The Florida Eviction Process
A complete statewide guide for Florida landlords. Florida Statutes Chapter 83 — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — governs every residential eviction in Florida. State law is uniform; the courthouse where you file depends on the property's county.
The four statutory notices you can serve in Florida
Every Florida residential eviction begins with a written notice. The grounds for eviction determine which notice applies under Florida Statutes § 83.56 and § 83.57.
| Notice | Statute | Used for | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Notice | § 83.56(3) | Non-payment of rent | 3 business days |
| 7-Day Notice with Cure | § 83.56(2)(b) | Curable lease violations | 7 calendar days |
| 7-Day Notice without Cure | § 83.56(2)(a) | Non-curable violations (intentional damage, repeat) | 7 calendar days |
| 15-Day Notice | § 83.57 | Terminate month-to-month tenancy | 15 calendar days |
The 7-step Florida eviction framework
Once notice is served and the cure period has expired, the formal court process begins. The procedural sequence is identical statewide; only the courthouse and clerk vary by county.
- 1. Determine grounds — non-payment, lease violation, or holdover
- 2. Serve the proper statutory notice — by hand delivery, posting after diligent search, or U.S. Mail
- 3. Wait for the cure period — 3 business days, 7 calendar days, or 15 calendar days
- 4. File the complaint — at the county Clerk of Court (e-filing through myflcourtaccess.com or in person)
- 5. Service of process — Sheriff or private process server delivers summons
- 6. Final judgment — default if no response, hearing if contested
- 7. Writ of possession — Sheriff posts 24-hour notice, then performs lockout
Florida HB 1417 (effective July 1, 2023, codified at Fla. Stat. § 83.425) preempted all city- and county-level tenant protection ordinances statewide. Earlier "Tenant Bills of Rights" passed by Miami-Dade, City of Miami, Miami Beach, Orange County, and ~40 other Florida jurisdictions are no longer in force. State law alone governs landlord-tenant relationships in Florida today. Read the full HB 1417 explainer.
County hubs
Each Florida county has its own Clerk of the Court, filing fees, and local procedural quirks. Pick your county for detailed local information.
Miami-Dade County
34 incorporated cities · ~2.7M population · Largest eviction caseload in Florida
Broward · Hillsborough · Orange · Pinellas · others
County hubs expanding throughout 2026.
Generate a Florida-compliant statutory notice in 90 seconds.
3-Day, 7-Day, or 15-Day — built around the exact statutory language required by Florida Statutes Chapter 83.
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