Florida Eviction court process & timeline

How does the eviction court process work in Florida?

The landlord files a complaint in county court under summary procedure, and the tenant has 5 days to answer. A tenant raising any defense other than payment must deposit the alleged rent into the court registry within 5 business days of service or loses those defenses. After judgment, the sheriff posts 24 hours' notice before executing the writ.

Verified Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.59, 83.60(2), 83.62; § 51.011(1) · last checked 2026-10-15