Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Seminole is a mid-sized city in Pinellas County on Florida's Gulf Coast, situated between St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The city is home to a significant renter population, and like most of the Tampa Bay region, its rental market has seen substantial price pressure in recent years. Renters in Seminole frequently search for information about how much a landlord can raise the rent, how quickly they must receive their security deposit back, and what steps they can take if a landlord refuses to fix a serious maintenance problem.
All tenant rights in Seminole are governed by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.683). The City of Seminole has not enacted any local ordinances that add to or modify these state protections. This means the rules that apply to Seminole renters are the same rules that apply to renters across the state, including deposit return timelines, notice requirements before termination, habitability duties, and protections against illegal lockouts.
This page summarizes those rights in plain language with references to the specific Florida statutes that apply. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have an urgent housing issue, please contact a qualified attorney or one of the legal aid organizations listed at the bottom of this page.
There is no rent control in Seminole, Florida — and no city or county in the state may enact it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which amended Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (counties) and related provisions to permanently prohibit local governments from imposing rent control ordinances or caps on residential rent increases. Governor DeSantis signed the bill into law, and it took effect immediately upon enactment.
The 2023 law was a direct response to a November 2022 ballot measure in Orange County, in which voters approved a temporary rent stabilization ordinance. HB 1431 invalidated that measure and any similar local action statewide. As a result, no Florida city, county, or municipality — including Seminole and the rest of Pinellas County — can legally cap how much a landlord may charge or raise rent, regardless of whether voters support such a measure.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Seminole can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, with proper written notice. There is no limit on the percentage increase, no required justification, and no registration process for rent increases. Renters whose leases are ending should review the notice requirements below and consider negotiating lease terms in advance if possible.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.683) establishes the full set of protections available to Seminole renters. The major provisions are summarized below.
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, and to make repairs necessary to keep the premises in a habitable condition. This includes maintaining roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, and pest extermination where an infestation affects more than one unit. If your landlord fails to meet this duty, you must first deliver a written 7-day notice specifying the needed repairs before you can terminate the lease or pursue other remedies under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1).
Repair Remedies (Fla. Stat. § 83.56): If the landlord does not cure a material noncompliance with habitability standards within 7 days of your written notice, you may terminate the rental agreement. For issues that affect your health or safety, Florida law may also allow you to withhold rent or make repairs yourself and deduct costs, but this area involves significant procedural requirements — contact a legal aid organization before withholding rent.
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must hold security deposits in a Florida banking institution. If they make no deductions, they must return the deposit within 15 days of lease termination. If they intend to make deductions, they must send a written itemized notice via certified mail within 30 days; you then have 15 days to object in writing. A landlord who fails to follow this procedure forfeits the right to make any deduction and must return the full deposit.
Notice to Terminate (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): Either party must provide at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a monthly rental period to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days' written notice is required. These are minimum statutory requirements; your lease may specify longer notice periods.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about housing code violations, organizing or joining a tenants' union or similar organization, or exercising any right protected under the Landlord and Tenant Act. Retaliatory conduct includes raising rent, reducing services, or threatening or initiating eviction. If a landlord takes adverse action within one year of a protected activity, retaliation is presumed.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): It is illegal for a landlord to use self-help tactics to force a tenant out. A landlord may not remove doors, windows, or locks; cut off electricity, water, heat, or other essential utilities; or remove a tenant's personal property without a court order. Violation entitles the tenant to actual and consequential damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Florida law governs every aspect of how landlords in Seminole must handle security deposits, and violations carry real financial penalties. The relevant statute is Fla. Stat. § 83.49.
No statutory cap: Florida does not limit the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit. The amount is set by the lease agreement. Seminole has not enacted any local ordinance imposing a cap.
Where deposits must be held: Landlords must hold security deposits in a separate, non-commingled account at a Florida banking institution, or post a surety bond. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide written notice identifying the name and address of the institution where the funds are held, the amount, and whether the account bears interest.
Return timeline — no deductions: If the landlord intends to make no deductions from your deposit, they must return it within 15 days after the tenancy ends and you vacate the unit.
Return timeline — with deductions: If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must send you a written itemized claim via certified mail to your last known address within 30 days of the lease ending. You then have 15 days from receiving that notice to object in writing. If you do not object, the landlord may then deduct the claimed amounts.
Penalty for noncompliance: A landlord who fails to send the written deduction notice within the 30-day window, or who fails to return the deposit within 15 days when no deductions are claimed, forfeits all right to retain any portion of the deposit and must return the full amount. Courts may also award attorney's fees to a prevailing tenant in a deposit dispute under Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c).
Practical tip: Document your move-out condition with dated photos and request a walk-through inspection. Send your forwarding address in writing before you leave so the landlord cannot claim they had no address to mail the return to.
Eviction in Seminole follows the procedures established in Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.62). Landlords must follow every step precisely; a procedural error can result in dismissal of the eviction case.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not comply or vacate after proper notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Pinellas County Court (small claims or civil division, depending on amounts at issue). The tenant is served with a summons and complaint and typically has 5 business days to file a written response (Fla. Stat. § 83.60).
Step 3 — Hearing and Judgment: If the tenant files a timely response, the court schedules a hearing. Important: if nonpayment of rent is the basis and the tenant disputes the eviction, the tenant must deposit the disputed rent amount into the court registry at the time of filing the response, or the court may default in the landlord's favor (Fla. Stat. § 83.60(2)).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues a writ of possession. A Pinellas County sheriff's deputy will post the writ and, if the tenant does not leave, physically remove the tenant after 24 hours (Fla. Stat. § 83.62).
No Just-Cause Requirement: Florida does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to terminate a tenancy at the end of a lease term or a month-to-month tenancy, provided they give the legally required notice. Seminole has not enacted any local just-cause eviction ordinance.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord who removes your belongings, changes the locks, removes doors or windows, or shuts off utilities to force you out without a court order is violating Fla. Stat. § 83.67. You may sue for actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees. Contact law enforcement or legal aid immediately if this happens to you.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws and local ordinances can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by use of this site. If you have a specific legal problem, please consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact one of the legal aid organizations listed above. Always verify current statutes and local rules independently or with the help of a qualified legal professional.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.