Do this today
- Photograph the empty unit and the keys as you return them.
- Give a forwarding address in writing.
- Keep the lease, the deduction list, and proof of mailing.
- Open the Florida deposit chapter before you treat a blog as the clock.
Who sets the deposit rule in Tampa?
Usually Florida — Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Some cities add their own itemization or holding rules. Florida Chapter 83 is the book. Local code is the conditions door. This desk names the chapter. It does not reprint a cap or a day-count.
What evidence actually matters?
Move-in and move-out photos with dates, the lease, the forwarding address you gave, proof you returned the keys, and any deduction list. A text argument without photos is a weak file.
City of Tampa or unincorporated Hillsborough?
Florida Chapter 83 is the book either way. Code enforcement depends on the address. County court hears possession. Confirm City of Tampa versus the County before you file a complaint.
The Tampa layer
Florida Chapter 83 is the book. Local code is the conditions door.
Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40 to 83.683) is the Florida floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Tampa questions
How do I get my security deposit back in Tampa?
Photograph the unit, return the keys as the lease requires, and give a forwarding address in writing. The clock and the cap live mainly in Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Florida Chapter 83 is the book. Local code is the conditions door.
Does Tampa set its own deposit deadline?
Sometimes a city adds a rule; often it does not. Florida Chapter 83 is the book. Local code is the conditions door. Confirm with City of Tampa — Neighborhood Enhancement and the Florida chapter. We do not invent a day-count.
City of Tampa or unincorporated Hillsborough?
Florida Chapter 83 is the book either way. Code enforcement depends on the address. County court hears possession. Confirm City of Tampa versus the County before you file a complaint.
What number should I call in Tampa?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. City of Tampa — Neighborhood Enhancement 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