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Riviera Beach is a coastal city in Palm Beach County with a substantial renter population. Many residents lease apartments and single-family homes throughout the city's neighborhoods, and questions about rent increases, deposit returns, and eviction procedures are among the most common tenant concerns in this market.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) is the governing law for virtually all residential rental relationships in Riviera Beach. The City of Riviera Beach has not enacted any local ordinances that go beyond state law, so Florida's statewide framework is the primary source of tenant protections available to renters here. Notably, Florida banned all local rent control measures in 2023, meaning no rent cap exists or can be created at the city or county level.
This page summarizes the key protections Florida law provides to Riviera Beach renters — including rules on security deposits, habitability, eviction notice, and illegal landlord conduct. This content is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Riviera Beach 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 codified at Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and § 166.043 (for municipalities). These statutes explicitly preempt any local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance — even one approved by voters. The law overrode a 2022 Orange County ballot measure that had passed with over 60% voter support, making clear that the preemption applies regardless of local democratic approval.
In practice, this means your landlord in Riviera Beach can raise your 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 on rent increases, no required justification, and no local board or process to challenge an increase. Your only practical options are to negotiate with your landlord, accept the new rent, or move out after providing or receiving the required notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.57.
Renters who believe a rent increase is being used as retaliation for exercising a legal right — such as reporting a housing code violation — may have a separate claim under Fla. Stat. § 83.64, which prohibits retaliatory rent increases. That protection is explained in the state protections section below.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides the following core protections to Riviera Beach renters:
Habitability (Fla. Stat. § 83.51): Landlords are legally required to maintain rental units in a condition that complies with applicable building, housing, and health codes. This includes keeping roofs, windows, doors, floors, plumbing, heating, and electrical systems in working order. Failure to maintain habitable conditions gives tenants the right to pursue remedies under Fla. Stat. § 83.56.
Repair Remedies (Fla. Stat. § 83.56): If your landlord fails to make a required repair that materially affects your health or safety, you must first deliver a written seven-day notice demanding the repair. If the landlord still fails to act within seven days, you may terminate the lease or, in some cases, withhold rent and deposit it with the court — but only by strictly following the statutory process. Attempting to withhold rent without following this procedure can result in eviction.
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must return your deposit within 15 days if they make no deductions. If they intend to deduct, they must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days; you then have 15 days to object in writing. A landlord who fails to follow this process forfeits the right to make any deductions. See the dedicated security deposit section below for full details.
Notice to Terminate (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, the required notice is 7 days. No reason is required to be stated in the notice unless the lease requires otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by raising rent, reducing services, threatening eviction, or actually evicting a tenant because the tenant complained to a housing authority, contacted a building inspector, joined a tenant organization, or exercised any right protected by law. If retaliation is proven, the tenant may recover actual damages, attorneys' fees, and court costs.
Illegal Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): It is unlawful for a landlord to remove a tenant's doors, windows, or locks; interrupt or cause the interruption of electricity, water, gas, or other essential services; remove the tenant's personal property from the unit; or otherwise attempt to force a tenant out without going through the court eviction process. A tenant subjected to these actions is entitled to sue for actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorneys' fees.
Security deposit rules in Riviera Beach are governed entirely by Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Florida law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit — the amount is set by the lease agreement. However, once a deposit is paid, strict rules govern how the landlord must hold and return it.
Holding Requirements: If the landlord collects a deposit of more than $50 or deposits equivalent to more than one month's rent in a complex with five or more units, the funds must be held in a Florida bank account separate from the landlord's own funds. The landlord must notify the tenant in writing within 30 days of receiving the deposit, stating the name and address of the institution where the funds are held and whether the account is interest-bearing.
Return Deadline: If the landlord intends to make no deductions, the deposit must be returned within 15 days after the tenant vacates. If the landlord intends to make deductions, the landlord must send the tenant written notice by certified mail to the tenant's last known address within 30 days after the tenant vacates, itemizing the deductions and the reasons for them.
Tenant's Right to Object: After receiving the landlord's notice of intended deductions, the tenant has 15 days to send a written objection by certified mail. If the tenant objects and the parties cannot resolve the dispute, either party may bring a court action.
Penalty for Non-Compliance: A landlord who fails to give the required written notice of deductions within 30 days forfeits the right to impose any deduction. If the landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit, the tenant may recover the deposit plus court costs and attorneys' fees (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)). Tenants must provide the landlord with a forwarding address after vacating to trigger the return deadline.
Evictions in Riviera Beach follow Florida's statutory process under Fla. Stat. §§ 83.55–83.62. Florida does not require a landlord to have just cause to terminate a tenancy at the end of a lease term or a month-to-month rental — but the landlord must follow the legally required notice and court procedures.
Step 1 — Written Notice: The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must serve a written 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)). For lease violations other than nonpayment, the landlord must serve a 7-Day Notice — either to cure the violation or, for an incurable violation, to vacate (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(2)). For termination of a month-to-month tenancy without cause, the landlord must give 15 days' written notice before the end of the rental period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57).
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (Complaint for Removal of Tenant) in Palm Beach County Court. The tenant must be properly served with the summons and complaint.
Step 3 — Tenant Response: The tenant typically has 5 business days after service to file a written response with the court. In nonpayment cases, the tenant must also deposit any disputed rent into the court registry (Fla. Stat. § 83.60). Failure to respond or deposit rent within the deadline can result in a default judgment for the landlord.
Step 4 — Hearing and Judgment: If the tenant responds, the court will schedule a hearing. If the judge rules for the landlord, a Judgment for Possession is entered.
Step 5 — Writ of Possession: After a judgment, the clerk issues a Writ of Possession. The sheriff serves the writ and gives the tenant 24 hours to vacate before physically removing them.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Fla. Stat. § 83.67, a landlord cannot remove a tenant by changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's belongings. These actions are illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent. A tenant subjected to a self-help eviction may sue for the greater of three months' rent or actual damages, plus attorneys' fees.
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. Florida statutes cited here are accurate as of April 2026 but may have been amended since publication. Riviera Beach renters with specific legal questions or disputes should consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Palm Beach County. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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