Where to rent warehouse space in South Florida.

By Chase Farache, Broker Associate, Silver Lining Realty Group. Updated October 2026.

Start with your freight, not a map of listings

Before looking at buildings, write down three things: where inbound goods come from (port, airport, regional distribution centers, suppliers), where outbound goods go (customers, job sites, parcel hubs), and how often trucks move. A warehouse with lower rent can cost more overall if every delivery runs through an extra 30 minutes of traffic.

South Florida's freight geography is long and narrow. The two counties run north to south along the coast, with I-95 and Florida's Turnpike as the main north-south highways and I-595 as the key east-west connector in Broward. I-595 runs from the Sawgrass Interchange in Sunrise, where it meets I-75 and the Sawgrass Expressway, east to U.S. 1 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with access to Port Everglades. It meets I-95 at the Rainbow Interchange and the Turnpike in Davie.

Location by use case

• Import and container freight. Port Everglades, at 1850 Eller Drive in Fort Lauderdale, describes itself as a leading container port in Florida and holds Foreign-Trade Zone 25. If your freight moves through the port, compare drive times from each candidate building to the port gates along I-595 and I-95. See Fort Lauderdale warehouse space and Broward County warehouse space.
• Air cargo and time-sensitive goods. FLL is at 100 Terminal Drive, Fort Lauderdale, next to the port. In Palm Beach County, President Donald J. Trump International Airport (formerly Palm Beach International) is in West Palm Beach.
• Regional service and distribution across both counties. Pompano Beach is home to the city-owned Pompano Beach Airpark (about 650 acres, along Copans Road with Florida East Coast Railway tracks to the west), and Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport is about five miles north of downtown Fort Lauderdale. See Pompano Beach warehouse and Deerfield Beach warehouse.
• West Broward customers and workforce. If your customers or staff are in the western suburbs, test drive times from the Sawgrass Expressway and I-75 side. See Coral Springs warehouse.
• South Palm Beach County. Boca Raton and Delray Beach users weigh access to I-95 and the Turnpike against distance to Broward. See Boca Raton warehouse and the Palm Beach County market page.

Check the zoning before the building

Each city sets its own industrial districts and uses. A building that suits a distributor may not allow vehicle repair, outdoor storage, food processing or a retail counter. In Fort Lauderdale, look up the district in the City's GIS Property Reporter, then read "Permitted and Conditional Uses" in the ULDR. From October 1, 2026, a new business there needs a Certificate of Use before applying for a Business Tax Receipt. Other cities have their own steps; ask for a written zoning verification either way. More in zoning for medical and flex uses in Broward.

Specification checklist for touring

1. Clear height under the lowest obstruction, measured on site
2. Number of dock-high and grade-level doors, with levelers and seals
3. Truck court depth and turning room for the trailers you use
4. Power: amperage, voltage, phase and room for an upgrade
5. Sprinkler design and whether it fits your commodity and storage height
6. Office percentage, restrooms and which areas are air-conditioned
7. Car and trailer parking, and any outdoor storage rights in the lease and the zoning
8. Roof age and who repairs or replaces it under the lease
9. Flood zone and the elevation of the floor relative to the truck court

A hypothetical example of working backward from need: an operation with 400 pallets that racks four high needs about 100 rack footprints plus aisles, so clear height and column spacing decide whether 8,000 or 12,000 square feet does the job. Those numbers are illustrative only; your racking vendor can run the real layout.

What the lease will cost beyond base rent

Warehouse space is often quoted NNN, so add the tenant's share of real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance, plus your own utilities. Ask for the current year's operating expense budget and the last two years of actuals. See NNN vs gross leases and CAM charges explained.

One cost that no longer applies: Florida DOR's TIP 25A01-04 says the state sales tax and county surtax on commercial rent, warehouses included, are repealed for rental periods beginning on or after October 1, 2025. Separately billed equipment such as forklifts can still be taxable as a rental of tangible personal property. See Florida sales tax on commercial rent.

Questions to ask the landlord before you sign

• Permitted use. Does the lease's use clause cover everything you do, including any assembly, repair, retail counter or outdoor work? The city's zoning has to allow it too.
• Racking and improvements. Who pays to add racking, office space or a mezzanine, and what has to be removed at the end of the term? Altering a building or changing its occupancy requires a permit; in Fort Lauderdale the permit FAQ cites Florida Building Code Sec. 105.1.
• Fire protection. If your storage height or commodity needs a different sprinkler design, who pays for the change?
• Power. If you need more service, who pays for the upgrade and what happens to the lease if the utility is slow?
• Liens. Many leases bar construction liens on the landlord's interest. Under s. 713.10, F.S., you must tell your contractor about that clause.
• Roof, HVAC and parking lot. Is the tenant responsible only for repair, or also for replacement?
• Access and signage. Are there limits on hours, truck traffic or exterior signs?

How I run a warehouse search

I start with your routes and specifications, confirm zoning, and only then pull listings. Then we tour a short list and compare total occupancy cost. Browse warehouse space in South Florida or read types of industrial space. Call or text (561) 715-7222 to start.