Eviction Laws in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city by both population and land area, a consolidated city-county government encompassing all of Duval County with nearly one million residents. The rental market is driven by a powerhouse mix of naval and military installations — Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport together make up one of the largest naval complexes on the East Coast — alongside a booming finance and technology sector, a major deepwater port, and a steady stream of in-migration from higher-cost Northeast and Midwest markets. Jacksonville’s affordability relative to Miami, Tampa, and Orlando makes it one of the most landlord-favorable major markets in Florida: strong demand, below-average rents by Florida standards, low vacancy, and a growing tenant pool of working professionals, military families, and logistics workers.
Florida’s eviction process under F.S. Chapter 83 applies uniformly across Jacksonville and Duval County. For nonpayment of rent, landlords must serve a written 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate — excluding weekends and legal holidays — before filing. For curable lease violations, a 7-Day Notice to Cure is required; for serious or incurable violations, a 7-Day Unconditional Quit Notice applies. Once the notice period expires without compliance, the landlord files a Complaint for Eviction with Duval County Court. The tenant has 5 business days to respond. If no response is filed, the landlord moves for a default judgment. After a favorable ruling a Writ of Possession is issued and the tenant has just 24 hours to vacate before the Duval County Sheriff enforces removal. Florida has no rent control and no security deposit cap, though strict 15/30-day return rules apply.
Jacksonville & Duval County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Florida state law preempts local rent regulation and Jacksonville has none.
Consolidated City-County Government. Jacksonville operates as a consolidated Duval County government — one of the few in the country. All eviction filings go to Duval County Court, County Civil Division. There is no ambiguity about jurisdiction for properties within Jacksonville city limits.
Military SCRA Protections. With NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, a significant share of Jacksonville’s tenant pool is active-duty military. Federal SCRA protections can affect lease termination rights and eviction timelines for servicemembers. Always verify military status via the Defense Manpower Data Center before filing and consult an attorney if SCRA may apply.
Hurricane and Flood Zone Disclosure. Florida law requires landlords to disclose known flood zone status to tenants. Jacksonville has extensive flood-prone areas along the St. Johns River and its tributaries. Failure to disclose can create lease disputes that complicate eviction proceedings. Ensure lease agreements include appropriate flood and storm disclosure language.
Security Deposit Rules. Florida imposes no cap on security deposits but requires landlords to notify tenants in writing within 30 days of receiving the deposit of where it is held and whether it is in an interest-bearing account. Failure to comply forfeits the right to make claims against the deposit — a defense tenants sometimes raise in eviction proceedings.
Duval County Court — Where Jacksonville Landlords File
Jacksonville landlords file eviction actions at Duval County Court, County Civil Division, located at 501 W Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, phone (904) 255-2000, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. File a Complaint for Eviction and pay the filing fee of approximately $185 plus $10 per defendant for summons issuance. The clerk issues a 5-business-day summons served by the Duval County Sheriff or a certified process server. If the tenant does not respond within 5 business days, file a Motion for Default. If the tenant responds, a hearing is set. After a favorable judgment, a Writ of Possession is issued and the tenant has 24 hours to vacate before the sheriff executes removal. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order — is illegal under F.S. § 83.67 and exposes landlords to damages of up to 3 months’ rent plus attorney fees.
|
