Tampa Landlord Laws, the 2026 Quick Guide (Post HB 1417)

Tampa operates under Florida state landlord-tenant law (Fla. Stat. Chapter 83 Part II) with Hillsborough County overlays. Like the rest of Florida, Tampa is post HB 1417 (effective July 1, 2023): the month-to-month termination notice is 30 days, not the old 15. This is the Tampa-specific quick reference for 2026.

## Florida baseline

• Security deposit: no cap.
• Return deadline: 15 days unchallenged / 30 days with deductions (Fla. Stat. 83.49(3)).
• Pay-or-quit notice: 3 days for non-payment (Fla. Stat. 83.56(3)).
• Lease violation notice: 7 days (Fla. Stat. 83.56).
• Month-to-month termination: 30 days post HB 1417 (Fla. Stat. 83.57).
• Statutory deposit notice: Fla. Stat. 83.49(2)(d) verbatim.
• Rent control: preempted statewide.

## Tampa-specific rules

Tampa and Hillsborough County have lighter local overlay than Miami-Dade:

• Tampa Property Maintenance Code: habitability inspections.
• No just-cause eviction in Tampa (state preempts).
• No source-of-income protection at city level (Hillsborough has not adopted Miami-Dade's rule).
• Hurricane and flood disclosure: encouraged in Tampa coastal zones, not statutorily required at state level.
• Lead-based paint: federal 24 CFR Part 35.

## Tampa eviction process

Tampa evictions go through Hillsborough County Court:

1. 3-day pay-or-quit notice (Fla. Stat. 83.56(3)).
2. File unlawful detainer complaint (filing ~$185-$250).
3. Tenant answer within 5 business days.
4. Hearing within 10-21 days.
5. Writ of possession; Hillsborough Sheriff schedules lockout.

Total uncontested: 3-5 weeks.

## Common mistakes

Pre HB 1417 month-to-month notice. Generic templates and out-of-state landlords still serve 15-day notices. Post HB 1417 the rule is 30 days. A 15-day notice is defective.

Skipping 83.49(2)(d) verbatim language. Required on every Florida lease.

Pet fees stacking. Florida limits non-refundable pet fees to reasonableness; stacking $300 pet fee + $50/month pet rent + pet deposit as separate refundable can exceed practical limits.

For a Tampa-ready Florida residential lease, see leasekit.io/templates/florida-residential-lease for $29 one-time.