Serving Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, Riverview and Ruskin landlords,
By LaDonna, Evictions Done For You | 20+ years of property management | Updated November 2026
Hillsborough County lets you file your eviction online, but there's a catch most landlords don't find out until their case stalls: even after you e-file, the Clerk still needs paper from you. That means a paper summons, copies of your complaint, and stamped envelopes for every tenant. Or you can pay the Clerk to make the copies and mail them for you.
This guide covers the Hillsborough paper and envelope rules, where to file, and how to get the Sheriff to return your property.
Filing online through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal doesn't finish the job in Hillsborough. After you e-file, you have two choices:
Option 1: Bring or mail the paperwork yourself
☐ The summons, in paper form, for the Clerk to issue
☐ Two copies of the complaint, notice, and lease for each tenant
☐ Two stamped, addressed envelopes for each tenant: one to the notice address in the lease, one to the tenant's residence (often the same rental address)
Option 2: Pay the Clerk to do it When you e-file, you can ask the Clerk to make the copies and mail them. The Clerk charges about $1 per page for copies and $0.75 per envelope for postage, and aims to mail them within 3 business days. If you file in person without postage-paid envelopes, your summons may not be mailed until the next business day, and you'll be charged for postage.
WHERE TO FILE A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EVICTION
Online: Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (then see the e-filing catch above)
In person, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller: Downtown Tampa: George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL 33602
Brandon Regional Service Center: 311 Pauls Dr., Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511
SouthShore Regional Service Center: 410 30th St. SE, Ruskin, FL 33570
Plant City Courthouse: 301 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City, FL 33563
Clerk phone: (813) 276-8100 Clerk's eviction page: hillsclerk.com/eviction
WHAT A HILLSBOROUGH EVICTION COSTS (ONE TENANT)
Filing fee (Clerk): about $185
Summons (Clerk): $10 per tenant
Serving the summons: about $40 per tenant by the Sheriff, or a private process server
Writ of possession (Sheriff): $90
Typical total: about $325, plus copies and postage
Step 1 — Serve a Valid 3-Day Notice
The process begins with a written 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate. The notice must state the exact amount of rent owed (do not include late fees unless your lease explicitly allows it), the date the notice was given, and the name and address of both the landlord and the tenant. You deliver it by hand, by posting it on the door, or by certified mail.
Important: The three days are business days only. Saturdays, Sundays, and Florida legal holidays do not count. Keep a copy — you will need it when you file.
Step 2 — Wait the Full 3-Day Period
Do not file before the notice period has fully expired. Filing even one day early can get your case dismissed and restart the clock. If Day 3 falls on a weekend or holiday, the period extends to the next business day.
One critical trap: if your tenant offers partial payment during the notice period and you accept it — even as a goodwill gesture — you may legally invalidate your 3-day notice under Florida law and have to start over. Do not accept any payment unless it is the full amount owed.
Step 3 — File Your Eviction Complaint with the Hillsborough County Clerk
File online or at any Hillsborough Clerk location listed above. You'll need a civil cover sheet, your Complaint for Eviction, a Summons for each tenant, a copy of your 3-day notice, and a copy of the lease if you have one. The filing fee is about $185, plus $10 per tenant for each summons. Then handle the Hillsborough paperwork: either provide the copies and stamped envelopes yourself, or pay the Clerk to produce and mail them (see The Hillsborough E-Filing Catch above).
Step 4 — The Tenant Is Served and Has 5 Business Days to Respond
The Sheriff or a certified process server will serve the tenant with the Summons and Complaint. After service, the tenant has 5 business days (excluding the day of service, weekends, and holidays) to file a written response with the Clerk and deposit any disputed rent into the Court Registry.
If the tenant files no response and deposits no rent: you move to Step 5. If the tenant files an answer: the court will schedule a hearing. This adds time but does not mean you lose. If the tenant retains an attorney: proceed with legal representation strongly recommended.
Step 5 — Request a Default Judgment
If the tenant does not respond within 5 business days, file a Motion for Default, an Affidavit in Proof of Claim, and a proposed Final Judgment for Possession with the Clerk. The judge reviews the case and, if approved, signs the Final Judgment.
Step 6 — Obtain the Writ of Possession and Schedule Sheriff Lockout
After the Final Judgment is entered, the Clerk issues the Writ of Possession. Take it to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Civil Process Section: 700 E. Twiggs St., 3rd Floor, Tampa, FL 33602 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the original writ, the copies required for service, the $90 fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope so the Sheriff can return your original documents. A deputy is assigned to your writ and will contact the person listed on the paperwork to schedule the eviction. Make sure your phone number is correct. Once the writ is posted, the tenant has 24 hours to vacate. Even if the tenant appears to be gone, have the writ executed. It formally ends their right to occupy the property.
Q: How long does an eviction take in Hillsborough County?
A: An uncontested eviction typically takes 4 to 5 weeks from the date the 3-day notice is served, assuming all paperwork is filed correctly and the tenant does not respond.
Q: Do weekends count in a Florida 3-day eviction notice?
A: No. Saturdays, Sundays, and Florida legal holidays are excluded from the 3-day count. Only business days count.
Q: What forms do I need to file an eviction in Hillsborough County?
A: You will need a civil cover sheet, Complaint for Eviction, Summons (form 1.923(a) for possession only or 1.923(b) for possession and back rent), your 3-day notice, and a copy of the lease if one exists.
Q: What happens after a writ of possession is issued in Hillsborough County?
A: The writ is delivered to the HCSO Civil Process Section. Once it is posted on the property, the tenant has 24 hours to vacate. If they do not leave, the sheriff will authorize you to remove belongings and change the locks.
Q: Does a tenant in Hillsborough County have to appear in court for an eviction?
A: Not necessarily. If the tenant does not file a written response within 5 business days of being served, a default judgment can be entered without a court hearing.
Q: What is the difference between possession-only and possession plus rent eviction in Hillsborough County?
A: A possession-only eviction (form 1.923(a)) asks the court solely to remove the tenant. A possession plus rent case (form 1.923(b)) also seeks a money judgment for unpaid rent. Possession-only cases move faster and are simpler to file without an attorney.
Q: Where do I file an eviction in Hillsborough County?
A: Online through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, or in person at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa, or the Clerk's Brandon, SouthShore (Ruskin), or Plant City locations.
Q: Can I file a Hillsborough eviction completely online?
A: Not quite. After you e-file, the Clerk still needs a paper summons, plus copies and stamped envelopes for each tenant. You can skip the envelopes by paying the Clerk to make the copies and mail them.
Evictions Done For You is a document preparation service, not a law firm. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.