Florida Residency Checklist
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Key date: December 31, 2026 — Florida residents on that date qualify for the full expanded homestead exemption under Amendment 3. People who become residents later start at $50,000 and reach the full amount from their fifth year of exemption. Amendment 3 was approved November 3, 2026 (61.98% per state results, unofficial until certified) and takes effect January 1, 2027: $150,000 non-school homestead in 2027, $250,000 in 2028.
Checklist
- Establish a permanent Florida residence — your primary home in Florida.
- File a Declaration of Domicile with your county clerk, if appropriate.
- Obtain a Florida driver's license.
- Register to vote in Florida.
- Register vehicles in Florida; obtain Florida plates.
- Update your address with banks, employers, the IRS, and other records.
- File for homestead exemption with your county property appraiser — generally by March 1.
- Keep dated proof of when your Florida permanent residence began (license, voter registration, domicile filing, lease / purchase records, utility bills).
- Ask your county property appraiser about your assessed value and exemption status.
- Re-check official guidance — implementation laws for Amendment 3 are still pending.
Reminder: Renting a property alone does not guarantee tax benefits. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and applicable law.
Sources: Florida Senate CS/HJR 1-F — flsenate.gov · Florida Division of Elections — dos.fl.gov/elections · Collier County Property Appraiser — collierappraiser.com