Homestead Exemption Guide
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FL · Flat dollar exemption

Florida homestead exemption

Yes.

Main exemption
$50,000 off assessed valueFirst $25,000 applies to all property taxes including school taxes; the additional $25,000 applies to assessed value over $50,000 and only to non-school taxes
Filing deadline
March 1
Own and live there by
January 1
Renewal
Renews automatically
Where to file
County property appraiser
Get the official form (DR-501)Find your county

Yes. Florida's homestead exemption cuts a home's taxable value by up to $50,000: the first $25,000 applies to all property taxes and a second $25,000 (on assessed value over $50,000, indexed to inflation) applies to non-school taxes. It also caps yearly assessment increases at 3% or CPI, whichever is less. File Form DR-501 with your county property appraiser by March 1.

Last verified · Sources

How much the Florida exemption is worth

Up to $50,000 off assessed value. The additional $25,000 is adjusted each January 1 by the CPI change when positive (2024 is the base year), so the total can be slightly above $50,000.

$50,000 off assessed value · applies to first $25,000 applies to all property taxes including school taxes; the additional $25,000 applies to assessed value over $50,000 and only to non-school taxes · source

Assessment cap: 3% a year

Save Our Homes: after the first year with the exemption, the assessed value cannot rise more than 3% or the CPI change, whichever is less. The cap resets after a change of ownership. Source.

Who qualifies

  • You own the property and it is your permanent residence (or your dependent's) on January 1
  • You are a permanent Florida resident and do not claim residency in another county or state
  • The home is not rented out (with limited exceptions such as active-duty servicemembers)

Deadline and renewal

File Form DR-501 with the county property appraiser by March 1 of the tax year. If you miss it, you can still file by the 25th day after the property appraiser mails the TRIM notice, but you must show extenuating circumstances or petition the value adjustment board ($15 fee).

After the first approval, the exemption renews each year through a renewal notice or a county waiver of annual filing. You must refile if you sell, ownership changes, or you stop using the home as your homestead.

If you missed the deadline

A late application can be filed until the 25th day after the property appraiser mails the notice of proposed taxes. The appraiser may grant it for extenuating circumstances; otherwise you can petition the value adjustment board for a $15 fee. Source.

Form: Original Application for Homestead and Related Tax Exemptions (DR-501) · open the official form

Extra breaks for seniors, veterans and disabled owners

Florida additional homestead exemptions
WhoProgramAmountDetails
SeniorsAdditional exemption for low-income seniors 65+$50,000 off assessed valueCounties and cities may adopt up to $50,000 more for owners 65 or older whose household income is under the yearly-adjusted limit. A full exemption is also possible locally for seniors with 25+ years in a home with just value under $250,000. Source
VeteransTotal exemption for veterans with total and permanent service-connected disabilityNot in our dataHonorably discharged Florida-resident veterans with a service-connected total and permanent disability pay no property tax on their homestead. A surviving spouse may carry it over in some cases. Source
VeteransDisabled veteran $5,000 exemption$5,000 off assessed valueVeterans disabled 10% or more from wartime service or misfortune get $5,000 off assessed value. Source
VeteransCombat-disabled veteran 65+ discountNot in our dataVeterans 65 or older with a partly or totally permanent service-connected disability get a discount equal to their VA disability percentage. It can carry over to an unremarried surviving spouse. Source
Disabled ownersTotal exemption for quadriplegic and certain disabled ownersNot in our dataQuadriplegic owners pay no property tax on their homestead. Owners who are paraplegic, hemiplegic, legally blind or must use a wheelchair are also fully exempt if household income is under the state limit. Source
Disabled owners$5,000 exemption for blind or totally and permanently disabled residents$5,000 off assessed valueFlorida residents who are blind or totally and permanently disabled get $5,000 off. Source
Surviving spousesWidow or widower $5,000 exemption$5,000 off assessed valueFlorida-resident widows and widowers get $5,000 off. Source
Surviving spousesSurviving spouse of first responderNot in our dataThe surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty pays no property tax on the homestead. Source

Moving: can you keep your savings?

Yes, some of the benefit can move with you. You can transfer all or part of your Save Our Homes benefit, up to $500,000, to a new Florida homestead. Establish the new homestead within three years of January 1 of the year you left the old one, and file Form DR-501T with DR-501 by March 1. Source

Law: Fla. Stat. §196.031; §196.011; §193.155

Florida county guides

Local offices, online filing links and local amounts for 27 counties, largest first.

Frequently asked questions

I bought my home in the middle of the year. When can I get the exemption?

You must own the home and make it your permanent residence by January 1. If you buy after January 1, apply by March 1 of the following year.

What if I miss the March 1 deadline?

You can file late until the 25th day after the notice of proposed taxes is mailed. You will need to show extenuating circumstances to the property appraiser or petition the value adjustment board.

Do I have to reapply every year?

No. Once granted, it renews automatically unless you sell, ownership changes, or the home stops being your permanent residence.

Can I keep my Save Our Homes savings if I move?

Yes, up to $500,000 of the benefit can be ported to a new Florida homestead if you establish it within three years. File Form DR-501T with your homestead application.

Sources

Last verified

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