St. Lucie County occupies the Treasure Coast of southeast Florida, bordered by Indian River County to the north and Martin County to the south, with the Atlantic Ocean forming its eastern boundary. The county has two distinct urban centers: Fort Pierce, the county seat and a historic fishing and agricultural city with a working-class character and an older housing stock, and Port St. Lucie, a planned suburban city that has grown explosively since the 1980s to become one of Florida’s largest cities by population. Port St. Lucie has emerged as one of Florida’s strongest rental appreciation markets in recent years, posting some of the highest rent growth rates in the state between 2021 and 2024. The overall county population exceeds 370,000 and continues to grow driven by the area’s affordability relative to Palm Beach and Broward counties to the south.
St. Lucie County has no local rent control or supplemental tenant protections and follows Florida state law exclusively. The county is part of Florida’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, which also serves Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. Evictions are filed primarily at the South County Annex in Port St. Lucie, with an alternate filing location in Fort Pierce. All eviction hearings are held at the South County Annex.
📊 St. Lucie County Quick Stats
County Seat
Fort Pierce
Population
~370,000
Median Rent
~$1,700–$2,100
Vacancy Rate
~5–7%
Landlord Rating
7.0/10 — Landlord-friendly (state law)
⚖️ 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 + $10/summons
Sheriff Service Fee
$40.00 per defendant
Court Type
County Court (Circuit 19)
St. Lucie County Local Ordinances
County-specific rules that add to or modify Florida state law
Category
Details
Rental Licensing / Registration
No county-level landlord license for long-term residential rentals in unincorporated St. Lucie County. The City of Port St. Lucie and City of Fort Pierce may have local business tax receipt requirements. STR operators must obtain a Florida DBPR license and comply with local STR ordinances.
Inspection Programs
No proactive county-wide rental inspection program. Code enforcement responds to complaints in unincorporated areas. Fort Pierce has active code enforcement for older housing stock. All properties must meet Florida Building Code minimum standards.
Rent Control
None. Florida Statute § 125.0103 preempts all local rent control. No rent stabilization measures in St. Lucie County.
Source of Income
No local source of income protections. Florida state law does not require landlords to accept housing vouchers. St. Lucie County landlords may legally decline Section 8 applicants.
Habitability Standards
Florida state minimum housing standards apply under Fla. Stat. § 83.51. St. Lucie County has coastal and low-lying areas subject to FEMA flood zone requirements, particularly near the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic coast. Flood disclosure required for leases ≥1 year per Fla. Stat. § 83.512 (effective October 1, 2025).
Court Filing Notes & Special Requirements
Important: Landlords filing evictions in St. Lucie County must provide proof of property ownership at time of filing — acceptable proof is a copy of the property record card from the St. Lucie County Property Appraiser or a warranty deed. Eviction complaints filed without proof of ownership will not be processed. Primary filing location (evictions): South County Annex, 250 N.W. Country Club Drive, Room 115, Port St. Lucie; (772) 462-6900. Alternate filing: Fort Pierce branch, 201 South Indian River Drive, 2nd Floor, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. All eviction hearings are held at the South County Annex. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit serves St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.
Local Fees
Filing fee approximately $185 plus $10 per defendant for summons issuance. Court registry fee: 3% of first $500 plus 1.5% of remaining balance. Sheriff service fee: $40.00 per defendant (cashier’s check, money order, or business check payable to St. Lucie County Sheriff; no cash by mail). Sheriff Civil Unit: 218 South Second Street, Suite B-215, Fort Pierce, FL 34950; (772) 462-3303.
Agent Filing Limitation
A non-attorney landlord’s agent may only file the initial eviction complaint. Once a tenant files an answer and the eviction becomes contested, only the property owner or a licensed attorney may proceed. Agents cannot sue for back rent — only the property owner or an attorney may file Count II (damages) claims. This Florida rule is particularly enforced in the Nineteenth Circuit.
State statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in St. Lucie 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.
St. Lucie County is the Treasure Coast growth market — ~370K residents, Port St. Lucie among FL’s fastest-growing cities. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit; file evictions at South County Annex, Port St. Lucie (primary). Proof of ownership required at filing. Fee: $185 + $10/summons + $40 Sheriff. Hearings only at South County Annex. Contested evictions require property owner or attorney to proceed.
St. Lucie County
Screen Before You Sign
Port St. Lucie’s growth attracts a wide tenant range. Verify 3x rent income, run Nineteenth Circuit eviction history, and distinguish Fort Pierce applicants (higher eviction risk, older stock) from Port St. Lucie suburban professionals. Port St. Lucie’s supply remains relatively tight — good properties lease quickly to qualified applicants.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in St. Lucie County, Florida
St. Lucie County offers one of the more interesting landlord opportunities on Florida’s southeast coast: an affordable entry alternative to the Palm Beach market immediately to the south, positioned squarely on the Treasure Coast, with Port St. Lucie consistently generating some of Florida’s highest rent growth rates during the post-pandemic boom years. The two-city dynamic of St. Lucie County — Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie — creates two distinct landlord environments that share a county government and courthouse system but differ substantially in tenant profile, rent levels, risk, and operational considerations.
Fort Pierce vs. Port St. Lucie: Know Your Sub-Market
Fort Pierce, the county seat, is one of Florida’s older and more economically challenged coastal cities. Its historic downtown is undergoing revitalization, but significant poverty, older housing stock, and a higher eviction rate relative to its population characterize the market. Landlords operating in Fort Pierce are dealing with a different risk profile than their Port St. Lucie counterparts — income verification and eviction history screening are essential, properties require more active maintenance management, and the Nineteenth Circuit sees a disproportionate share of contested eviction proceedings from the Fort Pierce area relative to county population. Port St. Lucie, by contrast, is a planned suburban city that barely existed 50 years ago and has become one of Florida’s largest cities through relentless residential development. Its tenant pool is dominated by working- and middle-class families, healthcare workers, retirees, and remote workers who have relocated from South Florida seeking significantly lower housing costs. Rent appreciation from 2021 to 2024 outpaced virtually every Florida market outside Miami, and while the market has cooled somewhat, Port St. Lucie remains a strong, growth-oriented rental market.
Critical Filing Note: Proof of Ownership Required
St. Lucie County has a local eviction filing requirement that catches landlords off guard: proof of property ownership must be provided at the time of filing the eviction complaint. Acceptable proof is a copy of the property record card from the St. Lucie County Property Appraiser’s website or a warranty deed. Without this documentation, the Clerk’s Office will not process the filing. Landlords should pull their property record card before heading to the courthouse to avoid a wasted trip. Eviction complaints are filed at the South County Annex, 250 NW Country Club Drive, Room 115, Port St. Lucie — this is the primary location for all eviction filings and the location where all eviction hearings are held. The Fort Pierce branch at 201 South Indian River Drive, 2nd Floor, is an alternate filing location but all hearings return to the South County Annex.
Agent Limitations in St. Lucie County
Florida law allows a non-attorney agent to file an uncontested eviction complaint on behalf of a landlord, but once the tenant files a written answer, the landlord’s non-attorney agent must step aside. The Nineteenth Circuit enforces this rule rigorously. Property owners who use property managers or non-attorney filing agents to initiate evictions should ensure their management agreement and eviction process plan accounts for the possibility that an attorney will be needed once a tenant contests. Given that attorney fees for an eviction in the Treasure Coast market are relatively modest — typically $300 to $600 for a standard contested case — most experienced St. Lucie County landlords retain an eviction attorney for any case that goes beyond the default stage.
St. Lucie County’s market fundamentals remain strong. The county’s position as an affordable alternative to Palm Beach County continues to drive in-migration, the Indian River Lagoon provides recreational appeal that sustains rental demand, and the Nineteenth Circuit’s efficient processing of uncontested defaults minimizes landlord carrying costs during the eviction timeline. For landlords who understand the Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie distinction, bring their ownership documentation to the courthouse, and screen tenants with consistent rigor, St. Lucie County is a well-functioning market in one of Florida’s most active growth corridors.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in St. Lucie County, Florida and is not legal advice. Always verify current filing requirements with the St. Lucie County Clerk of Courts or a licensed Florida attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: March 2026.
