What it means
Section 196.031 is Florida's homestead property tax exemption. A person who, on January 1, has legal title or beneficial title in equity to real property in Florida and in good faith makes it the permanent residence of the person or of dependents is entitled to an exemption from all taxation, except assessments for special benefits, up to an assessed valuation of $25,000 on the residence and contiguous real property. Title may be held by the entireties, jointly or in common, and the exemption may be apportioned among the owners who live there. The deed or instrument must be recorded in the official records of the county before the exemption is granted.
Under paragraph (1)(b), a person who qualifies also receives an additional exemption of up to $25,000 on the assessed valuation greater than $50,000, for all levies other than school district levies. That $25,000 figure is adjusted each January 1 for inflation, using the Consumer Price Index, if the percent change is positive.
A person who receives or claims an ad valorem tax exemption or credit in another state that requires permanent residency is not entitled to the Florida exemption, except for an owner who maintains the permanent residence of a dependent in Florida (subsection (6)). The exemption applies only to property classified as owner-occupied residential (subsection (4)).
- The owner must have legal title or beneficial title in equity on January 1 and make the property a permanent residence in good faith (§ 196.031(1)(a)).
- The first exemption is up to $25,000 of assessed value, from all taxation except special benefit assessments (§ 196.031(1)(a)).
- An additional exemption of up to $25,000 applies to assessed value greater than $50,000, for all levies other than school district levies (§ 196.031(1)(b)).
- The additional $25,000 is adjusted annually for inflation when the Consumer Price Index change is positive (§ 196.031(1)(b)).
- The deed or instrument must be recorded in the county's official records before the exemption is granted (§ 196.031(1)(a)).
- A residency-based tax exemption or credit claimed in another state bars the Florida exemption (§ 196.031(6)).
Text of the statute (2026)
(1)(a) A person who, on January 1, has the legal title or beneficial title in equity to real property in this state and who in good faith makes the property his or her permanent residence or the permanent residence of another or others legally or naturally dependent upon him or her, is entitled to an exemption from all taxation, except for assessments for special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of $25,000 on the residence and contiguous real property, as defined in s. 6, Art. VII of the State Constitution. Such title may be held by the entireties, jointly, or in common with others, and the exemption may be apportioned among such of the owners as reside thereon, as their respective interests appear. If only one of the owners of an estate held by the entireties or held jointly with the right of survivorship resides on the property, that owner is allowed an exemption of up to the assessed valuation of $25,000 on the residence and contiguous real property. However, an exemption of more than $25,000 is not allowed to any one person or on any one dwelling house, except that an exemption up to the assessed valuation of $25,000 may be allowed on each apartment or mobile home occupied by a tenant-stockholder or member of a cooperative corporation and on each condominium parcel occupied by its owner. Except for owners of an estate held by the entireties or held jointly with the right of survivorship, the amount of the exemption may not exceed the proportionate assessed valuation of all owners who reside on the property. Before such exemption may be granted, the deed or instrument shall be recorded in the official records of the county in which the property is located. The property appraiser may request the applicant to provide additional ownership documents to establish title.
(b) Every person who qualifies to receive the exemption provided in paragraph (a) is entitled to an additional exemption of up to $25,000 on the assessed valuation greater than $50,000 for all levies other than school district levies. The $25,000 value of the additional exemption provided in this paragraph shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year for inflation using the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent change is positive.
(4) The exemption provided in this section applies only to those parcels classified and assessed as owner-occupied residential property or only to the portion of property so classified and assessed.
(6) A person who is receiving or claiming the benefit of an ad valorem tax exemption or a tax credit in another state where permanent residency is required as a basis for the granting of that ad valorem tax exemption or tax credit is not entitled to the homestead exemption provided by this section. This subsection does not apply to a person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate in Florida and maintains thereon the permanent residence of another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 196.031.
History. ss. 1, 2, ch. 17060, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 897(2); s. 1, ch. 67-339; ss. 1, 2, ch. 69-55; ss. 1, 3, ch. 71-309; s. 1, ch. 72-372; s. 1, ch. 72-373; s. 9, ch. 74-227; s. 1, ch. 74-264; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 3, ch. 79-332; s. 4, ch. 80-261; s. 10, ch. 80-274; s. 3, ch. 81-219; s. 9, ch. 81-308; s. 11, ch. 82-208; ss. 24, 80, ch. 82-226; s. 1, ch. 84-327; s. 1, ch. 85-232; s. 5, ch. 92-32; s. 1, ch. 93-65; s. 10, ch. 93-132; ss. 33, 34, ch. 94-353; s. 1473, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 2001-204; s. 908, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2006-311; s. 6, ch. 2007-339; s. 8, ch. 2008-173; s. 1, ch. 2010-176; s. 2, ch. 2012-57; s. 17, ch. 2012-193; s. 8, ch. 2013-72; s. 1, ch. 2017-35; s. 5, ch. 2022-97; s. 10, ch. 2024-158; s. 1, ch. 2024-261.
How it applies
The exemption turns on who holds title and lives on the property on January 1 of the tax year. The property appraiser may request additional ownership documents to establish title, and the deed or instrument must be recorded before the exemption is granted.
When ownership changes, as by death or transfer, the question is whether the new holder meets the same test. Section 196.041 extends the title requirement to certain interests, including a beneficial interest for life. The exemption amounts stated in the statute apply to assessed value, not market value.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 196.031 does real work:
- What Florida homestead protects: tax exemption, creditor protection and inheritance rules
- Out-of-state heirs and Florida property: who can serve, what happens to title, taxes and selling
- Florida snowbird estate planning: domicile, homestead, other-state taxes and ancillary probate
- Funding a revocable trust in Florida: deeds, accounts, retirement plans, insurance and what to leave out
- Out-of-state wills in Florida: validity, moving to Florida and probate steps
- Florida homestead exemption in 2026: amounts, March 1 deadline, Save Our Homes and death of the owner
- Revocable Living Trust
Questions people ask
Sources
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 196.031 (“up to the assessed valuation of $25,000 on the residence and contiguous real property”)
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 196.041 (persons treated as having legal or beneficial and equitable title for the homestead exemption)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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