Putnam County sits in north-central Florida along the western banks of the St. Johns River, positioned at the geographic center of a triangle formed by Jacksonville to the northeast, St. Augustine to the east, Gainesville to the southwest, and Daytona Beach to the south. The county seat, Palatka, is a historic river town of approximately 11,000 residents that served as a major steamboat hub during Florida’s 19th-century development era. Today Putnam County is one of Florida’s more rural and economically challenged counties, with a poverty rate near 24 percent, median household income around $47,000, and an economy anchored in timber (Rayonier, one of the county’s largest employers), small manufacturing, agriculture, and government services. St. Johns River State College provides a modest academic anchor in Palatka. The rental market is small, affordable, and defined by the county’s low income base, with rents ranging from approximately $900 to $1,500 per month.
Putnam County has no local rent control or supplemental tenant protection ordinances and follows Florida state law exclusively. Evictions are filed at the Putnam County Clerk of Courts in Palatka. The county is part of Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also serves Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.
📊 Putnam County Quick Stats
County Seat
Palatka
Population
~77,000
Median Rent
~$900–$1,500
Vacancy Rate
~5–7%
Poverty Rate
~24% (high; screen carefully)
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation Notice
7-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate
Month-to-Month Termination
30-Day Notice to Vacate
Filing Fee
~$185 (possession only)
Court Type
County Court (Circuit 7)
Avg Timeline
2–4 weeks
Putnam County Local Ordinances
County-specific rules that add to or modify Florida state law
Category
Details
Rental Licensing / Registration
No county-level landlord license or rental registration required for long-term residential rentals in unincorporated Putnam County. The City of Palatka may have local business tax receipt requirements; verify with the city before renting within Palatka city limits. No significant STR market in Putnam County; waterfront properties on the St. Johns River may have limited STR activity requiring DBPR licensing.
Inspection Programs
No proactive county rental inspection program. Code enforcement in unincorporated Putnam County operates on a complaint basis. Given the county’s older housing stock and modest maintenance budgets among many property owners, landlords should proactively ensure properties meet Florida minimum habitability standards under Fla. Stat. § 83.51 before renting.
Rent Control
None. Florida Statute § 125.0103 preempts all local rent control. No rent stabilization measures in Putnam County.
Source of Income
No local source of income protections. Landlords may legally decline housing voucher applicants. Given Putnam County’s high poverty rate and significant reliance on government assistance programs, many applicants may present housing vouchers; landlords’ acceptance policies are entirely discretionary under Florida state law.
Habitability Standards
Florida state minimum housing standards apply under Fla. Stat. § 83.51. Putnam County’s housing stock is older, with a median construction year of 1971 in Palatka. Landlords should pay particular attention to roof, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC condition. Properties near the St. Johns River and Crescent Lake may be in FEMA flood zones; flood disclosure required for leases ≥1 year per Fla. Stat. § 83.512 (effective October 1, 2025).
Court Filing Notes
Putnam County Clerk of Courts: 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177; (386) 326-7600. Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Putnam County is part of Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also serves Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Eviction forms are available at the Customer Service Center at 518 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177.
Local Fees
Filing fee approximately $185 for eviction-only cases. Court registry fee: 3% of first $500 plus 1.5% of remaining balance. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office serves summons and executes Writs of Possession; contact the Sheriff’s Office for current service fees.
Additional Ordinances
No additional local landlord obligations. Standard Florida requirements apply: HB 615 (email notice consent, July 1, 2025) and Fla. Stat. § 83.512 (flood disclosure for leases ≥1 year, October 1, 2025). Landlords renting in Putnam County should note the county’s high poverty rate (~24%) and take particular care to verify stable, documented income before leasing — eviction filing rates relative to population are elevated compared to wealthier neighboring counties.
State statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Putnam County
⚡ Quick Overview
3
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
7
Days Notice (Violation)
15-30
Avg Total Days
$185
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes
Days to Hearing7-14 days
Days to Writ1-5 days
Total Estimated Timeline15-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$250-$500
⚠️ Watch Out
3-day notice excludes weekends and holidays. Notice must demand exact amount owed - overcharging voids the notice. Tenant can deposit rent with court registry to contest.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the County Court. Pay the filing fee (~$185).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Florida eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Florida attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Putnam County is a small rural market on the St. Johns River with one of Florida’s highest poverty rates (~24%). Seventh Judicial Circuit; courthouse at 410 St. Johns Ave, Palatka, (386) 326-7600. Very affordable rents ($900–$1,500) but high-risk tenant pool — rigorous income screening is essential. No local rent control.
Putnam County
Screen Before You Sign
With a county poverty rate near 24%, stable documented income verification is not optional here — it’s essential. Require 3x rent in verifiable stable income, check the Seventh Circuit for eviction history, and verify employment tenure. Palatka’s tight-knit small-town nature means local knowledge matters: prior landlord references carry real weight.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County occupies a distinctive niche in Florida’s rental landscape: it is an affordable, rural market with a high poverty rate positioned within commuting range of four distinct metropolitan areas — Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, and Daytona Beach — none of which it is fully part of. This geographic positioning creates a specific tenant profile that combines local rural-economy workers, commuters who have traded urban convenience for dramatically lower housing costs, and government-assistance-dependent households who cannot afford rents in the surrounding metros. Understanding this profile is essential to operating successfully as a landlord in Putnam County.
The Economics of a High-Poverty Market
Putnam County’s poverty rate of approximately 24 percent is nearly double the Florida state average and is among the highest of any Florida county. Palatka, the county seat, has a city-level poverty rate exceeding 37 percent. Median household income for the county runs around $47,000 — roughly 60 percent of the Florida median. These numbers have direct implications for landlords: the applicant pool will frequently include households with income well below what a standard three-times-rent threshold would require, frequent reliance on government assistance programs, prior eviction histories resulting from financial hardship, and credit profiles reflecting high rates of delinquency. This does not mean Putnam County cannot be a viable rental market — rents of $900 to $1,500 are achievable, vacancy rates are modest, and the county has long-term residents with genuine housing stability. But it does mean that the screening process must be thorough, consistently applied, and documented against the same objective thresholds for every applicant.
The Seventh Circuit and Palatka Courthouse
Evictions in Putnam County are filed at the Putnam County Clerk of Courts, 410 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177, phone (386) 326-7600. The Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also serves Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties, processes Putnam’s eviction cases. Eviction forms and instructions are available at the Customer Service Center at 518 St. Johns Avenue. Filing fees are approximately $185 for a possession-only eviction complaint. The small size of Putnam County’s court docket relative to the larger Seventh Circuit counties means eviction cases are generally processed efficiently in Palatka. Uncontested defaults typically proceed within two to three weeks of filing.
Market Opportunity and Practical Realities
Despite the challenges, Putnam County offers a genuine investment case for landlords who understand the market. Cap rates on multi-family properties in Palatka have been reported at 7 to 9 percent, reflecting the gap between acquisition costs (which remain very low by Florida standards) and achievable rents. The timber and manufacturing economy provides a segment of stable, long-tenured workers with reliable incomes who make excellent tenants. The proximity to Jacksonville International Airport and the I-95/US-17 corridor supports a growing segment of remote workers and commuters who want rural lifestyle at sharply lower costs than Jacksonville or St. Augustine can offer. For landlords who screen rigorously, maintain their properties well, and apply Florida state law procedures correctly from the first notice through to final judgment, Putnam County’s low acquisition costs and modest but consistent rental demand offer a risk-adjusted opportunity that is underappreciated in Florida’s more fashionable markets.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Putnam County, Florida and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Putnam County Clerk of Courts or a licensed Florida attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
