Eviction in Tampa: notice periods, court fees, and timeline.
A 3.3M-resident metro with Hillsborough County's court rules. This page covers the exact procedural posture for a Florida non-payment eviction filed in Tampa — notice periods, the courthouse, filing fees, and the typical filing-to-writ window.
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The numbers
Tampa eviction by the calendar.
Court of jurisdiction
Hillsborough County Court (Civil Division)
800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602
Filing fee (residential)
$185
Plus service of process
Notice → service
1–2 business days
After 3-day notice expires
Service → hearing
8–14 days
Tenant has 5 days to answer
Hearing → writ of possession
3–7 days
If judgment for landlord
Statute
FL Stat. §83.56–§83.625
Florida residential L-T act
Definition
In Florida, the non-payment of rent eviction is initiated by serving a 3-day notice to pay or quit (excluding weekends and legal holidays), followed by a forcible-detainer action filed in the county court. The procedural windows on this page reflect Hillsborough County practice as of 2026 under Florida Statutes §83.56(3) and §83.59.
What's different about Tampa
County-specific practice notes.
Florida law is uniform statewide, but each county clerk and judge runs the docket differently. These are the Hillsborough County specifics that shape your timeline.
- 1
Hillsborough County Court is one of the faster eviction dockets in Florida — most uncontested non-payment cases see a writ of possession within 21 days of the initial 3-day notice, beating the Florida statewide median.
- 2
The 3-day notice in Hillsborough excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and Florida legal holidays. Bay Area locals often forget that Florida holidays differ from federal — Florida observes Confederate Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis's Birthday in addition to standard federal holidays.
- 3
Hillsborough accepts e-filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for both the complaint and supporting documents. Service of process is typically completed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office or by private process server.
- 4
The Hillsborough Clerk of Court runs an eviction-specific filing window that processes most landlord filings within 4 business hours — significantly faster than the Miami-Dade docket.
- 5
Lockout coordination is handled by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Civil Process Unit. Writs of possession are typically executed within 3–7 business days of issuance. Tampa Bay storms during hurricane season (Jun–Nov) can delay scheduled lockouts.
- 6
Tampa city ordinances do not impose additional eviction requirements beyond Florida state law for private rentals. Public housing and Section 8 properties remain subject to federal HUD notice requirements.
FAQ
Tampa eviction — common questions.
How long does an eviction take in Hillsborough County?
From service of the 3-day notice to the writ of possession in the sheriff's hands, Hillsborough typically clears uncontested non-payment cases in 18–28 days — among the fastest in Florida. Contested cases add 30–45 days.
What's the filing fee for an eviction in Tampa?
Hillsborough County Court charges $185 for a residential forcible-detainer filing as of 2026. Service of process runs $40–$65 (sheriff) or $50–$90 (private process server). The writ of possession fee is $90. Total court costs typically run $315–$365.
Can I do a Tampa eviction without a lawyer?
Individual landlords can file pro se in Hillsborough. Entity landlords (LLCs, corporations, partnerships) must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney. Even for individuals, mistakes in the 3-day notice or complaint are the most common cause of dismissal — small drafting errors restart the clock.
What if my Tampa tenant deposits rent into the court registry?
Under FL Stat. §83.60(2), if the tenant deposits the disputed rent into the court registry, they are entitled to a hearing on the merits. Failure to deposit results in default judgment for the landlord without hearing. This deposit requirement is enforced strictly in Hillsborough.
Are there any Tampa-specific eviction holds during hurricane season?
There is no automatic statewide eviction hold during hurricane season. However, after a declared state of emergency (DeSantis declaration covering Hillsborough County), the Florida Supreme Court has historically issued emergency administrative orders pausing certain civil filings — usually for 7–14 days. Track Florida Courts Administrative Office orders during active storms.
Other Florida cities
Filing somewhere else in Florida?
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Start the intakeLast updated: 2026-05. Statutes change with each FL legislative session — verify current windows with a Tampa-licensed attorney before relying on dates.