Nassau County, Florida Eviction Risk: Very Low

Nassau County's average eviction-risk score of 2/10 (Low) places it comfortably in the lower-risk third of Florida's 67 counties, with 51 counties carrying higher risk and only 15 scoring better. For landlords and investors operating across the county's 5 incorporated places, that number signals a relatively stable rental environment: modest tenant-protection pressure, no local rent control, and state law that moves disputes to resolution faster than most markets in the state. The average rent of $1,453 and a renter share of just 21.7% of households indicate a predominantly owner-occupied market, which tends to concentrate rental demand in fewer, well-located units.

The county's intra-county spread is tight, running from 1.9 to 2.2 across its cities, so no single pocket represents a dramatic departure from the county norm. That said, a 0.3-point gap still separates the calmest from the most stressed submarkets, and underwriting decisions should account for it rather than treating Nassau County as a monolith. The average rent burden sits at 33.6% of income, a figure that warrants attention when screening applicants, since a third of gross income going to rent leaves limited cushion for households when income drops.

The cities inside Nassau County

The highest eviction-risk reading in the county belongs to Hilliard at 2.2/10, followed by Callahan at 2.1/10. Hilliard's population of 3,034 and Callahan's 1,514 make these small rural communities where rental stock is limited and tenant pools are narrower, two factors that amplify the impact of a single troubled tenancy. Nassau Village-Ratliff lands in the middle of the county range at 2.1/10 with a population of 4,737.

At the other end of the spectrum, Yulee (population 16,648) and Fernandina Beach (population 13,420) both score 2/10, matching the county average and representing the county's two largest and most liquid rental markets. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord holding units in Fernandina Beach faces a measurably different operating environment than one concentrated in Hilliard, even though both addresses carry a Nassau County mailing.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Nassau County operates under Fla. Stat. § 83 Part II (Residential Tenancies). Florida eviction laws's notice framework is straightforward: non-payment of rent triggers a 3-day notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3); curable and non-curable material non-compliance each require 7 days under § 83.56(2)(b) and § 83.56(2)(a), respectively; month-to-month tenancies require 15 days to terminate under § 83.57(3). Under 2024's HB-621, unauthorized occupants with no rental agreement can be removed with no prior written notice period under Fla. Stat. § 82.036. An uncontested case typically resolves in 20 to 30 days; contested cases run 45 to 110 days. Total out-of-pocket costs range from the court filing fee alone ($185 to $400) to the full stack with sheriff service ($90 to $175) and attorney representation ($750 to $3,500). Understanding the Florida eviction process before you need it is how experienced operators avoid surprises. Florida eviction laws does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and state law preempts local rent control under FL Stat § 125.0103, meaning no Nassau County municipality can impose caps outside a declared housing emergency. Landlords who want a fuller breakdown of statewide fee structures and deposit rules should consult the Florida eviction costs and Florida security deposit limits guides before setting lease terms.

With a poverty rate of 12.4% and renters representing only 21.7% of Nassau County households, the rental market here is smaller and more selective than Florida eviction laws's coastal metros, making tenant screening quality especially important; see the city grid above to compare risk scores across all 5 cities before committing capital to a specific submarket.