Florida security deposit law
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Florida?
The short answer
Florida law gives your landlord 15 days if nothing is withheld and 30 days when deductions are claimed after move out to return your deposit, with an itemized statement of any deductions, under Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Miss the deadline and the landlord loses legal ground and can owe forfeiture of the entire deposit.
Under Fla. Stat. § 83.49, a Florida landlord must return your security deposit within 15 days if nothing is withheld and 30 days when deductions are claimed, counted from move out. The return must include an itemized statement listing every deduction.
What the deadline really means: it is not a suggestion. A landlord who misses it without a lawful reason can forfeit the right to keep any portion of the deposit.
How to count the days: the clock starts at move out, not when the landlord gets around to an inspection. Mark the date you handed back keys and gave your forwarding address; that documentation decides deadline disputes.
If the deadline has already passed, the next step is a written demand: a formal letter citing Fla. Stat. § 83.49, the missed date, and the amount owed. Landlords who ignore informal texts frequently respond to a statute-cited demand sent by certified mail, because it shows you know the deadline and its consequences, and it becomes Exhibit A if you later file in County Court.
The Florida rules at a glance. Governing statute: Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Return deadline: 15 days (30 days with deductions claimed). Missed procedure can forfeit the landlord's entire claim to the deposit. Attorney's fees: recoverable in qualifying cases. Court for disputes: County Court, claims up to $8,000.
Looking for the rules beyond this state? Security deposit return deadlines by state
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