Florida Security Deposit Laws (2026)
Key rules for deadlines, penalties, and documentation requirements, with direct links to the official statute.
Reviewed: 2026-03-03
Reviewer: ReclaimDeposit legal research team
Quick answer for Florida renters
In Florida, landlords generally must return the deposit or send a lawful itemized statement within 15/30 days. Penalty exposure can reach Forfeiture risk.
Requirements
Notes
- CERTIFIED MAIL REQUIRED for landlord's notice of intent to claim deductions
- Tenant has 15 days to object in writing after receiving landlord's claim notice
- Interest may be owed on deposits (5% simple or 75% of account rate)
- Failure to send certified notice within 30 days forfeits ALL claims
Citations
Quick references pulled from our shared state law dataset. Open each explainer for plain-English context.
Deposit return deadline
Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3) - Landlord must return deposit within 15 days (no claim) or 30 days (with claim)
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionItemized deductions
Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a) - Landlord must send written notice of intent to claim via certified mail
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionCertified mail
Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a) - Notice of claim MUST be sent by certified mail
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionNormal wear and tear
Fla. Stat. § 83.49 - Landlord cannot charge for normal wear and tear
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionForfeiture rules
Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a) - Failure to send timely certified notice forfeits all claims
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionTenant objection period
Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a) - Tenant has 15 days to object after receiving landlord's claim
Explain this statuteOfficial section
Common Florida dispute scenarios
Choose the scenario that matches your case to get state-specific next actions.
Landlord missed the deposit deadline
Use this path when your landlord returned the deposit late or failed to send any lawful itemized statement on time.
No itemized deduction statement
Use this path when money was withheld but no legally compliant itemized statement was provided.
Charged for normal wear and tear
Use this path when deductions include routine aging, ordinary use, or charges that should have been depreciated.
Evidence of landlord bad faith
Use this path when withholding appears intentional, reckless, or unsupported by evidence and statute.
Next steps
Use free tools to estimate your deadline, prepare a demand letter, and map your court path.