Does Florida Homestead expire?


The Florida homestead exemption does not expire and you do not have to renew it every year. Unless you cancel your homestead, your homestead will be automatically renewed each year.

The only way for you to lose your homestead is if you are no longer eligible for it. This will happen if you:

• No longer own the home,

• The home is no longer your primary residence,

• You rented the property for more than six months or more than 30 days for two consecutive years, or

• The home changed ownership because of a sale, divorce, marriage, or other event.

You are responsible for contacting the county property appraiser if you are no longer eligible for the homestead exemption. If you do not notify the state that you no longer qualify for the homestead exemption, and you continue to receive homestead benefits you are not entitled to, you will be subject to a tax lien that also comes with interest and penalties.

If you move, you cannot transfer your Florida homestead exemption from one Florida homestead to another, but you can transfer some or all of the assessment difference, which would lower the assessed value of your homestead. When applying for this, you need to submit a Form DR-501T along with your homestead exemption application for your new property.