The following are the three requirements to be eligible for Florida homestead benefits:
- The property must be your permanent residence OR the permanent residence of someone you can claim as a dependent on your taxes.
- You must have owned and lived at the property on January 1 of the tax year in question. Thus, claiming the homestead exemption on your 2024 taxes requires you to have owned and lived in the property on January 1, 2024.
- You cannot have rented the property for more than 30 days in a calendar year. Renting the property for more than six months or more than 30 days for two consecutive years will result in an abandonment of the Florida homestead exemption.
If you have further questions about eligibility, contact the property appraiser in the county where the property is located.