Each Miami guide answers one question — eviction, deposit, repairs, rent, entry, habitability — with the local office and the Florida chapter. We do not invent a local deadline.
Florida act, then County/City inspectors
Deposits, notices, and most tenancy duties are Chapter 83. Miami-Dade and the City of Miami inspect conditions and take 311 requests. That is not a rent-control system.
What if I got a notice in Miami?
Read it for a court name, a case number, or an appearance date. A landlord notice is usually a step. Court papers mean a case has been filed in Miami-Dade County Court — landlord-tenant. Date it, photograph every page, and call legal aid the same day if a court is named. Do not guess the deadline from a national chart.
What if the unit is not livable?
Write the problem, date it, and keep photos. Open a request with Miami-Dade 311 or dial 311. An inspector’s dated notice is often worth more later than unanswered texts. Rent withholding and repair-and-deduct are Florida questions — ask legal aid before you skip a payment.
What if the deposit did not come back?
The clock, the cap, and the itemization rules live mainly in Florida law. Florida state law is the main book. Confirm whether you are calling City of Miami or Miami-Dade — they are different governments. Gather the lease, move-out photos, the forwarding address you gave, and any deduction list, then open the Florida deposit page.
What if the rent went up?
A lease still in term is not the same as month-to-month. Whether Miami adds a local cap or just-cause rule is a coverage question — Florida state law is the main book. Confirm whether you are calling City of Miami or Miami-Dade — they are different governments. Keep the letter. Confirm the Florida chapter and the City office before you treat a percentage you saw online as the law.
What if they keep coming in without notice?
Entry rules in Miami start with Florida law and the lease. Emergencies, repairs, and showings are not always the same notice. Write the date and time. Miami-Dade 311 may take a complaint. This desk does not invent an hour-count.
What if heat, water, or the structure fails?
That is a habitability problem. Photograph it, write the date, and open a request with Miami-Dade 311 or 311. If it is dangerous tonight — a gas leak, no heat in winter, a collapsed ceiling — treat it as an emergency. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Is Miami the same as Miami-Dade?
The City of Miami sits inside Miami-Dade County. Florida Chapter 83 is the tenancy book. County and City code enforcement are different doors. County court hears possession. Confirm City of Miami versus unincorporated Dade before you file a complaint.
Official Miami offices
Florida state law is the main book. Confirm whether you are calling City of Miami or Miami-Dade — they are different governments. The Florida chapter is Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40 to 83.683). We name it. We do not paraphrase a number out of it.
Miami renter questions
Can my landlord in Miami evict me without going to court?
No. Changing locks, shutting off utilities, or dumping belongings is not how possession is completed. Miami-Dade County Court — landlord-tenant is where those cases are heard. If the paper names a court, a case number, or an appearance date, call legal aid the same day. Florida state law is the main book. Confirm whether you are calling City of Miami or Miami-Dade — they are different governments.
How do I get my security deposit back in Miami?
Deposit caps, itemization, and return deadlines are usually Florida questions — sometimes with a city overlay. Photograph the unit, return keys the way the lease requires, and keep a forwarding address. Confirm the chapter on the Florida page. This desk does not reprint a dollar cap or a day-count.
Who inspects repairs in Miami?
Miami-Dade 311 is the local conditions door, and 311 is often how you open a request. Put the repair in writing first and keep photos. Do not skip rent on a rumor — ask legal aid before you change what you pay. Florida state law is the main book. Confirm whether you are calling City of Miami or Miami-Dade — they are different governments.
Does Miami have local rent rules on top of Florida?
Florida state law is the main book. Confirm whether you are calling City of Miami or Miami-Dade — they are different governments.
Is Miami the same as Miami-Dade?
The City of Miami sits inside Miami-Dade County. Florida Chapter 83 is the tenancy book. County and City code enforcement are different doors. County court hears possession. Confirm City of Miami versus unincorporated Dade before you file a complaint.
What number should I call in Miami?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. Local City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. Miami-Dade 311 does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org