Florida county rules

Columbia County, Florida landlord rules

What changes, and what doesn't, when your rental is in Columbia County (Lake City, Fort White, Five Points, Watertown). Most rules come from Florida state law. See the Florida page first.

Beginner tip: start with the Florida state rules. A county only adds a few local extras.

General info, not legal advice. Verify the statute or ask a local attorney. Details

Florida state baseline

Florida's statewide landlord-tenant law (Fla. Stat. ch. 83, Part II) is the main rulebook in Columbia County. Start with our Florida page, then use this page only for local extras.
Florida state rules →

Source: Fla. Stat. ch. 83, Part II · Checked 2026-11-02

HB 1417 preemption (2023)

Since July 1, 2023, the State of Florida alone regulates residential tenancies and the landlord-tenant relationship. Any county or city rule on screening, security deposits, applications and application fees, lease terms, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, disclosures, landlord fees, or notice requirements is superseded. The same law raised the month-to-month termination notice from 15 to 30 days.

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.425, 83.57; Ch. 2023-314, Laws of Fla. · Checked 2026-11-02

Who's protected everywhere in Florida

Federal law and the Florida Fair Housing Act already ban housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status and religion.

Source: Fla. Stat. § 760.23 · Checked 2026-11-02

Local tenant ordinance (after 2023 preemption)

Check with your county. We haven't confirmed this local rule from the official code yet, so we don't state it here. Rules can differ by city too. Columbia County official site → · Florida local codes (Municode) →

Rental registration, licensing and inspections

Local fair-housing protected classes

Short-term rental rules

Cities and towns in Columbia County

Columbia County's incorporated municipalities are the City of Lake City and the Town of Fort White. The state lists Five Points and Watertown as census-designated places, not cities. Florida EDR estimates that 59,145 of the county's 72,388 residents (April 1, 2025) live outside city and town limits, where county rules apply. A city can have its own codes, so check both the city and the county.

Source: Florida Dept. of State: cities within counties · Florida EDR: 2025 population estimates · Checked 2026-11-02

Security deposits

The state rules apply. Fla. Stat. § 83.49 sets no maximum deposit. Hold the money in a separate Florida bank account (interest-bearing or not) or post a surety bond with the circuit court clerk. When the tenancy ends, return the deposit within 15 days if you aren't making a claim. If you are, send written notice of the claim within 30 days, by certified mail or by email under § 83.505. If you rent five or more units, § 83.49(2) also requires a written deposit notice within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Local deposit rules are preempted by § 83.425.

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.49(1)-(3), 83.425 · Checked 2026-11-02

Eviction process

Florida's statewide process applies. For unpaid rent, deliver a written 3-day notice (not counting Saturdays, Sundays and court-observed legal holidays). If the tenant doesn't pay or move out, the landlord files a complaint for possession in the county court of the county where the rental is. Landlords can't lock a tenant out or cut off utilities themselves (self-help eviction). Columbia County evictions are filed with the Clerk's County Civil Department in Lake City. The Clerk doesn't provide notice forms, but its eviction packet (updated Jan 1, 2026) can be downloaded from its Evictions page. When we checked on Nov 2, 2026, the packet listed a $185 filing fee plus $10 per summons for each defendant, $40 per defendant for the Sheriff to serve the summons, and a $7 writ of possession plus $90 for the Sheriff to execute it. It notes the Sheriff's Office doesn't take cards or personal checks. The packet's month-to-month termination form uses the current 30-day notice. Once the writ is served, the tenant has 24 hours to move.
Official site →

Florida eviction costs by county (Clerk, Sheriff and writ fees) →

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56(3), 83.59(2), 83.67 · Columbia County Clerk: Eviction packet (rev. Jan 1, 2026) · Checked 2026-11-02

Housing authority

The Columbia County Housing Authority in Lake City says it provides HUD-subsidized housing to eligible low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities within Columbia County. We haven't confirmed from an official source which agency issues tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in the county, so ask the housing authority before you rely on a voucher.

Source: Columbia County Housing Authority · Checked 2026-11-02

Related tools and pages

Florida landlord-tenant law · Florida lease agreement · Late fee calculator · Rent increase calculator · Security deposit kit · Alachua County rules (next door) · Suwannee County rules (next door)

Sources are official state, county and court sites. Federal rules also apply.

← Back to Florida landlord-tenant law

General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the official source and talk to a licensed Florida attorney before acting.