Do Mineral Rights Expire in Florida?

How the rule works

Marketable Record Title Act, 30 year root of title; no dormant mineral statute. Florida has no dormant mineral or nonuse statute. Its Marketable Record Title Act (chapter 712) gives a person with a 30 year unbroken record chain from a root of title a marketable record title free of interests that depend on any act or title transaction before the root, which are 'declared to be null and void' unless an exception in 712.03 applies. A severed mineral reservation created before the surface owner's root of title can therefore be cut off unless it is specifically identified in the muniments of title from the root forward, preserved by a recorded notice within each 30 years, rests on a title transaction recorded after the root, or fits another exception; section 704.05 adds that rights of entry and easements reserved for mining or drilling are extinguished the same way. Use or nonuse of the minerals is irrelevant, and interests of the United States, Florida and its agencies are protected.

What has to happen

Nothing is required of the surface owner: when a 30 year root of title exists and no exception applies, the earlier interest is extinguished by operation of 712.02 and 712.04. The act requires no notice to the mineral owner and no court order, though a quiet title or declaratory action is the usual way to confirm the result against a particular claimant.

What counts as use or preserves the interest

Preservation filing

Notice under 712.05 and 712.06, recorded with the clerk of the circuit court of each county where the land lies within the 30 years after the effective date of the root of title: the claimant's name and mailing address; the name and mailing address of an owner, or of the person in whose name the property is assessed on the last completed tax roll; a full and particular description of the land; a statement of the nature, description and extent of the claim, with the book and page of any instrument it rests on; acknowledged like a deed. The clerk mails a copy by registered or certified mail to the purported owner, and the notice is published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a county newspaper (712.06(3)). It preserves for not less than 30 years and must be refiled to continue (712.05(3)).

Scope

Interests covered

Any estate, interest, claim or charge whose existence depends on an act, title transaction, event or omission before the effective date of the root of title (712.04). That reaches severed mineral reservations in pre root deeds and, under 704.05(1), rights of entry or easements given or reserved for mining, drilling, exploring or developing oil, gas, minerals or fissionable materials. A person with a separate 30 year chain to the mineral estate may itself hold a marketable record title to that estate (712.02 applies to 'any estate in land'); how competing chains are resolved was not confirmed.

Minerals covered

Not mineral specific; the act applies to all interests in land. 704.05 names oil, gas, minerals and fissionable materials for rights of entry and easements.

Exceptions

712.03(1) to (9) exceptions to marketability (muniments with specific reference, recorded notice, possession, post root title transactions, used easements and rights of way, tax roll assessment for 3 years, sovereignty submerged lands, chapter 376 and 403 covenants, Board of Trustees, water management district and United States interests)

712.04: does not affect any right, title or interest of the United States, Florida or its agencies reserved in the patent or deed by which they parted with title

704.05(1): the right of entry provision does not apply to interests reserved or held by the state or its agencies; 704.05(4) does not revive rights extinguished before June 6, 1975

Outside MRTA: 270.11(3) separately releases the right of entry for state and local government mineral reservations on tracts that are or ever were under 20 contiguous acres in common ownership; the reserved minerals themselves remain

Enactment and amendments

Enacted by ch. 63-133 (1963). 712.09 extended any 30 year notice period that had expired before July 1, 1965 to July 1, 1965. 704.05 was enacted by ch. 70-100, amended by ch. 73-140 and ch. 75-94, applies prospectively and retrospectively, and does not revive interests extinguished by chapter 712 before June 6, 1975. 712.03(1) was amended by ch. 2022-171 (specific identification by book and page, instrument number or plat name). Read in the 2025 Florida Statutes.

Dates and what they mean

A date cannot be computed for Florida from a last use date alone; the note below explains what the rule turns on. The rule finder shows the same explanation.

Extinguishment depends on the surface owner's chain of title: the recording date of the root of title, whether later muniments specifically identify the mineral reservation, and whether a preservation notice or later title transaction exists. None of this follows from a last use date, so no Florida date can be computed from last use; at most a tool could say that a reservation recorded more than 30 years before the surface owner's root and never re-identified or noticed is at risk.

Deceased or unlocated owner

Partly checked What the law of Florida says when the owner of record has died, is unknown, or cannot be found. It sets out the questions; it does not decide who owns an interest, whether a notice was valid, or whether an interest ended.

Why only partly checked. Whether a mineral owner’s death or unidentified heirs count under the Marketable Record Title Act exceptions is open, and no Florida decision was read.

Florida has no dormant mineral statute; its Marketable Record Title Act can extinguish a severed mineral interest that predates the surface owner's 30 year root of title unless an exception applies or a preservation notice is recorded, and it does so without any notice to the mineral owner. The act applies whether the holder is under a disability or outside the state, disability or lack of knowledge does not suspend the 30 years, and a notice may be filed for a claimant who is one of a class of uncertain identity. Separately, 377.247 lets the department act in a receivership capacity for a minority mineral owner in a drilling unit whom the operator cannot locate or identify after a registered mail attempt, holding bonus and one eighth royalty in the Minerals Trust Fund until claimed or presumed abandoned after 5 years.

Owner of record has died

Not addressed by name in the provisions read. Chapter 712 extinguishes interests whether held by a person sui juris or under a disability (P2) and lack of knowledge does not suspend the period (P4); the text does not say whether death is a disability or how heirs or devisees preserve. 377.247 does not mention deceased owners.

Current owner unknown

Chapter 712 lets a notice be filed for a claimant who is 'one of a class, but whose identity cannot be established or is uncertain' (P5). Under 377.247 an owner whose identity remains unknown after reasonable and diligent attempts may have the interest designated leased to the operator, with proceeds held for that owner (P10, P12, P13).

Owner known but cannot be found

Chapter 712 gives no notice to the mineral owner, so location is irrelevant to extinguishment (P7). Under 377.247 an owner the operator cannot locate after a registered mail attempt at the last known address is treated the same as an unknown owner (P10, P11).

How the nonuse rule treats these owners Statute

Chapter 712 extinguishes interests depending on pre root transactions after 30 years of record title, including mining rights of entry under 704.05; disability and lack of knowledge do not suspend the period. Nonuse is irrelevant.

Statute

1. A person vested of record with an estate for 30 years or more, alone or with predecessors, has marketable record title free of all claims except the 712.03 exceptions. Fla. Stat. 712.02 The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-011.

   “Any person having the legal capacity to own land in this state, who, alone or together with her or his predecessors in title, has been vested with any estate in land of record for 30 years or more, shall have a marketable record title to such estate in said land, which shall be free and clear of all claims”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read.

2. Rights of entry or easements reserved for mining or drilling for oil, gas or minerals are among the interests extinguished under 712.04 unless excepted. Fla. Stat. 704.05(1) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-013.

   “The rights and interests in land which are subject to being extinguished by marketable record title pursuant to the provisions of s. 712.04 shall include rights of entry or of an easement, given or reserved in any conveyance or devise of realty, when given or reserved for the purpose of mining, drilling, exploring, or developing for oil, gas, minerals”

   Scope: Rights of entry and easements for mineral development; does not apply to interests reserved or held by the state or its agencies.

3. Disability or lack of knowledge of any kind does not delay the start of or suspend the 30 year period. Fla. Stat. 712.05(3) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-014.

   “A person’s disability or lack of knowledge of any kind may not delay the commencement of or suspend the running of the 30-year period.”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read. The text does not mention death; it does not say whether death of the owner is a 'disability'.

Heirs, devisees and successors Statute

Marketable record title may be built by a person 'alone or together with her or his predecessors in title' (P1), and extinguishment applies regardless of the holder's disability or residence (P2). No provision read names heirs or devisees of a mineral owner.

Statute

1. A person vested of record with an estate for 30 years or more, alone or with predecessors, has marketable record title free of all claims except the 712.03 exceptions. Fla. Stat. 712.02 The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-011.

   “Any person having the legal capacity to own land in this state, who, alone or together with her or his predecessors in title, has been vested with any estate in land of record for 30 years or more, shall have a marketable record title to such estate in said land, which shall be free and clear of all claims”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read.

2. Interests extinguished by marketable record title are void whether held by a person sui juris or under a disability, and whether the holder is within or without the state. Fla. Stat. 712.04 The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-012.

   “all such estates, interests, claims, covenants, restrictions, or charges, however denominated, whether they are or appear to be held or asserted by a person sui juris or under a disability, whether such person is within or without the state, natural or corporate, or private or governmental, are declared to be null and void.”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read. Interests of the United States, Florida and its agencies reserved in the patent or deed are excepted in the same section.

Search required to find the owner Statute

Chapter 712 requires no search for the mineral owner. Under 377.247 the operator must document a diligent attempt, defined as registered mail to the last known address, and provide a current title opinion.

Statute

1. The administrator must have a legal description and current title opinion, and a diligent attempt to notify means an attempt to contact the owner by registered mail at the last known address. Fla. Stat. 377.247(1)(a), (b) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-020.

   “The oil and gas administrator has been provided a legal description and a current title opinion for the mineral rights or interests at issue. ... For purposes of this subsection, a diligent attempt to notify shall be an attempt to contact the owner by registered mail at the owner’s last known address.”

   Scope: Fla. Stat. 377.247, minority mineral interests within a drilling unit or unit operation where the operator cannot locate or identify the owner; reaches royalty and bonus, not title to the interest.

Who gets notice, and how Statute

Chapter 712 requires no notice to the mineral owner; the preservation notice is mailed by the clerk to the surface (purported) owner and non receipt does not affect validity. In drilling units, minority unleased owners get a certified mail offer under 377.2411.

Statute

1. The person filing a preservation notice has the clerk mail a copy by registered or certified mail to the purported owner of the property named in the notice. Fla. Stat. 712.06(3)(a) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-016.

   “Cause the clerk of the circuit court to mail by registered or certified mail to the purported owner of said property, as stated in such notice, a copy thereof and shall enter on the original, before recording the same, a certificate showing such mailing.”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read. This notice runs from the mineral claimant to the surface (purported) owner. Chapter 712 requires no notice to the mineral owner before extinguishment.

2. A purported owner's failure to receive the mailed notice does not affect the notice's validity. Fla. Stat. 712.06(4) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-018.

   “Failure of any purported owner to receive the mailed notice shall not affect the validity of the notice or vitiate the effect of the filing of such notice.”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read.

3. Owners deemed notified owners in a drilling unit get written notice by certified mail, and those who do not respond in writing within 30 days after receipt become carried owners. Fla. Stat. 377.2411(1)(a), (2)(a) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-024.

   “give written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, of a proposal to drill a well to those mineral owners who would be deemed “notified owners” ... All notified owners who fail to respond in writing to the applicant’s notice within 30 days after receipt of said notice shall be deemed to be a carried leasehold working interest owner”

   Scope: Drilling unit participation rule; not specific to unknown or unlocated owners, and the text does not say what happens when the mailing is not received. Does not apply to state owned minerals.

Notice by publication Statute

A preservation notice under 712.06 is published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks. Under 377.247 the administrator publishes annually the value of shares held for unknown or unlocated owners.

Statute

1. The preservation notice is also published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a county newspaper. Fla. Stat. 712.06(3)(b) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-017.

   “Publish once a week, for 2 consecutive weeks, the notice referred to in s. 712.05, with the official record book and page number in which such notice was recorded, in a newspaper as defined in chapter 50 in the county in which the property is located.”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read. Publication of the claimant's preservation notice, not notice to an absent mineral owner.

2. Each year the administrator publishes, at the operator's expense, the value of shares held for unknown or unlocated owners, with information that would help identify or locate them. Fla. Stat. 377.247(3) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-021.

   “Annually, the oil and gas administrator shall cause to have published at the expense of the operator a notice of the value of pro rata shares on deposit in the Minerals Trust Fund for all unknown or unlocated mineral owners in a newspaper of record for the county in which the producing unit is located.”

   Scope: Fla. Stat. 377.247, minority mineral interests within a drilling unit or unit operation where the operator cannot locate or identify the owner; reaches royalty and bonus, not title to the interest.

How the owner responds or preserves Statute

Mineral claimants preserve by recording a 712.06 notice within the 30 years after the root of title, including through a person acting for a claimant of uncertain identity. Under 377.247 an owner who comes forward is paid after verification and then directly.

Statute

1. A notice may be filed by the claimant or by anyone acting for a claimant who is under a disability, unable to assert a claim, or one of a class whose identity cannot be established or is uncertain. Fla. Stat. 712.05(3) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-014.

   “Such notice may be filed for record by the claimant or by any other person acting on behalf of a claimant who is ... Under a disability; ... Unable to assert a claim on his or her behalf; or ... One of a class, but whose identity cannot be established or is uncertain”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read. The text does not say whether unidentified heirs of a deceased mineral owner are such a class.

2. A claimant preserves an interest by filing a notice under 712.06 at any time during the 30 years after the root of title's effective date. Fla. Stat. 712.05(1) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-015.

   “may preserve and protect such interest or right from extinguishment by the operation of this chapter by filing for record, at any time during the 30-year period immediately following the effective date of the root of title, a written notice in accordance with s. 712.06.”

   Scope: Chapter 712, Marketable Record Title Act, as it applies to any interest, including a severed mineral interest, that depends on a transaction before the surface owner's 30 year root of title and fits no 712.03 exception. No decision applying it to a mineral reservation was read. 712.05(3) says a notice preserves for not less than 30 years after filing unless filed again.

3. A previously unknown person who comes forward is paid the principal and interest on account after the claim is verified. Fla. Stat. 377.247(4) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-022.

   “Should a previously unidentified or unknown person come forward to claim a pro rata share, the department shall disburse the amount of principal and interest on account after verification of the authenticity of the claim.”

   Scope: Fla. Stat. 377.247, minority mineral interests within a drilling unit or unit operation where the operator cannot locate or identify the owner; reaches royalty and bonus, not title to the interest.

Court, receivership or trust for missing owners Statute

Fla. Stat. 377.247: department receivership for unknown or unlocated minority mineral owners in a drilling unit or unit operation; interest designated leased to the operator for the economic life of the well; bonus and one eighth royalty deposited in the Minerals Trust Fund; presumed abandoned under chapter 717 after 5 years from first production. It does not transfer title.

Statute

1. When an operator cannot locate a minority mineral owner in a drilling unit, or the owner's identity remains unknown after reasonable and diligent attempts, the operator may ask the department to act in a receivership capacity for those rights. Fla. Stat. 377.247(1) The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-019.

   “In the event that the operator of a well cannot locate the owner of a minority mineral interest within a drilling unit or the identity of the minority mineral interest owner remains unknown to the operator after reasonable and diligent attempts to locate said owner, the operator may request that the department act in a receivership capacity for these rights.”

   Scope: Fla. Stat. 377.247, minority mineral interests within a drilling unit or unit operation where the operator cannot locate or identify the owner; reaches royalty and bonus, not title to the interest.

2. Funds unclaimed 5 years after first production are presumed abandoned and handled under the unclaimed property chapter. Fla. Stat. 377.247(6); see 717.113 The Florida Senate, Florida Statutes (2025). Read October 6, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-023.

   “If the funds on deposit remain unclaimed, after a period of 5 years from the date of first production from the well, the funds are presumed abandoned and shall be disposed of pursuant to chapter 717.”

   Scope: Fla. Stat. 377.247, minority mineral interests within a drilling unit or unit operation where the operator cannot locate or identify the owner; reaches royalty and bonus, not title to the interest. 717.113 repeats the 5 year rule for Minerals Trust Fund deposits.

What a title review must establish

1. What is the surface owner's root of title, and does the mineral reservation fit a 712.03 exception, such as specific identification in the muniments (mechanism)?
2. Was a 712.05 notice recorded within each 30 year period, and by whom, including anyone acting for a class of uncertain identity such as heirs (response)?
3. Is there a 377.247 order recorded in the county designating the interest leased to the operator, and are funds held in the Minerals Trust Fund or transferred under chapter 717 (special_mechanism)?
4. Did the owner receive a 377.2411 certified mail offer, and is the interest treated as a carried interest (notice)?

Dates. Chapter 712: root of title is the last title transaction 'recorded at least 30 years before the time when marketability is being determined' (712.01(6)); notice 'at any time during the 30-year period immediately following the effective date of the root of title' (712.05(1)), preserving 'for not less than 30 years after filing' (712.05(3)); disability or lack of knowledge 'may not delay the commencement of or suspend the running of the 30-year period'. 377.247: annual remittance 'within 30 days after the anniversary date of the order'; funds presumed abandoned 'after a period of 5 years from the date of first production from the well'. 377.2411: response 'within 30 days after receipt of said notice'. Nothing computed. The rule finder does not calculate this period.

What AMR searched. Florida Statutes 2025 on flsenate.gov, read directly: 712.01 to 712.07, 704.05, 377.2411, 377.247, 377.27, 377.28 and 717.113. Full chapter text of chapters 193, 270, 377, 704, 712 and 717 searched for unknown owner, unknown heirs, cannot be located, unlocat, whereabouts, missing owner, owner is unknown and absent. Case law: CourtListener searches for Marketable Record Title Act mineral decisions and 377.247 in Florida courts were attempted but rate limited and returned nothing usable; no Florida decision was read. Probate, quiet title and partition were not reviewed. A point marked not addressed means only that the provisions read do not address it; probate, quiet title and other general procedures may still apply and were not reviewed.

Not settled by this review.

How Florida courts apply chapter 712 to severed mineral reservations, and whether a mineral owner's own 30 year record chain competes with the surface root of title; no decision was read.

Whether death of a mineral owner is a 'disability' for 712.04 and 712.05(3), and whether unidentified heirs are 'one of a class' for 712.05(3).

Whether a 377.2411 offer that is never received starts the 30 day response period, and how it interacts with 377.247 for an unlocated owner.

Whether the department has issued any 377.247 orders and what the Minerals Trust Fund holds; not checked.

Checked October 6, 2026. Also in the dormant mineral rule finder.

Forced pooling

Official text cited Yes. Where owners of separately owned tracts in an established drilling unit have not agreed to integrate, the division shall require them to integrate and develop their lands as a drilling unit (Fla. Stat. 377.27(1)). An applicant must hold drilling rights from a majority of the mineral interests in the unit; minority owners who do not respond to a written offer within 30 days become carried owners who receive nothing until 300 percent of well costs are recovered (377.2411). The department must also order unit operation of a field or pool when the 377.28 findings are made.

1. Fla. Stat. 377.27(1) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-008.
2. Fla. Stat. 377.2411(2)(a), (b) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-009.

Surface damages

No statute found No statute was found requiring oil and gas well operators to notify and compensate surface owners. The closest provisions are a surety bond protecting the owner of surface rights, conditioned on restoration, for surface exploratory and extraction operations such as open pit or dragline mining under a mineral grant (377.244), and compensation for use of or damage to the surface by natural gas storage 'as provided by law' (377.2434(3)(b)). Neither covers ordinary oil and gas well drilling.

Searched: Searched the full text of Florida Statutes 2025 chapter 377 part I (ss. 377.01 to 377.42) on flsenate.gov for surface owner, owner of the surface, surface rights and damage. Chapter 704 and chapter 712 were read for related rights of entry. A full text search of all Florida Statutes was not run.

1. Fla. Stat. 377.244(1)(b) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-010.

Taxes

Broad personal income tax: no. Florida does not impose a personal income tax, and its constitution bars a state tax on the income of natural persons who are residents or citizens beyond amounts creditable against a similar federal or state tax, so an individual's royalty income is not taxed by the state. Official text cited Source and notes.

Severance or production tax. Not part of AMR’s October 2026 tax review, which covered 25 producing states; that is not a finding that Florida levies none. Use the state revenue agency’s own pages.

Not tax advice. Rates change and the cited source controls.

Sources for the dormant mineral rule

Each source was read on the date shown. Where an official site was not available, the official page was read through a dated Internet Archive copy and that is stated.

1. Fla. Stat. 712.04 (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-001.

   “Subject to s. 712.03, a marketable record title is free and clear of all estates, interests, claims, covenants, restrictions, or charges, the existence of which depends upon any act, title transaction, event, zoning requirement, building or development permit, or omission that occurred before the effective date of the root of title.”

2. Fla. Stat. 712.02 (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-002.

   “Any person having the legal capacity to own land in this state, who, alone or together with her or his predecessors in title, has been vested with any estate in land of record for 30 years or more, shall have a marketable record title to such estate in said land”

3. Fla. Stat. 712.05(1) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-003.

   “may preserve and protect such interest or right from extinguishment by the operation of this chapter by filing for record, at any time during the 30-year period immediately following the effective date of the root of title, a written notice in accordance with s. 712.06.”

4. Fla. Stat. 712.03(1) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-004.

   “those estates, interests, easements, or use restrictions created before the root of title are preserved by identification in the legal description of the property by specific reference to the official records book and page number, instrument number, or plat name”

5. Fla. Stat. 704.05(1) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-005.

   “shall include rights of entry or of an easement, given or reserved in any conveyance or devise of realty, when given or reserved for the purpose of mining, drilling, exploring, or developing for oil, gas, minerals, or fissionable materials”

6. Fla. Stat. 193.481(1) (2025)The Florida Senate. Official statute. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-006.

   “Such mineral, oil, gas, and other subsurface rights, when separated from the fee or other interest in the fee, shall be subject to separate taxation.”

7. Buying or Selling in Florida? Beware of Mineral RightsLowndes (law firm). Secondary source. Read October 1, 2026. Source ID SRC-FL-007.

   “Florida’s Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA) may operate to extinguish a private right of entry for exploration, mining, drilling, etc., pursuant to F.S. 704.05 , even if the mineral reservations themselves remain.”

Open questions for a specialist

This review did not settle these points. They are where a Florida title attorney or landman should look first.

What changed

The June 2026 edition listed Florida as Special mechanism, lapse period see note. Release 2026.10 replaced that entry with the reviewed rule above, and retired the June risk score and ranking for every state. Release 2026.10.1 added the deceased or unlocated owner section. See all changes.

American Mineral Registry. "Do Mineral Rights Expire in Florida?" U.S. Mineral Rights Law Atlas, release 2026.10.1, October 6, 2026. https://americanmineralregistry.com/research/states/do-mineral-rights-expire-in-florida

[Do Mineral Rights Expire in Florida?](https://americanmineralregistry.com/research/states/do-mineral-rights-expire-in-florida), U.S. Mineral Rights Law Atlas, American Mineral Registry, release 2026.10.1 (2026-10-06).

<a href="https://americanmineralregistry.com/research/states/do-mineral-rights-expire-in-florida">Do Mineral Rights Expire in Florida?</a>, U.S. Mineral Rights Law Atlas, American Mineral Registry, release 2026.10.1 (2026-10-06).

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  title = {Do Mineral Rights Expire in Florida?},
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  date = {2026-10-06},
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