Florida county rules

Washington County, Florida landlord rules

What changes, and what doesn't, when your rental is in Washington County (Chipley, Vernon, Caryville, Ebro, Wausau). 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 Washington 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 2026-11-04

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lease terms, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, disclosures, landlord fees, or notice requirements is superseded.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 2026-11-04

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 2026-11-04

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. Washington 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 Washington County

Washington County's incorporated municipalities are the cities of Chipley (the county seat) and Vernon and the towns of Caryville, Ebro and Wausau (Florida EDR April 1, 2025 list; the state city/county directory also lists Chipley, Ebro, Vernon and Wausau). Florida EDR estimates that 21,638 of the county's 26,876 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 2026-11-04

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 2026-11-04

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). Washington County evictions are filed with the Clerk of Court in Chipley. When we checked on Nov 4, 2026, the Clerk's Civil Court fee schedule listed Tenant Eviction at $185, Issuing Summons at $10 per summons, and Preparing Summons at $7 per summons in addition to the issuing fee. The Clerk's Evictions FAQ says that after a default, the landlord pays $90 to the Sheriff for a 24-hour Writ of Possession. Sheriff summons service is paid separately to the Washington County Sheriff's Department (business check or money order); amounts for summons service are set by Fla. Stat. § 30.231 ($40 per summons). The same Evictions page still describes a 15-day notice for month-to-month possession; 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, 30.231 · Washington County Clerk: Evictions · Checked 2026-11-04

Housing authority

The Chipley Housing Authority owns and operates 88 units of public housing in Chipley; its public-housing waiting list status is posted on its site. Separately, the Northwest Florida Regional Housing Authority administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Washington County (listed on its Section 8 counties map when we checked on Nov 4, 2026).

Source: Chipley Housing Authority · Northwest Florida Regional Housing Authority · Checked 2026-11-04

Related tools and pages

Florida landlord-tenant law · Florida lease agreement · Late fee calculator · Rent increase calculator · Security deposit kit · Jackson County rules (next door) · Bay County rules (nearby) · Walton County rules (nearby) · Holmes County rules (next door)

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.