Eviction in Okaloosa County, Florida
Where eviction cases are filed in Okaloosa County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Okaloosa County
- Eviction court
- Okaloosa County Court (First Judicial Circuit), filed through the Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court — County Court (Circuit Court for claims over $30,000) Court page
- Filing fee
- $185 filing (County Court; $400 in Circuit Court for claims over $30,000); summons $10 per defendant (plus $7 preparation fee if the clerk prepares it); Sheriff service $40 per person; Writ of Possession: $90 Sheriff's fee plus $7 preparation fee Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court - Evictions
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 3-day written notice to pay or vacate, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and court-observed legal holidays, substantially in the statutory form. Florida rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,785/month HUD
- Renter households
- 26,994 (32% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28
Where eviction cases are filed in Okaloosa County
Eviction cases in Okaloosa County are heard by the Okaloosa County Court (First Judicial Circuit), filed through the Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court (County Court (Circuit Court for claims over $30,000)).
- Okaloosa County Courthouse — 101 East James Lee Blvd., Crestview, FL 32536; (850) 689-5000 · website
- Courthouse Annex Extension — 1940 Lewis Turner Blvd., Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547; (850) 651-7200 · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
Clerk offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. File through the Florida Courts e-Filing Portal, by mail (money order or cashier's check), or in person. Court dates can be checked with the clerk's Find Your Court Date tool (https://clerkapps.okaloosaclerk.com/CaseTracker). The clerk offers a TurboCourt landlord/tenant eviction package.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Okaloosa County
$185 filing (County Court; $400 in Circuit Court for claims over $30,000); summons $10 per defendant (plus $7 preparation fee if the clerk prepares it); Sheriff service $40 per person; Writ of Possession: $90 Sheriff's fee plus $7 preparation fee
Cash, certified check, money order, credit or debit card; personal checks not accepted. A Notice of Dismissal has a $10 recording fee; certificate of mailing $10.
Source: Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court - Evictions
How eviction cases work locally
| Sheriff service | For Okaloosa Sheriff service, pay the $40 per summons fee at the clerk's office and the clerk emails the summons and documents directly to the Okaloosa Sheriff. Source: Official source |
|---|---|
| Writ execution | After final judgment, request a Writ of Possession and deliver it with the Final Judgment to the Sheriff (Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office civil process). Source: Official source |
The Florida eviction process
Florida state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Okaloosa County:
- 3-day notice to pay or vacate (nonpayment) or 7-day notice (lease violations) or 30-day notice (month-to-month)
- Landlord files complaint for possession in county court; tenant served with summons
- Tenant files a written answer within 5 days after service and, for any defense other than payment, deposits the alleged rent into the court registry
- If tenant fails to answer or deposit rent, default judgment and immediate writ of possession; otherwise hearing
- Judgment for possession; clerk issues writ of possession
- Sheriff posts 24-hour notice (weekends/holidays do not extend it), then puts landlord in possession; landlord may remove property to the property line
Full Florida eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Okaloosa County
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,362 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,581 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,785 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,448 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,979 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Okaloosa County: $1,612/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; eviction procedure follows state law. City rules, if any, are on city pages.
Other Florida counties
- Eviction in Miami-Dade County (Miami)
- Eviction in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale)
- Eviction in Orange County (Orlando)
- Eviction in Hillsborough County (Tampa)
- Eviction in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
- Eviction in Duval County (Jacksonville)
- Eviction in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg / Clearwater)
- Eviction in Polk County (Lakeland)
- Eviction in Lee County (Fort Myers)
- Eviction in Volusia County (Daytona Beach)
- Eviction in Seminole County (Sanford)
- Eviction in Brevard County (Melbourne)
- Eviction in Leon County (Tallahassee)
- Eviction in Pasco County (New Port Richey)
- Eviction in Alachua County (Gainesville)
- Eviction in Osceola County (Kissimmee)
- Eviction in Sarasota County (Sarasota)
- Eviction in Escambia County (Pensacola)
- Eviction in Manatee County (Bradenton)
- Eviction in Collier County (Naples)
- Eviction in Marion County (Ocala)
- Eviction in Lake County (Tavares)
- Eviction in St. Lucie County (Port St. Lucie)
- Eviction in Bay County
- Eviction in St. Johns County
- Eviction in Clay County
- Eviction in Charlotte County
Related
- Florida landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Florida
- Florida eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Florida (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Okaloosa County?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Okaloosa County?
What is the fair market rent in Okaloosa County?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.