Quick answer: In Florida the legal path from a 3-day notice to possession is the notice period, a filing, 5 business days for the tenant to pay the rent into the court registry or lose every defense but payment, an immediate default judgment and writ if the tenant does not, and 24 hours’ notice posted by the sheriff.
This Florida eviction timeline calculator applies Fla. Stat. 83.60, 83.56(5) and 83.62. Choose the reason and enter the notice date, and the judgment date if you have one: it shows the earliest legal dates for each step. It shows legal minimums only, never how long a case usually takes.
Florida eviction timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Florida says |
|---|---|
| Notice first | 3 days for rent, 7 days for violations, 30 days for a month-to-month tenancy (Fla. Stat. 83.56, 83.57) |
| Registry deposit | A tenant who raises any defense other than payment must deposit the rent in the court registry within 5 days (not counting weekends and legal holidays) after service (83.60(2)) |
| Default | Failing to deposit is an absolute waiver of defenses other than payment, and the landlord gets an immediate default judgment and a writ (83.60(2)) |
| Trial or mediation | The court may not set a date until the registry requirement is met (83.56(5)(b)) |
| Writ of possession | The clerk issues it after judgment; the sheriff posts 24 hours’ notice (83.62(1)) |
| Weekends and holidays | They do not stay the 24 hours (83.62(1)) |
| Belongings | May be moved to or near the property line at execution (83.62(2)) |
| Self-help | Utility shutoffs and lockouts are prohibited and cost 3 months’ rent or actual damages (83.67) |
How does the Florida eviction timeline work?
- The steps. See how long an eviction takes in Florida.
- In court. See the Florida eviction court process.
- After the judgment. See the Florida writ of possession.
What does this eviction timeline calculator check?
It starts with the notice date and the earliest filing day, which the Florida eviction notice calculator explains. It assumes the tenant is served on the filing day, counts 5 business days for the registry deposit, treats the next business day as the earliest default judgment and writ, and adds 24 hours for the sheriff’s posted notice. If you enter a judgment date it uses that day for the writ. It does not predict whether the tenant defends, how long a trial takes, whether the sheriff can act the same day or whether a court has local mediation steps.
Related Florida landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Florida security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the Florida security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit and the Florida eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end. Each one cites its own Florida statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an eviction take in Florida?
The statutes fix only minimums: the notice period, 5 business days for the tenant to deposit rent in the registry, and 24 hours’ notice before the sheriff acts. A contested case takes longer, depending on the court.
What happens if the tenant does not respond?
The landlord is entitled to an immediate default judgment for removal and a writ of possession, without further notice or hearing, if the tenant raises a defense other than payment but does not deposit the rent.
What is the court registry deposit?
The accrued rent as alleged in the complaint, or as the court determines, and rent as it comes due during the case, which a tenant must pay in to defend on grounds other than payment.
How much notice does the sheriff give before an eviction?
At least 24 hours, posted on the premises; weekends and holidays do not stop the clock.
Can a tenant stop an eviction for nonpayment by paying?
Paying the rent within the 3-day notice satisfies the notice, and payment is a defense to the action.
What happens to belongings?
The landlord may remove them to or near the property line when the writ is executed.
Official sources
- Fla. Stat. 83.60: defenses to action for rent or possession
- Fla. Stat. 83.62: restoration of possession to landlord
- Fla. Stat. 83.56: termination of rental agreement
- Fla. Stat. 83.57: termination of tenancy without specific term
- Fla. Stat. 83.67: prohibited practices
- Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.514: computing time
- Fla. Stat. 110.117: paid holidays