Florida security deposit law: 15 days (30 days for a notice of claim) to return it, and the penalty
How long a landlord has to return a security deposit in Florida, what must be sent, and the penalty, read in Florida Statutes Section 83.49(3).
The deadline
If the landlord does not intend to keep any part of the deposit, it must be returned within 15 days after the lease ends.
To keep part of it, the landlord must send a written notice of claim by certified mail (or email, if agreed) within 30 days after the lease ends. You then have 15 days after receiving it to object in writing.
The penalty
If the landlord does not send the notice of claim within 30 days, the landlord loses the right to keep any part of the deposit.
What to do
Send a written demand that cites the law, by certified mail or email, and keep proof. If the landlord does not pay, you can file in small claims court in the county of the rental.
Source: Florida Statutes Section 83.49(3), read on November 3, 2026.