Verified by Licensed Bail Bond Professionals•Last updated: March 2026
Definition: Florida law that removes the duty to retreat before using force, including deadly force, if a person reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or a forcible felony.
Category: FL-Specific Laws · Statute: F.S. 776.012-776.013 · Source: Florida Legislature
Florida Statute 776.012 — Use or Threatened Use of Force"A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground."
Key Elements of Stand Your Ground
- No duty to retreat — You are not required to flee before using force
- Reasonable belief — You must reasonably believe deadly force is necessary
- Applies anywhere you have a right to be — Home, car, workplace, public spaces
- Immunity from prosecution — If SYG applies, you cannot be arrested, detained, or prosecuted
Stand Your Ground Hearing
Under F.S. 776.032, defendants can request a pretrial immunity hearing where the burden shifts to the prosecution to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that SYG does not apply. If the court finds immunity, all charges are dismissed.
Impact on Bail
Defendants arrested for violent crimes who plan to assert SYG may still need bail while awaiting the immunity hearing. Bail is set based on the charged offense, not the potential defense.