Florida approves reform that will raise exemption for primary homes

Florida voters approved Amendment 3, a constitutional reform that will expand the tax exemption for some primary homes. The measure was approved on November 3, 2026 and will begin to be applied on January 1, 2027. The change will be rolled out in stages and modifies the amount of the home that is exempt from certain taxes, with requirements to access the benefit.

In 2027, the exemption will reach $150,000 for non-school taxes. In 2028, that amount will rise to $250,000. The figures describe the portion of the home's value that falls outside the calculation of those taxes; they do not represent a direct payment to homeowners or an identical rebate for all properties.

The extension is aimed at the main residence, identified as homestead. It will not be extended in the same terms to holiday homes, apartments rented to third parties or properties used as businesses. Therefore, the type of use of the property matters when determining who can benefit from the reform. Owners must meet the requirements to receive the tax relief.

School taxes will remain outside of the expansion, so the increase in the exemption is limited to other taxes on housing. This distinction delimits the scope of the change: the announced amount does not apply to all taxes associated with a property. The reform also contemplates conditions for new residents, although that aspect does not alter the amounts planned for the 2027 and 2028 stages.

The proposal received 4,835,038 votes in favor. The change opens the way to tax relief for eligible homeowners, but it also poses a challenge for local governments, which rely on that revenue. The combination of a larger exemption and excluded school taxes defines the scope of the measure: the effect will depend on the eligibility of the property and the taxes to which it is subject.