Florida Eviction Cost Calculator
The real, line-item cost of a Florida eviction — not the "$200–$2,000" range you see everywhere. Answer 4 questions, see your specific total. All fees verified against the Miami-Dade Clerk's 2026 fee schedule.
Estimates based on Miami-Dade Clerk fee schedule (verified 2026-04-28). Attorney fees are typical Miami-Dade ranges; your actual fee may vary. Lost rent, property damage, and storage costs are not included.
What each line item covers
Every cost on the calculator above traces to a specific Florida statute or Miami-Dade fee schedule. Here's the breakdown.
Miami-Dade filing fee
Paid at filing for residential summary procedure (Chapter 83 evictions). Same fee at all Miami-Dade Civil Courthouse locations. Same flat fee whether the case is contested or not.
Each additional defendant
If two or more tenants are on the lease, you add this fee for each one beyond the first. Even unrelated co-tenants on one lease.
Sheriff service of process
Sheriff serves the Summons and Complaint on each named defendant. Paid up front. Private process servers ($40–$60) are an alternative — usually faster.
Sheriff service of writ of possession
Once you have a writ of possession, this fee covers the Sheriff posting the 24-hour notice and supervising the lockout.
Locksmith at lockout
The Sheriff supervises but doesn't change locks — that's on you. Calculator estimates $100. Higher for smart locks or specialty hardware.
Attorney fees (if used)
DIY pro se: $0 (sole-proprietor only). Attorney for uncontested non-payment: ~$800. Contested case: $1,500–$2,500. Specialist eviction firms in Miami-Dade typically bill flat fees, not hourly.
What the calculator doesn't include
Three categories of cost are real but not predictable enough to model. Budget for them separately.
Lost rent during the case
The dominant cost in most cases. At $2,000 rent and a 5-week timeline, that's $2,500 in unpaid rent that may never be recovered.
Property damage repair
Some tenants damage the unit before lockout. Documented damages can be added to the judgment, but recovery is rare. Budget 1 month's rent as cushion.
Abandoned-property storage
Florida requires 15 days of storage before disposal under § 715.104. Storage rentals: $50–200/month.
Florida HB 1417 (effective July 1, 2023) preempted local ordinances. No Miami-Dade city can add filing fees, mandatory mediation costs, or registration fees on top of state-set Clerk fees. The numbers above are complete.
Related guides
Authoritative Florida resources
Primary sources for statutory text, court procedures, and licensed legal help.
- Florida Statutes Chapter 83Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — full statutory textflsenate.gov
- Miami-Dade Clerk: Civil & Family CourtFiling fees, e-filing portal, courthouse detailsmiamidadeclerk.gov
- Miami-Dade Sheriff: EvictionsWrit of possession service procedures and Sheriff coordinationmiamidade.gov
- Florida Bar Lawyer Referral ServiceLocate a Florida-licensed eviction attorneyfloridabar.org
FAQ
How much does an eviction cost in Florida?
A typical Florida eviction in Miami-Dade costs $315–$2,815 total. Uncontested DIY (sole-proprietor landlord, tenant defaults): ~$315 in court and Sheriff fees. With an attorney handling an uncontested case: ~$1,115. Full contested case with attorney: ~$2,815. Costs scale with number of tenants, attorney use, and whether the tenant fights.
What is the Miami-Dade eviction filing fee in 2026?
$185 base filing fee for residential summary procedure, plus $10 per additional defendant beyond the first, plus $40 per defendant for Sheriff service of process. Filing fee verified against the Miami-Dade Clerk fee schedule on 2026-04-28.
Are there hidden costs the calculator doesn't show?
Yes — three categories: (1) lost rent during the case (typically 1–3 months at the unit's rent rate), (2) property damage repair after lockout, (3) abandoned-property storage costs (15-day statutory hold). The calculator focuses on direct legal/process costs that are predictable.
Can I recover these costs from the tenant?
In theory, yes — the judgment typically includes filing fees and court costs. In practice, collection on judgment from an evicted tenant is rarely successful. Treat the costs as a sunk cost of taking back possession.
Does the calculator include the cost of a process server vs Sheriff?
No — the calculator uses Sheriff service ($40 per defendant). Private process servers cost $40–$60 but serve in 1–2 days versus the Sheriff's 5–7 day queue. For urgent cases, the time savings often justify the marginal cost.
Now that you know the cost — start the case
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