Florida Security Deposit Law

Florida security deposit law uses a split timeline. If the landlord does not intend to keep money, the deposit is generally due within 15 days after termination after you vacate. If the landlord intends to keep money, the landlord must send a written claim notice within 30 days after termination.

The main statute is Florida Statutes section 83.49. It also covers claim notices, tenant objections, deposit-holding methods, interest, and some notice issues that can affect the dispute.

The rule in plain English

• No claim: the landlord generally returns the deposit and required interest within 15 days.
• Claim made: the landlord sends a written claim notice within 30 days.
• Tenant disagrees: the tenant objects in writing within 15 days after receiving the claim notice.
• Address matters: claim notices use the tenant's last known mailing address unless valid email notice applies.

If the landlord wants to keep money

A Florida claim notice is a formal notice that the landlord intends to impose a claim on the deposit. In ordinary language, it means the landlord says they plan to keep some or all of the deposit and must explain why.

If the landlord misses the 30-day claim-notice deadline, the landlord can lose the right to take that claim from the deposit. Florida still preserves the possibility of a separate damages lawsuit after the deposit is returned, so keep the demand focused on the deposit, the notice deadline, and the amount actually owed.

Deposit holding, disclosure, and interest

Florida landlords generally must handle deposit money through one of the statutory holding methods: a separate non-interest account, a separate interest-bearing account, or a surety bond. The statute also includes disclosure rules about how and where the deposit is held, with a fewer-than-five-units exception for the deposit-holding disclosure requirement.

If the deposit is held in an interest-bearing account or under a surety bond, interest rules may apply. Save your lease, any deposit-holding notice, and any messages about where the deposit was held.

Early move-out and abandonment issues

In some early-vacating or abandonment situations, Florida may require the tenant to give at least 7 days' written notice before leaving and include an address where the tenant can be reached. Missing that notice can affect the landlord's notice duties, but it does not automatically erase the tenant's deposit rights.

Related Florida guides

• Florida security deposit deadline
• Florida security deposit demand letter
• What can a Florida landlord deduct?
• Florida security deposit evidence guide

The free guide above explains the Florida rule. The paid system gives you the Florida-specific letters in order, so you are not guessing what to send next.

Important: This page provides general information and is not legal advice.