How Long Does Eviction Take in Florida? 

 

If you’re a landlord in Broward County or Palm Beach County, and you’re dealing with a tenant who stopped paying rent, violated the lease, or simply refuses to leave, one of the first questions you probably have is:

“How long does eviction take in Florida?”

The honest answer is: it depends — but in most cases, a properly handled Florida eviction takes anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks from start to finish. Some go faster. Some drag out longer. And many get delayed because of simple (but costly) mistakes.

At 954 Eviction Attorneys, PLLC, we handle evictions every day across Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, and throughout South Florida. Here’s the real-world breakdown of what controls the timeline and how long you should expect the process to take.

Step 1: The Notice Period (3 to 30 Days)

Before you can even file a residential eviction lawsuit in Florida, the law requires that you give the tenant proper written notice.

The type of notice depends on the reason for eviction:

• Non-payment of rent → 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
• Lease violation → 7-Day Notice to Cure or 7-Day Notice to Terminate
• Holdover tenant / expired lease → 30-Day Notice (month-to-month)

This is where many landlords make their first mistake. If the notice is defective — wrong wording, wrong dates, wrong delivery method — your eviction case will get either severally delayed or sometimes even dismissed forcing you to start over.

In Broward County and Palm Beach County, judges scrutinize notices very closely.

Time so far: 3 to 130 days

Step 2: Filing the Eviction Lawsuit (Day 1 After Notice Expires)

If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, we file a Florida eviction lawsuit in county court.

Once filed:

• The clerk issues a summons
• The tenant is served by the sheriff or process server
• The tenant has 5 business days to answer(not counting weekends or holidays)

If the tenant does not answer, we move for a Clerk’s Default and then a Final Judgment for Possession.

If the tenant does answer, the case may:

• Be decided quickly by a judge, or
• Get set for a short hearing

Time: About 7–14 days after filing

Step 3: Court Judgment (Usually 1–3 Weeks After Filing)

In many Broward County eviction cases and Palm Beach County eviction cases, uncontested evictions can be completed very quickly.

Typical timelines:

• Uncontested eviction: 10–21 days from filing
• Contested eviction: 3–6 weeks (sometimes longer if tenant raises defenses)

Courts move fairly fast on eviction cases — but only if your paperwork is perfect.

Step 4: Writ of Possession & Sheriff Lockout (24–72 Hours)

Once the judge signs the Final Judgment for Possession, the clerk issues a Writ of Possession.

• The sheriff posts a 24-hour notice on the door
• After that, the sheriff returns and removes the tenant

In Broward and Palm Beach Counties, this usually happens within 2–5 days of judgment.

Total Time: How Long Does Eviction Take in Florida?

Here’s the realistic timeline:

•  Fast uncontested eviction: ~3 to 4 weeks
•  Average eviction: ~4 to 6 weeks
•  Contested / delayed eviction: ~6 to 10+ weeks

What Causes Evictions to Take Longer?

The biggest delays we see:

•  Defective 3-day or 7-day notices
•  Improper service
•  Tenant files an answer to stall
•  Tenant deposits disputed rent into registry late
•  Landlord tries to do it themselves and makes procedural mistakes

In Florida eviction court, technical mistakes kill cases.

Why Using a Florida Eviction Attorney Is Faster (and Cheaper)

Most landlords who try to file their own eviction end up:

• Getting dismissed
• Restarting the case
• Losing another month or two of rent

At 954 Eviction Attorneys, PLLC, we:

• Draft court-proof notices
• File same-day evictions
• Push defaults and judgments aggressively
• Handle Broward County and Palm Beach County eviction courts daily

Speed matters when a tenant isn’t paying.

Evictions in Broward County vs Palm Beach County

Both counties are efficient, but:

• Broward County tends to move slightly faster on uncontested evictions
• Palm Beach County sometimes runs a few days slower depending on division and judge

Either way, a properly handled case moves far faster than a DIY eviction.

The Bottom Line

If you’re asking:

“How long does eviction take in Florida?”

The real answer is:

As fast as your lawyer can push it — or as slow as your mistakes make it.

Need to Start an Eviction in Broward or Palm Beach County? Call us @ 954.323.2529.

If you have a tenant in:

• Fort Lauderdale
• Hollywood
• Pompano Beach
• Boca Raton
• Delray Beach
• West Palm Beach
• Or anywhere in South Florida

Call 954 Eviction Attorneys, PLLC and we’ll take over the process immediately and correctly.

The sooner you start, the sooner you get your property back.