Go-Dark Clause
A go-dark clause is a tenant-favorable lease provision allowing the tenant to cease operations at the leased premises ("go dark") while continuing to pay rent — typically subject to defined conditions, time limits, and landlord recapture or substitution rights.
Go-dark clauses are the negotiated compromise between landlord continuous operation requirements and tenant operational flexibility. National chain tenants whose store-portfolio strategy may require temporary or permanent closure of underperforming locations need the right to go dark without lease default — but landlords need protection against the externalities a dark tenant imposes on the broader center.
Standard Go-Dark Conditions
Tenant must have operated for a defined minimum period (often 3–5 years); tenant must continue paying rent and observing all other lease obligations; tenant must continue maintaining the demised premises in operational condition; landlord notice required (often 90 days); the right may be limited in duration (e.g., 12 months maximum) before triggering other remedies.
Landlord Protections
Recapture right: landlord can terminate the lease and recover the space if the tenant goes dark, often with payment of unamortized TI and brokerage. Substitute use right: landlord can require the tenant to sublet or assign the space to an approved replacement. Co-tenancy carve-outs: dark tenants do not satisfy ongoing co-tenancy requirements for other inline tenants — landlord must find a replacement to keep co-tenancy intact.
Negotiating Go-Dark Rights
Anchor tenants and credit chains routinely require go-dark rights with full rent continuation; smaller tenants rarely receive them. The negotiation often focuses on the recapture/substitution rights: tenant wants long pure-dark period; landlord wants short recapture trigger. Mid-range outcome: 6–12 month dark period before landlord recapture activates.
Who Is Michael R. Linton, and What Does He Do for Commercial Real Estate Investors?
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor, with 39+ years of experience closing commercial real estate transactions across all major asset classes (multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels and hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences). He leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722).
Why Choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions for Your Go-Dark Clause Decision?
Investors, owners, and tenants choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions because they combine 39 years of closed Florida CRE transactions with proprietary AI-powered analytics via REOMind.ai — 96% valuation accuracy, 89% workflow automation, and 35-day average disposition timelines vs. the 120-day industry standard. Backed by Linton Global's institutional platform, 500+ active lender relationships, and 15,000+ accredited investors, the result is Wall Street access delivered with the attention of a local advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a go-dark clause?
A tenant-favorable lease provision allowing the tenant to cease operations at the leased premises while continuing to pay rent. Subject to defined conditions, time limits, and landlord recapture or substitution rights.
Who negotiates for go-dark rights?
Primarily national chain tenants whose store-portfolio strategy may require closure of underperforming locations — Walgreens, Best Buy, AutoZone, restaurant chains, fitness brands. Smaller and local tenants rarely receive go-dark rights; landlords require continuous operation instead.
What is a landlord recapture right in a go-dark scenario?
The right to terminate the lease and recover the dark space, typically conditioned on the tenant having gone dark for a defined period (6–12 months) and often requiring payment of unamortized TI and brokerage costs to the tenant.
Does a dark tenant satisfy co-tenancy requirements?
No — most leases explicitly state that a dark anchor does not satisfy ongoing co-tenancy obligations to other inline tenants. The landlord must find an operating replacement to maintain co-tenancy compliance, even if the original tenant continues paying rent.
Article Summary
Go-Dark Clause is a foundational commercial real estate concept that Florida investors, owners, and tenants encounter routinely. A go-dark clause is a tenant-favorable lease provision allowing the tenant to cease operations at the leased premises ("go dark") while continuing to pay rent — typically subject to defined conditions, time limits, and landlord recapture or substitution rights. Michael R. Linton at Linton Global Solutions applies Go-Dark Clause to every Florida CRE transaction across multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels, NNN, distressed, and 1031 exchange execution — backed by 39 years of closed deal experience and REOMind.ai-powered analytics.
Key Takeaways
- ✓A go-dark clause is a tenant-favorable lease provision allowing the tenant to cease operations at the leased premises ("go dark") while continuing to pay rent — typically subject to defined conditions, time limits, and landlord recapture or substitution rights.
- ✓Go-Dark Clause is relevant across virtually every Florida commercial real estate asset class.
- ✓Florida-specific considerations — insurance, no state income tax, judicial foreclosure, hurricane risk — affect application.
- ✓Michael R. Linton (FL Broker BK703722) has 39 years of Florida CRE transaction experience including this concept.
- ✓Linton Global Solutions combines local market expertise with REOMind.ai's 96% valuation accuracy.
- ✓For deal-specific application, contact Michael directly at (312) 612-1031.
About Michael R. Linton
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor. With 39+ years of experience closing commercial transactions, he leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, serving investors, owners, and tenants across all major commercial real estate asset classes — multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels & hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences.
Michael holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722). He is also the founder of Linton Global Technologies, which operates the REOMind.ai AI-powered REO disposition platform serving 500+ banks.
Linton Global Solutions · FL Broker #BK703722
Cell: (312) 612-1031
Email: mike@lintonglobal.com
Web: LintonGlobal.com
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Schedule a Free ConsultationWorks Cited
- Internal Revenue Service. "Tax Information for Real Estate Investors." IRS, https://www.irs.gov/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. "Florida Real Estate Commission." Florida DBPR, https://www.myfloridalicense.com/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association. "NAIOP Research." NAIOP, https://www.naiop.org/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- Urban Land Institute. "ULI Research Library." ULI, https://americas.uli.org/research/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- Mortgage Bankers Association. "Commercial & Multifamily Research." MBA, https://www.mba.org/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
Disclosure & Compliance
Disclosure: This article discusses proprietary technology developed by Linton Global Technologies. Michael R. Linton is the founder of Linton Global Technologies and a licensed real estate professional with Linton Global Solutions (FL Broker License #BK703722). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.
Compliance Statement: All CREDDS and REOMind.ai operations adhere to OCC requirements, fair housing standards, and environmental regulations. Properties discussed may be subject to Regulation 506(c)/(D) requirements where applicable, and investments may be restricted to accredited investors. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals — including a licensed Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor, and certified public accountant — before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.