Eviction in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach), Florida
Where eviction cases are filed in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
- Eviction court
- County Court in and for Palm Beach County (15th Judicial Circuit) — Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, County Civil — County Court (civil) Court page
- Filing fee
- $185 eviction alone or with damages of $2,500 or less; $300 with damages over $2,500 up to $15,000; $400 with damages over $15,000; $10 per summons; $40 sheriff service per defendant; $90 writ of possession (Sheriff) Palm Beach Clerk, County Civil Court Fees
- 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)
- $2,254/month HUD
- Renter households
- 181,166 (30% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
Eviction cases in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach) are heard by the County Court in and for Palm Beach County (15th Judicial Circuit) — Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, County Civil (County Court (civil)).
- Main Courthouse · website
- North County Courthouse · website
- South County Courthouse · website
- West County Courthouse · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
File online, in person or by mail at any Clerk courthouse location. The Clerk sends the summons to the Palm Beach County Sheriff for service only if the sheriff's fee is included. Sheriff civil process: (561) 355-2763.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
$185 eviction alone or with damages of $2,500 or less; $300 with damages over $2,500 up to $15,000; $400 with damages over $15,000; $10 per summons; $40 sheriff service per defendant; $90 writ of possession (Sheriff)
Sheriff fees payable to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Source: Palm Beach Clerk, County Civil Court Fees
How eviction cases work locally
| Writ execution | Request the writ of possession from the Clerk; pay the Sheriff's fee for service of the writ and complete a Sheriff Information Sheet. Source: Official source |
|---|
The Florida eviction process
Florida state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach):
- 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 Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,788 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,901 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,254 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,920 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,388 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach): $1,916/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
HUD designates this area for Small Area FMRs: Housing Choice Voucher programs here use ZIP-code-level FMRs; the figures shown are the metro-wide FMRs HUD lists for other programs.
County tenant ordinance
Florida Statutes § 83.425 (ch. 2023-314, Laws of Fla.) preempts to the state the regulation of residential tenancies and the landlord-tenant relationship, so county landlord-tenant ordinances do not apply.
Eviction help in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
Free legal help
- Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County — Landlord-tenant, fair housing and homeless legal prevention services; 561-655-8944.
- Florida Rural Legal Services — Serves Palm Beach among other counties; hotline 1-888-582-3410.
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 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)
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 Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)?
What is the fair market rent in Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)?
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.