Washington County is a small, rural Panhandle county in northwest Florida, situated between Holmes County to the west and Bay County to the east. The county seat is Chipley, a small town along I-10 that serves as the commercial and governmental hub for the surrounding agricultural community. With a population of approximately 25,000, Washington County is one of the smaller counties in the Florida Panhandle. The local economy is driven by agriculture, forestry, small business, and a modest amount of employment tied to Panama City and the military installations in Okaloosa and Bay counties to the east. Washington County is home to Florida Caverns State Park near Marianna (the Jackson County seat just to the west), and Falling Waters State Park, which features Florida’s tallest waterfall. The rental market is small, affordable, and straightforward — rents typically range from $700 to $1,200 per month, tenant pools are local working households, and the landlord-tenant environment is governed entirely by Florida state law.
Washington County is part of Florida’s Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington). Evictions are filed at the Washington County Clerk of Courts in Chipley. No local rent control. No local tenant protections. Standard Florida Chapter 83 procedures apply in full.
📊 Washington County Quick Stats
County Seat
Chipley
Population
~25,000
Median Rent
~$700–$1,200
Judicial Circuit
Fourteenth (Circuit 14)
Character
Rural agricultural Panhandle
Landlord Rating
7/10 — Simple, low-volume, state law only
⚖️ 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)
Courthouse
1331 Sunny Hills Blvd., Chipley, FL 32428
Phone
(850) 638-6285
Court Type
County Court (Circuit 14)
Washington County Local Ordinances
County-specific rules that add to or modify Florida state law
Category
Details
Rental Licensing
No county-level landlord license required. Florida state law applies exclusively.
Inspection Programs
No county rental inspection program. Standard habitability requirements under Fla. Stat. § 83.51 apply.
Rent Control
None. Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 preempts all local rent control. No rent stabilization anywhere in Washington County.
Source of Income
No local source of income protections. Landlords may legally decline housing voucher applicants.
Court Filing Notes
Washington County Clerk of Courts: 1331 Sunny Hills Blvd., Chipley, FL 32428; (850) 638-6285. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington counties). Circuit shares resources with the Panama City-based Bay County court system. Low eviction filing volume — straightforward, uncontested process typical.
Local Fees
Filing fee ~$185 for possession-only complaint. Court registry fee: 3% of first $500 + 1.5% of remainder. Sheriff service fees at statewide statutory rates. Verify current amounts with Clerk at time of filing.
Additional Ordinances
No significant local landlord-tenant ordinances beyond Florida state law. HB 1417 (July 1, 2024) preempted any prior local tenant protections statewide. HB 615 (July 1, 2025): Email notices permitted with written consent of both parties (§83.505). Fla. Stat. §83.512 (Oct. 1, 2025): Flood disclosure required for leases ≥1 year — note that portions of Washington County along Holmes Creek and other low-lying areas may be in FEMA flood zones.
Last verified: 2026-03-13
🏛️ Washington County Courthouse
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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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including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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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.
Underground Landlord
📍 Washington County at a Glance
Washington County is rural Panhandle Florida at its most straightforward — ~25K residents, agricultural economy, rents $700–$1,200. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit; file at 1331 Sunny Hills Blvd., Chipley, (850) 638-6285. No local rent control, no local tenant protections, no licensing requirements. Pure Chapter 83 territory.
Washington County
Screen Before You Sign
Washington County is a small rental market where income stability and eviction history are the key risk variables. Tenant pools are local working households; agricultural and seasonal income warrants closer scrutiny. Verify at least 3x monthly rent in documented stable income. The Fourteenth Circuit serves a large rural area — county court evictions are typically resolved quickly when properly documented.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Washington County, Florida
Washington County sits at the intersection of two of the Florida Panhandle’s defining realities: the deep rural character of the inland Panhandle north of I-10, and the proximity to Panama City and the booming coastal economy to the south. Chipley, the county seat, is a small I-10 corridor town of about 3,500 people that functions as a service and government hub for the surrounding rural county. The Washington County courthouse, schools, and local businesses serve a dispersed population that lives across a mix of small towns including Vernon and Wausau, agricultural land, and forested areas. Rents are among the lowest in Florida, reflecting both the small size of the rental market and the modest incomes of the local workforce.
A Pure Chapter 83 County
For landlords, Washington County offers one of the most uncomplicated operating environments in Florida. There are no local ordinances that add complexity to the landlord-tenant relationship, no rental licensing requirements, no inspection programs, and no tenant protections beyond what the Florida Residential Landlord-Tenant Act already provides. The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit covers a large rural territory, and county court eviction proceedings in Washington County are typically low-volume and straightforwardly resolved when the landlord has maintained proper notice documentation. A 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate served in strict compliance with Fla. Stat. §83.56, followed by a properly filed eviction complaint at 1331 Sunny Hills Blvd. in Chipley, is the complete playbook for nonpayment cases. Uncontested defaults are common in a market where tenants often choose to vacate rather than contest.
The Agricultural Income Variable
Washington County’s economy includes agricultural employment, which introduces seasonal income variability that landlords should account for in tenant screening. Applicants whose income derives from farm work, timber operations, or other seasonal sources may have strong employment relationships but irregular monthly income patterns. Landlords should look at annual income documentation — tax returns rather than pay stubs alone — and may want to structure lease terms and security deposits to account for the seasonal nature of agricultural income. State government employees commuting to Panama City or Tallahassee represent a more stable tenant demographic in this market.
New Law Highlights for Washington County Landlords
Three recent Florida legislative changes are relevant to Washington County landlords. HB 615 (effective July 1, 2025) added Fla. Stat. §83.505, which allows landlords and tenants to agree in writing to receive notices by email — a convenience that can streamline the notice process for rural properties where personal service can be logistically challenging. Fla. Stat. §83.512 (effective Oct. 1, 2025) requires flood disclosure for all new leases of one year or longer on properties in flood hazard areas — landlords with properties near Holmes Creek or other low-lying areas in Washington County should verify FEMA flood zone status before executing new leases. And HB 1417 (effective July 1, 2024) extended the 30-day notice requirement for month-to-month tenancy termination statewide — no more 15-day notice for month-to-month, regardless of how long the practice was previously followed locally.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Washington County, Florida and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the Washington County Clerk of Courts or a licensed Florida attorney. Last updated: March 2026.
