a trained person present), plus every public school, including charter schools (by July 1, 2027).
Do Florida schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Every public school must develop a plan for urgent life-saving emergencies (PULSE) for sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds, built on evidence-based elements such as the AHA's, and fold it into local EMS protocols. State Board of Education rules will fill in the details.
Do gyms in Florida need an AED?
No. Florida law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
Are AEDs required in nursing homes in Florida?
Florida law requires AEDs at assisted living facilities licensed for 17 or more beds.
What does the Florida Good Samaritan law cover?
Florida's Good Samaritan Act protects anyone, including doctors, who gives emergency care free and in good faith at an emergency scene outside a hospital or doctor's office, if the victim does not object and the helper acts as a reasonably prudent person would (Fla. Stat. § 768.13(2)(a)).
Does the Florida Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. Anyone who uses an AED is protected unless grossly negligent or reckless, but the owner is protected only if the harm did not stem from poor maintenance and testing or an untrained employee user (§ 768.1325).
Which Florida laws cover AEDs?
Florida’s AED rules come from Fla. Stat. § 401.2915 (2026), Fla. Stat. § 768.1325 (2026) (Cardiac Arrest Survival Act), Fla. Stat. § 768.13 (2026) (Good Samaritan Act), Fla. Stat. § 1006.165 (2026) (last amended by ch. 2026-90) and five more, each linked to its official text on this page.