Do you qualify? (as of January 1)

• You hold legal or beneficial title, recorded in St. Lucie County’s Official Records.
• You make the home your permanent residence in good faith.
• You are a permanent Florida resident.
• You are a U.S. citizen or hold a Permanent Resident (green) card. Some exceptions apply; ask the Property Appraiser.

What to have ready (for each applicant)

• Florida driver’s license.
• Social Security number for you and your spouse.
• Permanent Resident card, if not a U.S. citizen.
• A copy of the entire trust, if the home is titled in a trust.
• Dates: when you became a permanent Florida resident, when you moved in, and your date of birth.
• Any exemptions you filed last year, and the address on your last income tax return.
• Proof of residency dated before January 1.

File

• Deadline: March 1 of the tax year. Pre-filing is accepted during the year.
• File online, or in person at the Property Appraiser’s Fort Pierce office (2300 Virginia Ave) or Saint Lucie West office (250 NW Country Club Dr, Port St. Lucie).
• Property Appraiser phone: 772-462-1000 · paslc.gov.

Keep it

• A title change, such as moving the home into a trust or adding a spouse, requires a new application.
• Homestead is not transferable. If you buy a new home, reapply.
• Rentals: if the home is rented on January 1, you lose homestead for that year. Check the rental rules before renting it out.
• Tell the Property Appraiser if the home no longer qualifies.