Florida places no dollar limit on residential security deposits, but it enforces tight deadlines. If the landlord makes no claim, the deposit must be returned within 15 days of move-out. If the landlord intends to keep any part, written certified-mail notice is due within 30 days, and the tenant then has 15 days to object.
Under Fla. Stat. § 83.49, there is no statutory cap on the deposit amount. If the landlord does not intend to impose a claim, the full deposit (plus any required interest) must be returned "within 15 days after the termination of the rental agreement." To keep any portion, the landlord must, within 30 days, send written notice by certified mail (or email under § 83.505) of the intent to impose a claim, using the statute's required wording stating the amount, the reason, and that the tenant "must object in writing to this deduction from your security deposit within 15 days." After a non-objection, the landlord deducts and remits the balance within 30 days of the notice date. Deposits must be held in a separate non-interest or interest-bearing Florida account or secured by surety bond, with written disclosure to the tenant.
A landlord who fails to give the required written notice within the 30-day period forfeits the right to impose any claim on the deposit and may not seek a setoff under Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3). In any resulting action, the prevailing party is entitled to court costs plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Martin County, FL
Under Martin County Code section 67.305, construction, repair, alteration, or demolition work on buildings, structures, roads, or projects is prohibited betw...
Martin County, FL
Martin County regulates noise under Chapter 67, Article 10 of the Code of Ordinances (Environmental Control). Section 67.305 prohibits specified noises and e...
Martin County, FL
Under Martin County Code Ch. 115 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), no person may leave a salvage, junked, or abandoned vehicle on any road, street, alley, highwa...
Martin County, FL
Storage and parking of recreational vehicles — including boat trailers, camping trailers, travel trailers, motorized dwellings, and tent trailers — on reside...
Martin County, FL
Martin County Code section 9.90 requires that dogs in unincorporated Martin County be restrained by a leash, chain, or other similar device when off the owne...
Stuart, FL
Stuart, FL currently prohibits backyard chickens citywide under Code of Ordinances Chapter 8 (Animals). On May 7, 2026, the Community Redevelopment Board vot...
See how Stuart's security deposit rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.