In the 2020 redistricting cycle, the district was shrunk to only include the coastal counties of Sarasota and Charlotte as well as northeastern Lee County, including most of Lehigh Acres.

From 2003 to 2013 it was located in South Florida, and was a majority African American district.

Included within the district were Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, and North Miami.

Major cities in the district included North Port, Punta Gorda, Venice, Wauchula, Arcadia, and Okeechobee.

Republican Tom Rooney, incumbent congressman of the previous 16th district, ran for reelection in the 17th in 2012 and won.