Sarasota County, Florida: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Sarasota County Court - Small Claims Division in Sarasota. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $8,000. Florida return time: 15 days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,677. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Sarasota County Court - Small Claims Division
City	Sarasota
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$8,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	15 days after Termination of the rental agreement. Applies when: no deductions claimed. 30 days after Termination of the rental agreement. Applies when: landlord intends to impose a claim; written notice of intention to impose a claim (certified mail or email) is due within this window, or the right to impose a claim is forfeited. 30 days after the date of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim. Applies when: tenant did not object in writing within 15 days after receiving the notice; the landlord deducts the claim and remits the balance within this window.
Time limit to sue	5 years
Deposit statute	Fla. Stat. § 83.49 (2025 Florida Statutes, current codification); small claims limit at Fla. Stat. § 34.01(1)(c)

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $8,000 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

Florida statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
The landlord sent no notice claiming deductions, so the full deposit is due	15 days	Termination of the rental agreement
The landlord sent the claim notice, and I did not object in writing by the date printed in it	30 days	the date of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim

Florida return rule: 15 days (no deductions claimed). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Sarasota County Court - Small Claims Division. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Sarasota County.
The Florida business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) (check the link; report an error if it is wrong)

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Florida filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: certified mail by clerk; constable or sheriff; private process server.

Procedure source (medium confidence): Forms that have been approved for statewide use are located within the Florida Small Claims Rules of Court Procedure.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Sarasota County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,496	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$1,677	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$1,926	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$2,131	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Sarasota County compare with other Florida counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,677: rank 6 of 67 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 23.7% of households rent in Sarasota County.

Sarasota County two-bedroom rent $1,677, rank 6 of 67 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Miami-Dade County	$1,784
Collier County	$1,686
Sarasota County	$1,677
Orange County	$1,653
Seminole County	$1,652
St. Johns County	$1,632

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 67 of 67 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Sarasota County

Longboat Key
North Port
Sarasota
Venice

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.: free civil legal help for eligible Tampa Bay residents, including housing matters to preserve a home

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Sarasota County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Sarasota County?

Sarasota County Court - Small Claims Division is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.