Eviction Laws in Tamarac, Florida
Tamarac is a central-west Broward city of roughly 72,000 in the middle of a generational handoff. Developed by Ken Behring in the 1960s as a purpose-built retirement community — the Mainlands sections, Kings Point, Woodmont, and the golf-course fabric around the now city-owned Colony West championship course all trace to that origin — Tamarac spent decades as one of South Florida’s signature senior cities. Today the original owners are aging out, estate-sale condos and ranches are cycling to investors and younger families, and some community sections have dropped their age restrictions while others retain them, making Tamarac a patchwork that rewards landlords who do their homework parcel by parcel. The rental product is remarkably uniform: about 64% of all rentals are two-bedroom units, mostly in association-run condo communities at price points that make Tamarac one of the few remaining value plays in central Broward, with quick access to the Sawgrass Expressway, Commercial Boulevard, and University Drive.
Florida’s eviction framework under F.S. Chapter 83 applies uniformly across Tamarac and Broward 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 applies; for serious or incurable violations, a 7-Day Unconditional Quit Notice. Once the notice period expires without compliance, the landlord files a Complaint for Eviction with Broward County Court in Fort Lauderdale. The tenant has 5 business days to respond. After a favorable judgment, a Writ of Possession is issued and the tenant has just 24 hours to vacate before the Broward County Sheriff enforces removal. Broward County Court carries one of the highest eviction caseloads in Florida — budget a realistic 3 to 7 week timeline. Florida has no rent control and no security deposit cap, though strict 15/30-day deposit return rules apply.
Tamarac & Broward County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Florida state law preempts local rent regulation and Tamarac has none.
The Generational Handoff. Estate-sale units are Tamarac’s signature acquisition — often original kitchens, baths, and systems from the 1970s and 80s priced accordingly. The renovation-to-rent math works, but verify two things before you close: the community’s current age status (some sections remain 55+, others have transitioned — a unit you can’t legally rent to a 35-year-old family changes your whole tenant pool) and the association’s leasing rules, since some communities impose ownership waiting periods before a unit may be rented at all.
HOA Approval Timelines and Fees. In Tamarac’s condo communities, tenant approval routinely takes 15 to 30 days and carries non-refundable application fees of $100–$200 per person. The tenant can’t move in until the board signs off, so build the cycle into your vacancy math, tell applicants about the fee and timeline upfront, and start the association paperwork the day you accept an application — not the day the lease starts.
A Two-Bedroom Condo Market. With nearly two-thirds of rentals being 2BR units, your competition is often the identical floor plan three buildings over. Condition wins: updated kitchens, newer appliances, and in-unit laundry move units in days while original-condition twins sit. Price against the same floor plan across communities, not against the citywide average.
Security Deposit Rules. Florida requires written notice to tenants within 30 days of receiving a deposit detailing where it is held and whether it is interest-bearing. Non-compliance forfeits deposit claim rights — a defense tenants and legal aid organizations raise regularly in Broward County eviction proceedings.
Broward County Court — Where Tamarac Landlords File
Tamarac landlords file eviction actions at Broward County Court, County Civil Division, located at 201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, phone (954) 831-6565, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no separate eviction venue in Tamarac — all Broward residential eviction filings run through the central courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. File a Complaint for Eviction and pay the filing fee of approximately $185 plus $10 per defendant for summons issuance. Electronic filing is available through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. The clerk issues a 5-business-day summons served by the Broward 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 and deposits rent into the court registry, 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.
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