Florida county rules

Walton County, Florida landlord rules

What changes, and what doesn't, when your rental is in Walton County (DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach). 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 Walton 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 2026-11-01

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lease terms, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, disclosures, landlord fees, or notice requirements is superseded.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 2026-11-01

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 2026-11-01

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. Walton County official site → · Florida local codes (Municode) →

Rental registration, licensing and inspections

Local fair-housing protected classes

Short-term rental rules

Walton County requires annual registration of short-term vacation rentals, effective Feb 1, 2025 under BCC Resolution 2024-57. The county defines one as a unit rented more than three times a year for less than 30 days or one calendar month, or advertised as regularly rented to guests. Its FAQ lists a maximum occupancy of one person per 150 square feet of conditioned space (or a lower agreed limit), a local responsible party, life-safety items under Ordinance 2023-03, and lease terms that must state occupancy, the noise ordinance and trash days. Some exemptions apply, such as an owner-occupied homestead home and certain condos. The county says STRs are permitted in many zoning districts in unincorporated Walton County; check with DeFuniak Springs, Freeport or Paxton if the rental is inside city limits.

Source: Walton County: Office of Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration · Walton County: Short-term vacation rental FAQs · Checked 2026-11-01

Cities and towns in Walton County

Walton County's incorporated municipalities are the cities of DeFuniak Springs and Freeport and the Town of Paxton. The state lists Miramar Beach as a census-designated place, not a city. Florida EDR estimates that 72,343 of the county's 90,547 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 2026-11-01

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 2026-11-01

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 Walton County Clerk's eviction page says to bring two copies of the notice (and of the lease, if any) for one tenant, plus one more of each for every extra tenant. When we checked on Nov 1, 2026, it listed a $185 filing fee plus $10 per summons, $40 per tenant for the Sheriff to serve the summons, and $90 for the Sheriff to serve the writ of possession. Once the writ is served, the tenant has 24 hours to leave. An agent may file a nonpayment case, but if the tenant contests it, only the owner or an attorney can go on, and corporate owners need an attorney. The Clerk's page still describes a 15-day notice for ending a month-to-month tenancy; since July 1, 2023, § 83.57(3) requires at least 30 days.
Official site →

Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56(3), 83.57(3), 83.59(2), 83.67 · Walton County Clerk: Eviction · Checked 2026-11-01

Housing authority

The Walton County Housing Agency in DeFuniak Springs runs the county's Section 8 program. Its Section 8 waiting list was closed when we checked on Nov 1, 2026.

Source: Walton County Housing Agency · Checked 2026-11-01

Related tools and pages

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