Florida county rules

Levy County, Florida landlord rules

What changes, and what doesn't, when your rental is in Levy County (Williston, Chiefland, Cedar Key, Bronson). 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 Levy 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lease terms, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, disclosures, landlord fees, or notice requirements is superseded.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. Levy 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 Levy County

Levy County's incorporated municipalities are the cities of Williston, Chiefland, Cedar Key and Fanning Springs (partly in Gilchrist County) and the towns of Bronson, Inglis, Yankeetown and Otter Creek. The state lists Williston Highlands, Manatee Road, East Williston, East Bronson, Andrews, Morriston and Raleigh as census-designated places, not cities. Florida EDR estimates that 36,188 of the county's 46,270 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). Levy County evictions are filed with the Clerk of Court in Bronson. The Clerk doesn't provide notice forms but posts a landlord/tenant forms packet online. When we checked on Nov 2, 2026, the packet listed a $185 filing fee, $40 per defendant for the Sheriff to serve the eviction summons (it can be paid with the Clerk's fees at filing), and $90 to the Sheriff's Office for the writ of possession. It asks for two copies of all documents for each defendant plus stamped, addressed envelopes. Once the writ is served, the tenant has 24 hours to move. The packet still offers a '7 or 15 day' notice form for ending a tenancy; since July 1, 2023, § 83.57(3) requires at least 30 days for a month-to-month tenancy.
Official site →

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

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56(3), 83.57(3), 83.59(2), 83.67 · Levy County Clerk: Landlord/tenant forms packet · Checked 2026-11-02

Housing authority

The North Central Florida Regional Housing Authority, based in Bronson, administers 392 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in Levy, Gilchrist and Wakulla counties and pays its share of the rent directly to the landlord. It also runs public housing in Bronson, Cedar Key, Chiefland and Williston. Its Section 8 waiting lists were closed when we checked on Nov 2, 2026.

Source: North Central Florida Regional Housing Authority: Section 8 · 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) · Marion County rules (next door) · Citrus 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.