Union County, Florida Eviction Risk: Very Low

Union County, Florida eviction laws earns an average eviction-risk score of 2/10 (Low), placing it among the more landlord-friendly corners of the state. Ranked 53rd of 67 Florida counties, it sits in the lower-risk third: 52 counties carry higher risk scores, and only 14 are calmer operating environments than Union. For landlords and buy-and-hold investors, that standing signals relatively predictable tenant behavior and a housing market that does not carry the structural stressors typical of Florida eviction laws's coastal metros.

The intra-county range, 1.9 to 2.5 across all 4 cities, is narrow, so the low-risk character holds county-wide rather than being propped up by a single outlier. Average rent sits at $2,415, and the renter share of the housing stock is a modest 14.1%, which means the landlord pool is small and competition for tenants is limited. The county's total population of 18,009 keeps deal volume modest, but for owners seeking stability over scale, the fundamentals here are solid.

The cities inside Union County

Raiford carries the county's highest risk reading at 2.5/10, though that figure still sits comfortably in the Low tier. Its population of 382 means there are few rental units in play, so a single difficult tenancy can skew an individual landlord's experience more than it moves aggregate statistics. Lake Butler, the county seat and by far the largest city at 17,125 residents, scores 2/10, matching the county average almost exactly; it represents the core of whatever rental market Union County has. Brooker also scores 1.9/10 with a population of 223, while Brooker registers the county's lowest risk at 1.9/10 with 279 residents. Risk is hyper-local: even within a small county like this one, Raiford reads roughly 47% higher than Worthington Springs, so underwriting individual properties city by city remains the right discipline.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Union County operates under Fla. Stat. § 83 Part II (Residential Tenancies), the statewide residential landlord-tenant law. Non-payment of rent triggers a 3-day notice requirement, curable lease violations require a 7-day notice, and month-to-month tenancies require 15 days notice to terminate. Florida eviction laws does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance outside of a declared housing emergency under FL Stat §125.0103, so Union County cannot impose rent caps independently. For a full walkthrough of timelines, see the Florida eviction laws eviction process guide. Landlords should also review Florida eviction costs before filing: court fees run $185 to $400, the sheriff lockout fee adds $90 to $175, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,500 depending on whether the case is contested. An uncontested matter typically resolves in 20 to 30 days; a contested case can stretch to 45 to 110 days.

With an average poverty rate of 3% and a renter share of just 14.1%, Union County's tenant pool is small and relatively stable; review the city-level scores in the grid above to pinpoint the specific market that fits your investment criteria.