Quick Answers
- After judgment: the clerk issues the writ of possession to the sheriff, usually within a day or two.
- Sheriff posts it: timing varies by county and workload, often a few days.
- The 24-hour rule: once the sheriff posts the writ, the tenant has at least 24 hours to leave (Florida Statute 83.62).
- In practice: because the sheriff schedules during business hours and weekends do not count, removal often lands 48 to 72 hours after posting.
- Sheriff fee: $90 in almost every county; $115 in Miami-Dade. An hourly stand-by fee may apply if you ask a deputy to keep the peace during the lockout.
- Only the sheriff removes the tenant. Changing the locks yourself before the deputy arrives is illegal.
At the Writ Stage? The Firm Coordinates It.
The firm works directly with the county sheriff so the last step does not stall.
The Writ of Possession Is the Last Step
The writ of possession is the court order that lets the sheriff actually remove a tenant after the landlord wins the case. It comes only after a judgment for possession, whether by default or after a hearing. Once the judgment is entered, the clerk issues the writ to the sheriff, and from there the timing is in the sheriff's hands. The landlord cannot carry out the removal personally; only the sheriff can execute the writ.
The Timeline, Step by Step
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Judgment entered, clerk issues the writ | About 1 to 2 days |
| Writ delivered to sheriff, sheriff posts it | A few days, varies by county and workload |
| 24-hour notice posted, deadline to vacate | At least 24 hours (often 48 to 72 in practice) |
| After the deadline, sheriff returns and landlord takes possession | On the deputy's scheduled day |
For an uncontested case, the writ stage is the tail end of a process that runs about 4 to 5 weeks from filing to removal.
What the "24 Hours" Really Means
Under Florida Statute 83.62, the sheriff conspicuously posts the writ on the property, and the tenant gets a full 24 hours to leave before the deputy returns to execute it. The day the writ is posted is not counted. Because deputies work during business hours and skip weekends and holidays, a writ posted late on a Friday may not be enforced until the following week. So the 24 hours is the legal minimum, not a guaranteed schedule.
What Happens at the Removal
After the 24 hours pass, the deputy returns to the property. If the tenant is still there, the deputy removes them. The landlord or the landlord's agent may then move the tenant's belongings to the property line, and if requested, the deputy will stand by to keep the peace while the landlord changes the locks. The landlord is not liable for loss or damage to property once it has been moved to the property line, and a tenant who comes back after the final removal can be arrested for trespass.
The Sheriff Fee
The sheriff's writ of possession fee is $90 in almost every Florida county, including Palm Beach, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Lee. Miami-Dade is the exception at $115. If you ask a deputy to stand by while you change the locks and remove belongings, the sheriff may charge an additional hourly fee for that time. This is a separate, later cost from the filing fees paid at the start of the case.
The 24 hours is a floor, not a schedule. The slowest part of the writ stage is usually not the 24-hour notice; it is the gap between the writ being issued and the sheriff getting out to post it, which depends entirely on that county's sheriff workload. Around the first of the month, near holidays, or in high-volume counties, that gap stretches. Planning for "24 hours" and being surprised by a week is the most common writ-stage frustration.
The other miss is jumping the gun. The fastest way to turn a won case into a new lawsuit is to change the locks the moment you have the judgment, before the deputy executes the writ. Only the sheriff can remove the tenant. Doing it yourself, even with a judgment in hand, is an illegal lockout under Florida Statute 83.67.
How This Fits the Overall Timeline
The writ is the final stretch of the eviction, not the whole thing. For how the full process adds up, see the eviction timelines for Palm Beach County and Broward County, and for more detail on the writ itself, see what landlords need to know about the writ of possession.
Need the writ obtained or enforced? Let the firm coordinate with the sheriff.
Kelley, Grant & Tanis has handled more than 35,000 eviction cases across Florida. Call 1 (877) 871-8300 or start your eviction online. Related reading: what happens after a 3-day notice and why you cannot change the locks yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a writ of possession take in Florida?
After a judgment for possession, the clerk usually issues the writ within a day or two, the sheriff posts it within a few days depending on workload, and the tenant then has at least 24 hours to leave. In practice, the removal often happens 48 to 72 hours after posting because the sheriff schedules during business hours and weekends do not count.
How long after the writ is posted does the tenant have to leave?
Under Florida Statute 83.62, the tenant has at least 24 hours after the sheriff posts the writ to vacate. The day of posting is not counted, and because deputies enforce during business hours, the actual deadline can fall a day or more later than a strict 24-hour count would suggest.
How long does it take the sheriff to post the writ?
It varies by county and by the sheriff's current workload. In most counties the writ is issued within a day or two of the judgment, but the sheriff's posting and enforcement can take several days, and longer around the first of the month, holidays, or in high-volume counties.
How much is the sheriff's fee for a writ of possession?
The sheriff's writ of possession fee is $90 in almost every Florida county, including Palm Beach, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Lee, and $115 in Miami-Dade. If you ask a deputy to stand by while you change the locks and remove belongings, the sheriff may charge an additional hourly fee.
Can I change the locks once I have the writ?
Not until the deputy executes the writ. Only the sheriff can remove the tenant, and changing the locks before that, even with a judgment in hand, is an illegal lockout under Florida Statute 83.67. Once the deputy has carried out the removal, the landlord can change the locks, and the deputy can stand by to keep the peace.
What happens to the tenant's belongings?
After the writ is executed, the landlord or the landlord's agent may move the tenant's belongings to the property line. Under Florida Statute 83.62, the landlord is not liable for loss or damage to property once it has been moved to the property line.
Does the 24 hours include weekends?
In practice the sheriff enforces writs during normal business hours, so weekends and holidays are generally skipped. A writ posted right before a weekend may not be enforced until the following business day, which is why removal often takes longer than a literal 24-hour count.
Who actually removes the tenant?
Only the sheriff. After the 24-hour notice period passes, the deputy returns to the property and removes the tenant if they are still there. The landlord cannot perform the removal personally; doing so is illegal even after winning the case.