Pinellas County Eviction Process

Pinellas County Eviction Process: A Guide for Landlords

The Pinellas County eviction process follows Florida landlord-tenant law, while local agencies administer the court and sheriff stages. A landlord with rental property in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Seminole, Safety Harbor, or another Pinellas County community may interact with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, the county court, a sheriff or certified process server, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

This guide explains the general progression from a landlord notice through court filing, service, court review, judgment, and a sheriff-executed writ of possession. It also identifies official Pinellas County resources landlords can use to verify current forms, fees, filing instructions, and civil-process procedures.

This page provides general educational information. It does not select a notice, calculate a deadline, determine whether a case is legally sufficient, predict a court ruling, or provide legal advice. Florida law and local procedures can change. A landlord who needs advice about a particular tenancy, disputed fact, defense, or court filing should consult a licensed Florida attorney.

For an overview of the statewide stages, read:

Florida Eviction Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Landlords

Does Pinellas County Have Its Own Eviction Law?

Florida law generally controls residential evictions throughout the state. Pinellas County does not replace those statewide requirements with a separate eviction law.

The local part of the process is administrative. Pinellas County agencies may establish current filing procedures, accepted payment methods, office instructions, service practices, forms, and fees. These local procedures affect how a case moves through the county system, but they do not change the Florida statutes or decide whether a landlord is entitled to possession.

The judge decides whether possession should be awarded. If the court enters a judgment for possession and the clerk issues a writ of possession, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office carries out the writ.

Step 1: Review the Tenancy and Organize the Records

Before delivering a notice or filing a case, a landlord should organize the records connected with the tenancy. These may include:

The signed rental agreement and any renewals or addenda.
A complete rent ledger and payment history.
The names of all known adult occupants.
The full rental-property address and unit number.
Communications with the tenant.
Prior notices and records showing delivery.
Photographs, inspection notes, incident reports, or other relevant records.
Documents showing the owner’s legal name and interest in the property.

The reason possession is sought affects the notice and allegations that may apply. Nonpayment of rent, an alleged lease violation, termination of a periodic tenancy, and expiration of a fixed term are different situations.

When the facts are disputed, the lease is unclear, multiple grounds may exist, or the tenant has raised legal claims, a landlord should obtain legal advice before proceeding.

Step 2: Deliver the Applicable Written Notice

Many residential eviction cases begin with a written landlord notice. Common notice categories include:

A Three-Day Notice concerning nonpayment of rent.
A Seven-Day Notice concerning certain curable noncompliance.
A Seven-Day Notice of Termination concerning certain noncurable, subsequent, or continuing noncompliance.
A Thirty-Day Notice used to terminate a month-to-month tenancy without alleging misconduct.

These notices are not interchangeable. The applicable notice, wording, amount, delivery method, and expiration date can depend on the rental agreement and the facts.

Florida’s former 15-day notice period for terminating a month-to-month residential tenancy is no longer current. Section 83.57, Florida Statutes, generally requires at least 30 days’ notice before the end of a monthly period. Landlords should rely on the current statute rather than an older form or webpage.

For general notice explanations and downloadable forms, visit:

Florida Eviction Notices and Forms

Step 3: Allow the Notice Period to Expire

When a notice period applies, the landlord generally waits until it has fully expired before filing an action based on that notice. The rules for counting days are not identical for every notice.

During the notice period, the tenant may pay, correct an alleged violation, vacate, communicate with the landlord, dispute the notice, or remain after the deadline. The landlord should document payments, communications, returned keys, and any apparent surrender of possession.

Accepting money, entering a new agreement, or taking other action after delivering a notice may affect the situation. A landlord who is unsure of the legal effect should speak with an attorney.

Step 4: File the Case With the Pinellas County Clerk

If the tenancy has been terminated and the tenant remains, a residential eviction action is generally filed in county court in the county where the rental property is located. For Pinellas County property, the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller maintains the case record and provides local County Civil and landlord-tenant information.

The documents needed depend on the claims and circumstances. A filing may include a complaint, summons, rental agreement, landlord notice, and information showing how the notice was delivered. A claim seeking possession only may proceed differently from a case that also seeks past-due rent or other money damages.

Pinellas County is part of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit. The Clerk provides current information about landlord-tenant forms, County Civil procedures, filing locations, and electronic filing. Electronic submission does not eliminate the need to comply with summons, service, copy, fee, and other procedural requirements.

Official local starting points:

Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida

Pinellas County Eviction Filing Fees

The total cost depends on the claims, number of defendants, summons issuance, copies, mailing, service, and whether a writ of possession is later requested. A case that includes a money claim may have different fees from a possession-only action.

Fees, forms, and accepted payment methods can change. Before filing, a landlord should verify the current total directly with the Pinellas County Clerk and the sheriff or certified process server handling service. An older packet or third-party website may contain outdated amounts or instructions.

Step 5: Have the Tenant Served With Court Papers

After the case is filed and the summons is issued, the tenant must be served through an authorized method. Service of the summons and complaint is a separate stage from delivery of the pre-suit landlord notice.

The summons explains that a case has been filed and states the tenant’s response obligations. A possession claim generally has an expedited response period, while a claim for money damages may have a different response period.

Court papers may be served by an authorized sheriff or certified process server as permitted by law. The landlord should monitor the court docket and the return of service. Unsuccessful service or inconsistent names and addresses can delay further action.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Court Processing Unit publishes civil-process information and provides contact information for landlord-tenant and writ questions.

Pinellas County Sheriff — Civil Process

Step 6: The Tenant May Respond

A tenant may file a response, raise defenses, dispute the amount of rent alleged, request a hearing, deposit money into the court registry, or take other action permitted by law.

What happens next depends on the filings and the judge’s review. If no timely response is filed, the landlord may request a default using the applicable procedure. A default or judgment is not automatic merely because the landlord submits a request.

Legal issues may arise when a tenant alleges defective notice, improper rent calculations, payment, retaliation, discrimination, habitability problems, bankruptcy, military status, lack of ownership, or another defense. These matters may require legal analysis and should be referred to a Florida attorney.

Step 7: Court Review, Hearing, or Judgment

The county court determines whether the landlord is entitled to possession. Depending on the case, the court may:

Review a request for default.
Require corrected or additional documents.
Consider a tenant response or court-registry issue.
Schedule a hearing.
Enter a judgment for possession.
Deny relief or dismiss a case when required elements are not established.

Landlords should keep their lease, ledger, notices, delivery records, communications, and other supporting documents organized and available. Only the judge can decide disputed legal and factual issues.

Step 8: Obtain the Writ of Possession

A judgment for possession does not authorize a landlord to remove the tenant personally. After judgment, the clerk may issue a writ of possession directing the sheriff to restore possession.

The landlord should verify the Clerk’s current requirements for issuance and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s current intake instructions before submitting the writ. The Sheriff’s Court Processing Unit handles writs of possession and publishes its current address, hours, telephone numbers, and civil-process information online.

The Sheriff currently identifies its Court Processing Unit at the Administrative Services Building, 14500 49th Street North, Suite 106, Clearwater, Florida. Because addresses, hours, fees, payment methods, and intake procedures can change, confirm all details directly before traveling or submitting paperwork.

Pinellas County Sheriff — Civil Process and Court Processing

Step 9: Sheriff Posting and Restoration of Possession

Section 83.62, Florida Statutes, directs the sheriff to restore possession after 24 hours’ notice is conspicuously posted at the premises. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays do not pause that statutory 24-hour notice period.

The 24-hour posting period does not mean possession will necessarily be restored exactly 24 hours after judgment or issuance of the writ. Clerk processing, delivery to the Sheriff, intake requirements, posting, deputy scheduling, workload, and other circumstances may affect the timing.

The landlord should follow the deputy’s instructions concerning access, locks, personnel, and the condition of the property. The landlord should not enter early, change locks prematurely, shut off utilities to force a move, or carry out an independent physical removal.

How Long Does a Pinellas County Eviction Take?

There is no guaranteed completion time. The total may be affected by:

The type and length of the initial notice.
Whether the notice or its delivery is disputed.
Filing and summons issuance.
The time needed to complete service.
Whether the tenant responds or raises defenses.
Court-registry disputes.
Judicial review and hearing availability.
Corrections requested by the clerk or court.
Bankruptcy or another proceeding affecting the case.
Sheriff scheduling after the writ is submitted.

The Florida eviction timeline guide explains these variables in more detail:

Read the Florida Eviction Timeline Guide

Common Pinellas County Filing Problems

Administrative problems that may slow a case include:

Using different names for the tenant in the notice, complaint, and summons.
Omitting a unit number or using an inconsistent property address.
Filing before the notice period has expired.
Failing to retain a copy of the notice or delivery record.
Combining possession and money claims without accounting for their different procedures.
Submitting an incomplete summons packet.
Failing to monitor the docket or service return.
Using an outdated form, fee, mailing instruction, or notice period.
Assuming that a judgment allows the landlord to remove the tenant without the Sheriff.

Good recordkeeping cannot guarantee a result, but it can reduce avoidable confusion.

Pinellas County Eviction Process FAQs

Where are Pinellas County residential eviction cases filed?

They are generally filed in Pinellas County Court through the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller because the rental property is located in Pinellas County. The Clerk provides current County Civil, landlord-tenant, location, and filing information.

Does a St. Petersburg landlord use a separate city eviction court?

No. A residential eviction involving property in St. Petersburg is generally filed through the Pinellas County court system. The fact that the property lies within a city does not create a separate municipal eviction process.

Can a Pinellas County landlord file electronically?

Electronic filing may be available, but landlords must still follow the current rules and local instructions concerning forms, summons issuance, copies, service, fees, and supporting documents. Review the Clerk’s current information before filing.

Can the Clerk tell a landlord which notice to use?

The Clerk can provide forms and procedural information but cannot give legal advice or decide which notice fits a landlord’s facts. A Florida attorney can provide advice when the correct notice is uncertain.

Who serves the eviction summons in Pinellas County?

The summons and complaint may be served through an authorized sheriff or certified process server as permitted by law. This is different from delivery of the landlord notice before suit.

Who removes the tenant after judgment?

The Pinellas County Sheriff executes a court-issued writ of possession. A landlord should not perform an independent physical removal.

How much does a Pinellas County eviction cost?

The total depends on the type of case, claims asserted, number of defendants, summons issuance, copies, service, and writ-related charges. Verify current fees with the Clerk and the agency or process server handling service rather than relying on an older estimate.

Does the writ guarantee immediate possession?

No. The writ must be issued, submitted, accepted, processed, and posted, and a deputy must coordinate execution. The precise timing cannot be guaranteed.

Does this page cover Hillsborough or Pasco County procedures?

No. Florida law generally applies statewide, but each county may have different clerk and sheriff instructions. Read the separate Hillsborough County guide or the future Pasco County guide for local administrative information.

Need Non-Attorney Administrative Assistance?

Florida Landlord Eviction Service LLC has assisted Tampa Bay rental-property owners since 2012. Available non-attorney services may include delivery of a landlord-selected notice, organizing standard paperwork using information provided by the property owner, monitoring publicly available case status, providing administrative updates, and coordinating permitted scheduling tasks.

Visit EvictMyTenant911.com

Call (813) 433-0120

Florida Landlord Eviction Service LLC is not a law firm. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice, select notices, calculate legal deadlines, determine legal sufficiency, represent anyone in court, or predict case results.

Official Pinellas County and Florida Resources

Information and local procedures checked July 22, 2026. Verify current requirements with the official agency before filing or delivering paperwork.