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Plant City is a mid-sized city in Hillsborough County, Florida, situated between Tampa and Lakeland along the I-4 corridor. Known for its agricultural roots and the annual Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City has a significant renter population that relies on affordable housing options throughout the area. Like all Florida renters, Plant City tenants are governed entirely by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682), with no additional local protections beyond what the state provides.
Renters in Plant City most commonly ask about their rights around rent increases, security deposit returns, habitability and repairs, and what to do when facing eviction. Florida law addresses all of these topics, though the protections vary — and in some areas, such as rent control, the law explicitly denies local governments the ability to act. Understanding which protections apply and how to enforce them is essential for any tenant in Plant City navigating a dispute with a landlord.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary. Renters dealing with a specific legal issue are encouraged to contact a licensed Florida attorney or a legal aid organization serving Hillsborough County.
Plant City has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits any local government from enacting it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which was signed into law and took effect immediately, overriding any local rent stabilization ordinances or voter-approved measures. This legislation specifically nullified rent control measures that had passed by ballot in jurisdictions such as Orange County, and it bars all Florida municipalities and counties — including Hillsborough County — from enacting or enforcing any form of rent cap, now or in the future.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Plant City can raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the legally required advance notice before the new rate takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, that notice is 15 days prior to the next rental period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57). There is no ceiling on how large the increase can be, no requirement that the landlord justify it, and no local agency that can intervene to limit it. Tenants who cannot afford a rent increase must either negotiate with the landlord or prepare to relocate when their current lease or rental period ends.
While the absence of rent control is significant, Florida law does provide other meaningful tenant protections — particularly around security deposits, habitability, anti-retaliation, and the eviction process — that Plant City renters should understand and be prepared to enforce.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) is the primary source of tenant rights for all Plant City renters. The following protections apply regardless of any lease language to the contrary.
Habitability and Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51 & § 83.56): Landlords in Florida are legally required to maintain rental units in a condition that meets applicable building, housing, and health codes, and to keep roofs, windows, doors, floors, plumbing, heating, and electrical systems in good working order. If your landlord fails to make essential repairs after receiving a proper written notice, you may have legal remedies. For most non-emergency repair issues, you must deliver a written 7-day notice to the landlord specifying the problem and your intended remedy. If the landlord does not comply within seven days, you may be entitled to terminate the lease or pursue a rent withholding remedy through the courts, depending on the severity of the issue (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1)).
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must return your security deposit within 15 days after you vacate if they are making no deductions. If they intend to withhold any portion, they must send written notice via certified mail within 30 days of your departure, itemizing the deductions. You then have 15 days to object in writing. A landlord who fails to send the required notice within 30 days forfeits the right to make any deduction and must return the full deposit.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): A month-to-month tenancy may only be terminated by either party with at least 15 days' written notice prior to the end of the monthly period. A week-to-week tenancy requires at least 7 days' written notice. These are minimum legal requirements; a lease may provide for longer notice periods but cannot reduce them below these statutory minimums.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): Florida law prohibits landlords from retaliating against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about housing code violations, organizing or joining a tenant association, or exercising any right protected by law. Prohibited retaliatory acts include increasing rent, reducing services, threatening eviction, or filing an eviction lawsuit. If retaliation is proven, a tenant may recover actual damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Prohibition on Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): Landlords are strictly prohibited from using self-help eviction tactics. This includes removing or disabling doors or windows, changing locks, removing the tenant's belongings, or intentionally interrupting electricity, water, gas, or other essential utilities in order to force a tenant out. Violations entitle the tenant to sue for actual and consequential damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Florida law governs security deposit procedures for all rental units, including those in Plant City, under Fla. Stat. § 83.49. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Florida, meaning a landlord can request any amount they choose — typically one to two months' rent — though the amount should be specified clearly in the lease.
Storage and Disclosure: A landlord who holds a security deposit must either keep it in a separate non-interest-bearing Florida bank account, hold it in an interest-bearing account (with the tenant receiving interest or a 5% annual payment in lieu thereof), or post a surety bond. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide written notice to the tenant stating the name and address of the financial institution holding the deposit and whether it bears interest (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(2)).
Return Timeline: If the landlord makes no deductions, the full deposit must be returned within 15 days after the tenant vacates the unit. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days of the tenant vacating, itemizing each deduction. The tenant then has 15 days to object in writing to those deductions (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)).
Penalty for Noncompliance: A landlord who fails to send the 30-day written notice within the required window forfeits the right to make any deductions and must return the full deposit. If the landlord wrongfully withholds the deposit after the objection period, the tenant may seek recovery in small claims court. Tenants who prevail may be entitled to the wrongfully withheld amount plus court costs and, in some cases, attorney's fees.
Tenant Responsibilities: To protect your deposit, document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs, keep copies of all written communications, and provide your forwarding address in writing when you vacate so the landlord can send required notices.
The eviction process in Plant City follows Florida's statewide eviction procedures under Fla. Stat. §§ 83.55–83.62. Florida law requires landlords to follow specific legal steps; any deviation may invalidate the eviction.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, a landlord must serve the tenant with proper written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing the Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (Complaint for Removal of Tenant) in Hillsborough County Court. The tenant is then served with a summons and has five (5) days — excluding weekends and holidays — to file a written response (Fla. Stat. § 83.59).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: If the tenant files a response, the court schedules a hearing. Tenants should appear and present any defenses, which may include improper notice, payment of rent, retaliatory eviction (Fla. Stat. § 83.64), or landlord failure to maintain habitable conditions. If the tenant does not respond within five days, the landlord may request a default judgment.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the court rules in the landlord's favor, a Writ of Possession is issued. A Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy will post the writ at the unit, and the tenant has 24 hours to vacate before the sheriff can remove them and their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord in Plant City cannot remove a tenant without going through the court process. Changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's property are all illegal under Fla. Stat. § 83.67. Tenants subjected to these tactics may sue for actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees and court costs.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Florida does not require a landlord to have a specific reason to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or decline to renew a lease. However, a landlord cannot terminate or decline to renew in retaliation for a tenant exercising a legal right (Fla. Stat. § 83.64).
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page reflects our understanding of Florida landlord-tenant law as of April 2026, but laws and local regulations can change at any time. Every rental situation is unique, and this content may not address your specific circumstances. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter, you should consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization serving Hillsborough County. Do not rely solely on this article to make legal decisions.
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