Florida county rules

St. Lucie County, Florida landlord rules

What changes, and what doesn't, when your rental is in St. Lucie County (Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce). 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 St. Lucie 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 2026-10-30

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lease terms, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, disclosures, landlord fees, or notice requirements is superseded.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 2026-10-30

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 2026-10-30

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. St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie County

St. Lucie County's incorporated municipalities are the cities of Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce and the town of St. Lucie Village. A city can have its own codes, so check both the city and the county.

Source: Florida Dept. of State: cities within counties · Checked 2026-10-30

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. Local deposit rules are preempted by § 83.425.

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.49(1), 83.49(3)(a), 83.425 · Checked 2026-10-30

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). The St. Lucie County Clerk's eviction page explains filing: the landlord (property owner) files in the County Civil division at the South County Annex in Port St. Lucie or the main Clerk's office in Fort Pierce, with a copy of the notice and proof of ownership. Eviction complaint packets are on the Clerk's Department Forms page.
Official site →

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56(3), 83.59(2), 83.67 · St. Lucie County Clerk: Filing for eviction · Checked 2026-10-30

Housing authority

The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Pierce runs a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Its waiting list was closed when we checked on Oct 30, 2026.

Source: Fort Pierce Housing Authority: Section 8 · Checked 2026-10-30

Related tools and pages

Florida landlord-tenant law · Florida lease agreement · Late fee calculator · Rent increase calculator · Security deposit kit · Palm Beach County rules (nearby) · Brevard County rules (nearby)

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.