Fla. Stat. 196.151
Homestead exemptions; approval, refusal, hearings

The property appraisers of the counties of the state shall, as soon as practicable after March 1 of each current year and on or before July 1 of that year, carefully consider all applications for tax exemptions that have been filed in their respective offices on or before March 1 of that year. If, upon investigation, the property appraiser finds that the applicant is entitled to the tax exemption applied for under the law, he or she shall make such entries upon the tax rolls of the county as are necessary to allow the exemption to the applicant. If, after due consideration, the property appraiser finds that the applicant is not entitled under the law to the exemption asked for, he or she shall immediately make out a notice of such disapproval, giving his or her reasons therefor, a copy of which notice must be served upon the applicant by the property appraiser either by personal delivery or by registered mail to the post office address given by the applicant. The applicant may appeal to the value adjustment board the decision of the property appraiser refusing to allow the exemption for which application was made, and the board shall review the application and evidence presented to the property appraiser upon which the applicant based the claim for exemption and shall hear the applicant in person or by agent on behalf of his or her right to such exemption. The value adjustment board shall reverse the decision of the property appraiser in the cause and grant exemption to the applicant if in its judgment the applicant is entitled thereto or shall affirm the decision of the property appraiser. The action of the board is final in the cause unless the applicant shall, within 15 days from the date of refusal of the application by the board, file in the circuit court of the county in which the homestead is situated a proceeding against the property appraiser for a declaratory judgment as is provided by chapter 86 or other appropriate proceeding. The failure of the taxpayer to appear before the property appraiser or value adjustment board or to file any paper other than the application above provided does not constitute any bar or defense to the proceedings.

Source: Section 196.151 — Homestead exemptions; approval, refusal, hearings, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0196.­151 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

196.001
Property subject to taxation 196.002
Legislative intent 196.011
Annual application required for exemption 196.012
Definitions 196.015
Permanent residency 196.021
Tax returns to show all exemptions and claims 196.24
Exemption for disabled ex-servicemember or surviving spouse 196.26
Exemption for real property dedicated in perpetuity for conservation purposes 196.28
Cancellation of delinquent taxes upon lands used for road purposes, etc 196.29
Cancellation of certain taxes on real property acquired by a county, school board, charter school governing board, or community college district board of trustees 196.31
Taxes against state properties 196.031
Exemption of homesteads 196.32
Executive Office of the Governor 196.041
Extent of homestead exemptions 196.061
Rental of homestead to constitute abandonment 196.071
Homestead exemptions 196.075
Additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older 196.081
Exemption for certain permanently and totally disabled veterans and for surviving spouses of veterans 196.082
Discounts for disabled veterans 196.091
Exemption for disabled veterans confined to wheelchairs 196.092
Verification of eligibility for certain disabled veterans and surviving spouses 196.095
Exemption for a licensed child care facility operating in an enterprise zone 196.101
Exemption for totally and permanently disabled persons 196.102
Exemption for certain totally and permanently disabled first responders 196.111
Property appraisers may notify persons entitled to homestead exemption 196.121
Homestead exemptions 196.131
Homestead exemptions 196.141
Homestead exemptions 196.151
Homestead exemptions 196.161
Homestead exemptions 196.171
Homestead exemptions 196.173
Exemption for deployed servicemembers 196.181
Exemption of household goods and personal effects 196.182
Exemption of renewable energy source devices 196.183
Exemption for tangible personal property 196.185
Exemption of inventory 196.192
Exemptions from ad valorem taxation 196.193
Exemption applications 196.194
Value adjustment board 196.195
Determining profit or nonprofit status of applicant 196.196
Determining whether property is entitled to charitable, religious, scientific, or literary exemption 196.197
Additional provisions for exempting property used by hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for special services 196.198
Educational property exemption 196.199
Government property exemption 196.202
Property of widows, widowers, blind persons, and persons totally and permanently disabled 196.295
Property transferred to exempt governmental unit 196.1961
Exemption for historic property used for certain commercial or nonprofit purposes 196.1975
Exemption for property used by nonprofit homes for the aged 196.1976
Provisions of ss 196.1977
Exemption for property used by proprietary continuing care facilities 196.1978
Affordable housing property exemption 196.1979
County and municipal affordable housing property exemption 196.1983
Charter school exemption from ad valorem taxes 196.1985
Labor organization property exemption 196.1986
Community centers exemption 196.1987
Biblical history display property exemption 196.1993
Certain agreements with local governments for use of public property 196.1995
Economic development ad valorem tax exemption 196.1996
Economic development ad valorem tax exemption 196.1997
Ad valorem tax exemptions for historic properties 196.1998
Additional ad valorem tax exemptions for historic properties open to the public 196.1999
Space laboratories and carriers 196.2001
Not-for-profit sewer and water company property exemption 196.2002
Exemption for s. 501(c)(12) not-for-profit water and wastewater systems

Current through Fall 2025

§ 196.151. Homestead exemptions; approval, refusal, hearings's source at flsenate​.gov