Apartments Near the Florida State Capitol: A Guide for State Employees
If you're moving to Tallahassee for a state job, joining a legislator's office or taking a session-only position, the right apartment near the Florida State Capitol depends on how long you'll actually be here.
What type of apartment lease should you choose when renting near the Florida State Capitol?
Here's the short version. Permanent state employees should sign a 12-month lease in downtown Tallahassee or Midtown. Legislative staff who work interim weeks and session should look for a lease longer than six months. Session hires who need only a few months should compare furnished short-term leases with month-to-month options and ask about taxes before signing.
Key takeaways
- Choose a lease that matches your employment timeline, whether you need a year-round apartment or temporary housing for the legislative session.
- Start your housing search early, as interim committee weeks begin before the 2027 legislative session officially opens
- Check whether short-term leases include Florida sales tax and Leon County's transient rental tax before comparing total costs.
- Consider Downtown, North Monroe, or Midtown for convenient Capitol access, or Southwood if you work at the Capital Circle Office Complex.
- Compare parking availability, monthly rent, lease-end dates, and flexibility if your job appointment or session schedule changes.
If you're moving to Tallahassee for a state job, joining a legislator's office or taking a session-only position, the right apartment near the Florida State Capitol depends on how long you'll actually be here. Here's the short version. Permanent state employees should sign a 12-month lease in downtown Tallahassee or Midtown. Legislative staff who work interim weeks and session should look for a lease longer than six months. Session hires who need only a few months should compare furnished short-term leases with month-to-month options and ask about taxes before signing.
Who rents Apartment near the Florida State Capitol?
Tallahassee's rental calendar follows the Legislature almost as closely as the school year. A HUD market profile lists State of Florida government as the area's largest employer, with about 30,900 jobs. Session adds a seasonal wave on top of that. The Florida Senate expects its temporary Session OPS hires for the 2027 session to work between October 2026 and May 2027.
Who you are | Housing timeline | Best lease |
Permanent agency or Capitol staff | A year or more | 12-month lease |
Legislative staff | Late November through May | Longer than six months |
Session hires | Two to five months | Furnished short-term or month-to-month |
Florida legislative session dates for 2027
The 2027 regular session convenes on Tuesday, March 2, 2027, and its 60th day falls on Friday, April 30, 2027. Florida's Constitution sets a 60-day session each year and requires it to start in March in odd-numbered years. Staff arrives months before that.
Date | What happens |
Nov 17, 2026 | Organization session; new-member training through Nov 19 |
Nov 30–Dec 3, 2026 | First interim committee week |
Jan 4–7 and Jan 11–14, 2027 | Interim committee weeks |
Feb 1–4, 8–11 and 15–18, 2027 | Final interim committee weeks |
Mar 2, 2027 | Session convenes |
Apr 30, 2027 | Scheduled last day |
The interim dates come from the Senate Secretary's schedule, as reported by The Florida Bar News. Session can also be extended by a three-fifths vote of each chamber. Don't let your lease end on April 30. Build in two to three weeks of buffer, or choose a lease that converts to month-to-month.
Tallahassee legislative session housing: what session hires should know
Start your search as soon as you accept the offer. Interim weeks begin November 30, and every office is staffing up at the same time.
Short-term rentals vs. a short-term lease.
Short-term rentals in Tallahassee, the nightly stays on vacation-rental sites, work well for a single committee week. For two months or more, a furnished apartment on a short-term lease usually makes more sense. You get a real address, on-call maintenance and a predictable monthly cost during long session days.
The six-month tax rule.
The Florida Department of Revenue applies the 6% state sales tax, plus any local surtax, to rentals of six months or less. Leon County adds a 5% transient rental tax on top, according to the state's county rate table. Under section 212.03 of the Florida Statutes, a written lease for longer than six months is exempt. That means a seven-month lease can cost less overall than a five-month one. Ask whether every quote includes tax. This is general information, not tax advice.
Furnished or unfurnished.
Furnished apartments in Tallahassee save you a moving truck and a furniture bill you'll have to undo in May. If your preferred building doesn't offer furnished units, compare the cost of an unfurnished unit plus a furniture rental for the same term.
Lease options compared
Lease type | Best fit | Know this |
12-month | Permanent state employees | Usually the lowest monthly rent |
7–11 months | Legislative staff | Generally outside the transient rental tax |
3–6 months | Session-only hires | Higher rent, and taxes may apply |
Month-to-month | Bridging a gap | 30 days' written notice required |
If you're considering month-to-month apartments in Tallahassee, know the notice rule. Under section 83.57 of the Florida Statutes, either the tenant or the landlord can end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice given at least 30 days before the end of a monthly period. If you want to leave at the end of May, give notice by early May.
Before you sign any lease, ask four questions.
- Does the lease end after the session does?
- What's the total monthly cost, including fees and taxes?
- Where will you park?
- What happens if your appointment changes?
Where to live: Tallahassee neighborhoods near the Capitol
Neighborhood | Distance to the Capitol | Best for | Trade-off |
Downtown | Walking distance | Walking to hearings | Mostly apartments and condos |
North Monroe corridor | Walking distance | Walking to work and to Midtown | Fewer buildings to choose from |
Midtown | About 2 miles | Restaurants, Lake Ella | A short drive to work |
Southwood | Across town | Capital Circle Office Complex staff | Daily drive to the Capitol |
Downtown Tallahassee apartments suit people who want to walk everywhere during session. Walk Score ranks Downtown as the most walkable neighborhood in Tallahassee, with a Walk Score of 77 and a Bike Score of 82.
Midtown Tallahassee apartments suit people whose evenings matter as much as their commute. The Lake Ella area is about 2 miles from the Florida State Capitol, a few minutes by car. Midtown, Downtown and the North Monroe stretch between them are the best places to live in Tallahassee for young professionals. For a deeper comparison, see our Downtown vs. Midtown vs. Southwood guide
Commuting and parking
State law lets agencies assign Capitol-area parking to their employees and requires parking for legislators during session. Without an assigned space, you'll compete with lobbyists and visitors during the busiest weeks of the year. That's the strongest case for walkable apartments in Tallahassee. If you live within walking distance of the Capitol at 400 S. Monroe St., parking drops off your list.
Where Industry Tallahassee fits
Full disclosure: this is our neighborhood. Industry Tallahassee offers luxury apartments at 440 N. Monroe St. in downtown Tallahassee, between the Capitol and Midtown. You can choose from 22 floor plans, from studios and three-bedrooms to two-story townhomes, ranging from 428 to 2,080 square feet. Every residence surrounds a resort-style pool, and studios start at $1,346. JETSET Pilates and Sushi Sake are opening downstairs, so your workout and dinner plans are covered without leaving the building.
Not sure which layout suits your stay? Check live availability online, then send our leasing team your start and end dates. We’ll tell you honestly what fits.
Frequently asked questions
Where do legislative staff live in Tallahassee?
Most legislative staff live Downtown, in Midtown or along North Monroe Street, because those areas keep the commute to the Capitol short. Year-round staff sometimes choose Southwood or Killearn for more space and accept a daily drive.
How long is the Florida legislative session?
The Florida legislative session lasts 60 consecutive days and can be extended by a three-fifths vote of each chamber. The 2027 session runs from March 2 to April 30, 2027.
Is downtown Tallahassee safe?
Downtown Tallahassee is busy on weekdays and during session, and as in any downtown, conditions vary by block and by hour. The Capitol complex has its own police force, Florida Capitol Police. Check the Tallahassee Police Department's public crime data and visit on a weeknight before you sign.
Can I get a short-term lease in Tallahassee?
Yes. Many apartment communities offer short-term leases, usually at a higher monthly rent than a 12-month lease. Leases of six months or less may also carry Florida sales tax and Leon County's 5% transient rental tax.
How does a month-to-month lease work in Florida?
Either the tenant or the landlord can end a month-to-month lease in Florida with written notice given at least 30 days before the end of a monthly period.
How far is Midtown from the Capitol?
Midtown's Lake Ella area is about 2 miles from the Capitol. That's a few minutes by car, 10 to 15 minutes by bike or roughly 40 minutes on foot.
What are the best places to live in Tallahassee for young professionals?
Midtown, Downtown and the North Monroe corridor are the most popular because they combine short commutes with restaurants and nightlife. CollegeTown near Gaines Street suits people working near Florida State University.
When should session hires start looking for housing?
Start as soon as you accept the offer. Interim committee weeks begin November 30, 2026, and the best short-term options near the Capitol go early.