🏠 FLORIDA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Florida
In Florida, Fla. Stat. § 83.49 gives your landlord 15 days to return the deposit outright, or 30 days to send you written notice by certified mail that they intend to keep part of it. Florida sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: forfeiture of the right to impose any claim on the deposit.
The Florida statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Fla. Stat. § 83.49
If the landlord makes no claim against the deposit, it must be returned within 15 days after the tenant vacates. To keep any part of it, the landlord has 30 days to send written notice by certified mail of the intention to impose a claim (§ 83.49(3)(a)). Missing that 30-day notice forfeits the right to impose any claim on the deposit, though the landlord may still sue for damages afterward. Florida sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Verified against primary statute text (flsenate.gov) 2026-07-27.
Read the Florida source text →Florida deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Florida requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 15 days to return it if no claim is made; 30 days to give notice of a claim |
| Maximum deposit | No statutory limit |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Forfeiture of the right to impose any claim on the deposit |
| Governing statute | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 |
Two clocks: 15 days to return the deposit if the landlord makes NO claim, or 30 days to send written notice by certified mail of an intent to impose a claim. Missing the 30-day notice forfeits the claim, though the landlord may still sue for damages. Every figure here was read from the Florida statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Florida
The 15 days clock in FloridaFla. Stat. § 83.49 sets Florida's deadline at 15 days from the end of the tenancy. Two clocks: 15 days to return the deposit if the landlord makes NO claim, or 30 days to send written notice by certified mail of an intent to impose a claim. Missing the 30-day notice forfeits the claim, though the landlord may still sue for damages.
Florida does not cap the depositFlorida sets no statutory ceiling on the deposit amount, so the lease controls how much you can be charged. The return deadline and itemization rules in Fla. Stat. § 83.49 still apply in full.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Florida requires a written, itemized statement within the 15 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in FloridaForfeiture of the right to impose any claim on the deposit — that is the remedy Fla. Stat. § 83.49 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Florida, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Florida the 15 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 15 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Fla. Stat. § 83.49 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Florida small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (forfeiture of the right to impose any claim on the deposit) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Florida
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Florida?
Fla. Stat. § 83.49 gives your landlord 15 days to return the deposit outright, or 30 days to send you written notice by certified mail that they intend to keep part of it. Two clocks: 15 days to return the deposit if the landlord makes NO claim, or 30 days to send written notice by certified mail of an intent to impose a claim. Missing the 30-day notice forfeits the claim, though the landlord may still sue for damages.
What happens if my Florida landlord misses the deadline?
Forfeiture of the right to impose any claim on the deposit. That remedy is written into Fla. Stat. § 83.49 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Florida?
Florida sets no statutory maximum, so the amount is whatever the lease sets. The deadline and itemization requirements in Fla. Stat. § 83.49 still apply regardless of size.
Can my Florida landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 15 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.