Hillsborough County, Florida Eviction Risk: Very Low

Hillsborough County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.4/10 (Very Low) across its 34 cities, a figure that places it 4th riskiest among Florida's 67 counties. Only 3 counties in the state score higher, meaning the county sits in the higher-risk third of Florida overall. For landlords and investors, that county-level average signals a workable market but not a uniformly easy one: the average rent of $1,765 per month generates enough revenue to absorb occasional collection friction, yet the average rent burden of 33.8% of income means a meaningful share of renters are stretched thin.

The intra-county spread tells the sharper story. Risk scores range from 2 to 2.7, a gap wide enough that two properties in the same county can face fundamentally different operating environments. Choosing a submarket within Hillsborough County matters as much as choosing the county itself relative to Florida's broader landscape.

The cities inside Hillsborough County

At the high end, East Lake-Orient Park and Mango each score 2.5/10, the county's peak risk. Palm River-Clair Mel and Gibsonton both reach 2.4/10, and Temple Terrace and Thonotosassa each come in at 2.4/10. These are smaller, denser communities where poverty concentration and renter composition push the score up. Riverview (population 113,697) and Town 'n' Country (population 85,928) are larger communities that still hit 4/10, so size alone does not insulate a market. Experienced property management in Hillsborough County is especially valuable in these higher-scoring pockets, where tenant screening discipline and notice compliance make a concrete difference in outcomes.

The county's anchors look considerably more stable. Tampa, the largest city with a population of 401,618, scores 3.2/10, a moderate read for a major metro. Plant City scores a low 2.3/10 and Brandon comes in at 2.4/10. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord operating in Plant City faces a very different profile than one operating in East Lake-Orient Park, even though both sit within the same county boundary. Hillsborough County property management companies that know these neighborhood-level distinctions can help investors allocate capital to the right submarkets.

State-level laws that apply here

Under Florida eviction process rules, Florida state law establishes short notice windows before a landlord may file. Non-payment of rent requires only a 3-day notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3). Material non-compliance, whether curable or non-curable, triggers a 7-day notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(2). Month-to-month tenancies require 15 days notice to terminate under Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3). Squatters and unauthorized occupants with no rental agreement can be addressed immediately under Fla. Stat. § 82.036 (HB-621, 2024), with no notice period required.

Once a case is filed, an uncontested eviction typically resolves in 20 to 30 days; contested cases run 45 to 110 days. Out-of-pocket costs for a single eviction run from a court filing fee of $185 to $400, a sheriff lockout fee of $90 to $175, and attorney fees of $750 to $3,500 depending on complexity. Florida eviction costs can therefore reach several thousand dollars in a contested case, which reinforces the importance of careful upfront screening. On rent pricing, Florida state law preempts local rent control ordinances statewide under FL Stat § 125.0103, and no just-cause requirement exists for non-renewal, giving landlords meaningful flexibility at lease-end. For a full breakdown of tenant rights and deposit rules, see Florida security deposit limits and Florida tenant protections under state law.

With an average poverty rate of 12.3% and renters making up 36.8% of occupied housing across the county, conditions vary considerably from one community to the next, making the city-by-city grid above the most reliable guide for underwriting decisions in Hillsborough County.