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Palmetto is a growing city in Manatee County, situated along the Manatee River just north of Bradenton and across from Sarasota. As the Tampa Bay region continues to attract new residents and investment, Palmetto's rental market has experienced rising demand. Renters in Palmetto are governed exclusively by Florida's statewide landlord-tenant law — Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes — which sets the rules for security deposits, lease terminations, habitability, eviction procedures, and tenant remedies.
Palmetto has no local rent control ordinance and no additional municipal tenant protections beyond state law. Florida's 2023 statewide ban on local rent control means neither the City of Palmetto nor Manatee County can enact rent caps, regardless of local housing conditions. Tenants searching for protections around deposit returns, required notice periods, repair obligations, or illegal lockouts will find those answers in Florida's uniform landlord-tenant statute.
This page summarizes the laws that apply to Palmetto renters as of April 2026. It is intended as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are facing eviction, a deposit dispute, or a habitability problem, contact a licensed Florida attorney or a legal aid organization for guidance specific to your situation.
Palmetto has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits any local government from creating one. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which effectively nullified all local rent control ordinances and permanently preempted local governments — including cities and counties — from adopting new ones. This law overrode voter-approved rent stabilization measures, including one that Orange County residents had passed by ballot in 2022. The preemption is codified at Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and Fla. Stat. § 166.0435 (for municipalities).
In practice, this means a landlord in Palmetto can raise the rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or upon proper notice for a month-to-month tenancy — there is no cap, no required justification, and no city or county agency that reviews rent increases. Tenants whose rent is increased have the right to receive proper advance notice (15 days for month-to-month tenancies under Fla. Stat. § 83.57), but they have no legal mechanism to challenge the amount of the increase under Florida law.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Chapter 83, Part II, Florida Statutes) provides Palmetto renters with several enforceable protections:
Habitability & Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51): Landlords must maintain the rental unit in a condition that complies with applicable building, housing, and health codes. If no code applies, the landlord must maintain the roof, windows, doors, floors, plumbing, heating, and other structural components in good repair. If your landlord fails to make required repairs, you must first deliver a written 7-day notice specifying the problem. If the landlord still does not act, you may terminate the lease or pursue court remedies under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1).
Security Deposit Protections (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords who collect a security deposit must hold it in a Florida bank account (or post a surety bond) and notify you in writing within 30 days of where it is held. Return deadlines and penalty rules are detailed in the Security Deposit section below.
Notice Before Termination (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must give at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. Week-to-week tenants are entitled to 7 days' notice. These minimums cannot be waived by lease language that gives shorter notice.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not increase rent, reduce services, threaten eviction, or otherwise retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about code violations, joining a tenant union, or exercising any right protected by law. If retaliation occurs within one year of a protected activity, courts presume it was retaliatory. You may sue for actual and consequential damages plus attorney's fees.
Prohibition on Illegal Lockouts & Utility Shutoffs (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): A landlord may not remove doors or windows, change locks, or willfully interrupt electricity, water, or other essential services to force a tenant out. Doing so entitles the tenant to sue for actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees and costs.
Florida law governs security deposits for all Palmetto rentals under Fla. Stat. § 83.49. There is no statutory cap on how much a landlord may charge as a security deposit — the amount is set by the lease agreement.
Where the deposit must be held: The landlord must place your deposit in a separate Florida banking institution account (interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing) or post a surety bond equal to the deposit amount. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide written notice of the account location or bond details.
Return deadline — no deductions: If the landlord intends to make no deductions, the deposit must be returned to the tenant within 15 days after the tenancy ends and you vacate the unit.
Return deadline — with deductions: If the landlord intends to make any deductions, they must send you a written notice by certified mail within 30 days of your vacating, itemizing the deductions. You then have 15 days from receiving that notice to object in writing. If you do not object, the landlord may deduct the stated amounts and must return the balance within 30 days of the original notice.
Penalty for non-compliance: A landlord who fails to send the required notice within 30 days forfeits the right to make any deductions from the deposit and must return the full amount. Additionally, if the landlord in bad faith fails to return the deposit, you may sue under Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c) for the deposit amount plus damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Evictions in Palmetto are governed by Fla. Stat. §§ 83.55–83.62 and must follow a specific legal process. A landlord cannot remove you without a court order.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must give you written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason:
Step 2 — Filing in County Court: If you do not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Manatee County Court. You will be served with a summons and typically have 5 business days to file a written response (Fla. Stat. § 83.60).
Step 3 — Court Hearing & Judgment: If you do not respond or do not prevail at the hearing, the court issues a judgment for possession. The clerk then issues a Writ of Possession, and the Manatee County Sheriff may remove you from the property after 24 hours' notice posted on the door.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord who changes your locks, removes your belongings, shuts off utilities, or otherwise attempts to force you out without a court order violates Fla. Stat. § 83.67. You are entitled to sue for the greater of three months' rent or actual damages, plus attorney's fees. Call local law enforcement or a legal aid attorney immediately if this happens.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Florida does not require landlords to have a specific reason to decline to renew a lease. At the end of a fixed-term lease, a landlord may simply not renew without stating a reason, as long as proper notice is given for month-to-month tenancies.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Palmetto renters facing eviction, deposit disputes, habitability problems, or other landlord-tenant issues should consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranties about the completeness or accuracy of this information and assumes no liability for reliance on it. Always verify current statutes and local ordinances directly or with a qualified professional.
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