How long does an eviction take in Florida?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 2.5 to 11 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Florida actually earn?
We'll prefill Florida's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,812/mo
- Property tax 0.73%–0.75%
- Insurance $950–$2,404/yr
- Vacancy 7.6%–8.4%
The Florida eviction timeline
Each step comes from Florida's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 4.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
5 days3 days to pay or move, excluding weekends and legal holidays (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3))
- 2
File and get a judgment
10–45 days · typical 215 days (excluding weekends/holidays) to answer AND deposit the rent into the court registry, or defenses other than payment are waived
- 3
Judgment to lockout
2–7 daysSheriff serves the writ of possession; tenant gets 24 hours
- 4
If the tenant appeals
30-day window30 days from the judgment to file a notice of appeal (Fla. R. App. P. 9.110(b)); in possession cases the tenant must keep paying rent into the registry
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Florida
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$185County court eviction (possession only) $185; summons and sheriff fees extra
Serving the tenant
Statewide$40Sheriff's fee $40 per summons served, set by statute for all counties (Fla. Stat. § 30.231(1)(a))
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Statewide$40–$90Sheriff's statutory fee for a writ: $40, plus $50 for writs requiring a levy or seizure (Fla. Stat. § 30.231(1)(a)-(b)); which applies to a writ of possession is up to the county sheriff
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,812/moFlorida median gross rent, ±$9. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Florida scores 84 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Florida eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Florida?
A nonpayment eviction in Florida typically takes about 4.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 2.5 to 11 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Florida?
3 days to pay or move, excluding weekends and legal holidays (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Florida by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Florida?
The court filing fee is $185 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Florida?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Florida costs a landlord roughly $2,600 to $3,700: about 4.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,812/month (about $1,900), court and service fees of about $265-$315, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 11 weeks can pass $6,900. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Florida landlord-friendly for evictions?
Florida scores 84 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 39.6/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Every field on this page has a source. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourceleg.state.fl.us ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourceflsenate.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutsecondary sourcefloridalawhelp.org ↗
- Appealofficial sourceflcourts-media.flcourts.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcemyorangeclerk.com ↗
- Service feeofficial sourceleg.state.fl.us ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourceleg.state.fl.us ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourceleg.state.fl.us ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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