How long does an eviction take in Florida?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Florida, and anywhere from 2.5 to 11 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Florida eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 5 daysofficial source
3 days to pay or move, excluding weekends and legal holidays (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 10-45 days (typical 21)official source
5 days (excluding weekends/holidays) to answer AND deposit the rent into the court registry, or defenses other than payment are waived source - Judgment to lockout 2-7 dayssecondary source
Sheriff serves the writ of possession; tenant gets 24 hours source - If the tenant appeals 30-day windowofficial source
30 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 source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Can pay in full during the notice period. official source source
Eviction costs in Florida
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $185 | Statewide: County court eviction (possession only) $185; summons and sheriff fees extra official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $40 | Statewide: Sheriff's fee $40 per summons served, set by statute for all counties (Fla. Stat. § 30.231(1)(a)) official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $40-$90 | Statewide: Sheriff'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 official source source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,812/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$9) data file |
Tenant protections
| 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 / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Florida
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 84/100
Timeline 39.6/50 · right to cure 14/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
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 EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
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).
Is Florida landlord-friendly for evictions?
Florida scores 84 out of 100 on the EvictionMath 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
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | www.leg.state.fl.us | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | www.flsenate.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | secondary source | www.floridalawhelp.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | flcourts-media.flcourts.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.myorangeclerk.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | www.leg.state.fl.us | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | official source | www.leg.state.fl.us | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Every field on this page has a source. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Florida (84, 4.5 wk) · Maine (84, 4.5 wk) · Nebraska (83, 3.5 wk) · Hawaii (82, 4 wk) · Kentucky (86, 4 wk)