Florida county rules

Sumter County, Florida landlord rules

What changes, and what doesn't, when your rental is in Sumter County (Wildwood, Bushnell, The Villages, Lake Panasoffkee). 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 Sumter 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 2026-10-31

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lease terms, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, disclosures, landlord fees, or notice requirements is superseded.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 2026-10-31

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 2026-10-31

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. Sumter 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 Sumter County

Sumter County's incorporated municipalities are the cities of Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster and Wildwood. The state lists The Villages and Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County as census-designated places, not cities, so county rules apply outside city limits. 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 2026-10-31

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 2026-10-31

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 Sumter County Clerk's Evictions page adds that the 3-day notice must ask only for the rent that is due. Once served, the tenant has 5 business days to respond; then the landlord files a Motion for Default (no response) or a Motion form so the Clerk sends the file to the judge. Heads-up: that page still describes a 15-day notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, but since July 1, 2023, Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3) requires at least 30 days.
Official site →

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56(3), 83.57(3), 83.59(2), 83.67 · Sumter County Clerk: Evictions · Checked 2026-10-31

Housing authority

Sumter County's Rental Assistance page says its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program was transferred to Citrus County Housing Services, which now runs it. Citrus County's voucher waiting list was closed when we checked on Oct 31, 2026.

Source: Sumter County: Rental Assistance · Citrus County Housing Services: Housing Choice Voucher Program · Checked 2026-10-31

Related tools and pages

Florida landlord-tenant law · Florida lease agreement · Late fee calculator · Rent increase calculator · Security deposit kit · Lake County rules (nearby) · Marion County rules (nearby) · Citrus County rules (nearby)

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

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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.