The Florida Homestead Exemption: Lower Your Property Taxes

If a Florida home is your permanent residence, the homestead exemption is one of the most valuable benefits you can claim — it lowers your taxable value and caps how fast your assessment can rise. Here is how it works for Volusia and Flagler homeowners.

The exemption: up to $50,000 off your assessed value

A qualifying Florida homestead receives up to $50,000 in exemptions: a first $25,000 that applies to all property taxes, and an additional $25,000 on assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 that applies to non-school taxes. That directly lowers the value your taxes are calculated on.

Save Our Homes: the 3% assessment cap

Once homesteaded, Florida's Save Our Homes provision caps how much your assessed value can increase to 3% per year (or the change in CPI, whichever is lower) — even if market values jump. Over time, this can save you significantly as values rise.

Portability: take your savings with you

If you sell and buy another Florida homestead, portability lets you transfer your accumulated Save Our Homes benefit (up to $500,000) to the new home — so you don't start over. This is a big deal when moving within Florida.

How to claim it

You must own the home and make it your permanent residence as of January 1, and file with your county property appraiser (generally by March 1). It does not happen automatically. Buying or selling soon? Talk to us and we'll make sure homestead is on your radar.

Keep reading: How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Florida? · Buying a Beachside Home in Volusia County: What to Know · A First-Time Home Buyer's Guide to Volusia & Flagler County · All insights →