Tiara Bolton explains Florida Amendment 3 property tax relief, homestead eligibility, non-homestead assessment caps and relocation planning for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Your Florida house hunt just got a new search filter: the calendar.
If you’re moving to Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach or St. Johns County, property taxes belong in your planning conversation alongside the neighborhood, insurance and purchase price.
Florida’s Amendment 3 passed based on unofficial election results. Here’s what the changes could mean for eligible homeowners, relocators and owners of rental, second-home or commercial properties.
Watch: Florida property tax relief explained
In the video, I walk through the exemption amounts, an illustrative savings calculation and why your residency timeline matters.
What changes under Amendment 3?
According to the Florida Senate summary, qualifying homeowners who maintained permanent Florida residence by December 31, 2026, and have established or will establish homestead can receive exemptions from non-school property taxes of up to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
These amounts reduce taxable assessed value. They are not dollar-for-dollar reductions in your tax bill, and the expanded exemption does not apply to school taxes.
How much could you save?
Here’s an illustration: an additional $100,000 reduction in taxable value at an applicable 1% tax rate means $1,000 less in annual taxes at that unchanged rate—about $83 per month.
Actual savings depend on your eligible taxable value, exemptions and local rates. This example is not an estimate for a particular home. Ask the county property appraiser about the property you’re considering.
Rentals, second homes and commercial properties
Beginning in 2027, the annual assessment-increase cap for non-homestead properties drops from 10% to 5% for non-school taxes. This includes rentals, second homes and commercial real estate.
The cap limits assessed-value growth. It does not guarantee a 5% tax reduction or limit your total tax-bill increases to 5%. Local tax rates and other charges still affect what you pay. Confirm how the rules apply to your property, particularly when considering a purchase or ownership change.
Why December 31, 2026 matters for relocators
Permanent Florida residency by December 31, 2026 affects eligibility timing for the larger homestead exemption. Later residents generally become eligible beginning in their fifth year of homestead exemption, subject to applicable constitutional provisions and exceptions.
This is a residency consideration, not a blanket home-purchase or closing deadline. Confirm your documentation, homestead requirements and circumstances with your county property appraiser as implementation guidance develops.
Planning a move to Jacksonville or the Beaches?
Start with your everyday life and your full ownership budget. We can compare neighborhoods, discuss your sale or lease timeline and identify the tax and insurance questions to answer before choosing your next home.
Already own here? If you’re downsizing, selling or buying another property, let’s review both sides of your move. I can help you evaluate your current home’s market position, prepare a selling strategy and coordinate the next purchase.
Moving elsewhere in Florida—or across the country?
You can still start with me. I help buyers and sellers in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, and I can connect you with a local real estate professional elsewhere in Florida or across the country.
If you’re moving here from another state, I can also help you find an agent where you currently live while we plan your Northeast Florida home search.
Tell me where you’re moving from, where you’d love to land and your ideal timeline. Let’s put a plan behind it.
Contact Tiara Bolton to start planning your move or explore buyer, seller and relocation guides.
Tiara Bolton | REALTOR®
Momentum Realty
904-534-5832
Updated November 5, 2026. General information only. Eligibility and implementation should be confirmed with your county property appraiser. Savings example is illustrative.
Sources and further reading
Florida Senate: CS/HJR 1-F summary
Florida Realtors: Amendment 3 explained
NBC6: Amendment 3 election reporting
Florida Department of Revenue: Guide to Millage
