How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Florida?
In Florida, a landlord has 15 days (no deductions claimed) or 30 days (deductions claimed) to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: 15 days (no deductions claimed): Termination of the rental agreement; 30 days (deductions claimed): Termination of the rental agreement. The verified penalty formula is No statutory multiple-damages/punitive penalty (unlike Massachusetts' 3x). If landlord fails to give the required 30-day notice of intent to claim, landlord forfeits the entire right to impose any claim on the deposit and must return it in full. In any civil action to recover the deposit, the prevailing party is entitled to court costs plus a reasonable attorney's fee (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)). No statutory interest-on-deposit penalty beyond the interest-payment requirement itself (75% of annualized average interest rate on the account, or 5% simple interest per year, if landlord elected an interest-bearing arrangement under § 83.49(1)(b)/(c); many landlords opt out of interest entirely by using a non-interest-bearing account or surety bond, which is legal)..
Key facts
| Deadline | 15 days (no deductions claimed); trigger: Termination of the rental agreement |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 30 days (deductions claimed); trigger: Termination of the rental agreement |
| Penalty formula | No statutory multiple-damages/punitive penalty (unlike Massachusetts' 3x). If landlord fails to give the required 30-day notice of intent to claim, landlord forfeits the entire right to impose any claim on the deposit and must return it in full. In any civil action to recover the deposit, the prevailing party is entitled to court costs plus a reasonable attorney's fee (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)). No statutory interest-on-deposit penalty beyond the interest-payment requirement itself (75% of annualized average interest rate on the account, or 5% simple interest per year, if landlord elected an interest-bearing arrangement under § 83.49(1)(b)/(c); many landlords opt out of interest entirely by using a non-interest-bearing account or surety bond, which is legal). |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 (2025 Florida Statutes, current codification); small claims limit at Fla. Stat. § 34.01(1)(c) |
Statute says
"If the landlord does not intend to impose a claim on the security deposit, the landlord shall return the security deposit... within 15 days after the termination of the rental agreement... If the landlord intends to impose a claim... the landlord shall give the tenant written notice by certified mail... within 30 days after the termination of the rental agreement... If the landlord fails to give the required notice within the 30-day period, he or she forfeits the right to impose a claim upon the security deposit."
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in Fla. Stat. § 83.49 (2025 Florida Statutes, current codification); small claims limit at Fla. Stat. § 34.01(1)(c).
FAQ
Does Jacksonville have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Florida law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the Florida deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is No statutory multiple-damages/punitive penalty (unlike Massachusetts' 3x). If landlord fails to give the required 30-day notice of intent to claim, landlord forfeits the entire right to impose any claim on the deposit and must return it in full. In any civil action to recover the deposit, the prevailing party is entitled to court costs plus a reasonable attorney's fee (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)). No statutory interest-on-deposit penalty beyond the interest-payment requirement itself (75% of annualized average interest rate on the account, or 5% simple interest per year, if landlord elected an interest-bearing arrangement under § 83.49(1)(b)/(c); many landlords opt out of interest entirely by using a non-interest-bearing account or surety bond, which is legal).. Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 15 days (no deductions claimed) or 30 days (deductions claimed). The deadline trigger is 15 days (no deductions claimed): Termination of the rental agreement; 30 days (deductions claimed): Termination of the rental agreement. A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send the letter that starts the clock and keeps the demand tied to the verified Florida deadline.
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.