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Florida Statute 193.155 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XIV
TAXATION AND FINANCE
Chapter 193
ASSESSMENTS
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193.155 Homestead assessments.Homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property receives the exemption unless the provisions of subsection (8) apply.
(1) Beginning in 1995, or the year following the year the property receives homestead exemption, whichever is later, the property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change resulting from such reassessment shall not exceed the lower of the following:
(a) Three percent of the assessed value of the property for the prior year; or
(b) The percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(2) If the assessed value of the property as calculated under subsection (1) exceeds the just value, the assessed value of the property shall be lowered to the just value of the property.
(3)(a) Except as provided in this subsection or subsection (8), property assessed under this section shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year following a change of ownership. Thereafter, the annual changes in the assessed value of the property are subject to the limitations in subsections (1) and (2). For the purpose of this section, a change of ownership means any sale, foreclosure, or transfer of legal title or beneficial title in equity to any person, except if any of the following apply:
1. Subsequent to the change or transfer, the same person is entitled to the homestead exemption as was previously entitled and:
a. The transfer of title is to correct an error;
b. The transfer is between legal and equitable title or equitable and equitable title and no additional person applies for a homestead exemption on the property;
c. The change or transfer is by means of an instrument in which the owner is listed as both grantor and grantee of the real property and one or more other individuals are additionally named as grantee. However, if any individual who is additionally named as a grantee applies for a homestead exemption on the property, the application is considered a change of ownership;
d. The change or transfer is by means of an instrument in which the owner entitled to the homestead exemption is listed as both grantor and grantee of the real property and one or more other individuals, all of whom held title as joint tenants with rights of survivorship with the owner, are named only as grantors and are removed from the title; or
e. The person is a lessee entitled to the homestead exemption under s. 196.041(1);
2. Legal or equitable title is changed or transferred between husband and wife, including a change or transfer to a surviving spouse or a transfer due to a dissolution of marriage;
3. The transfer occurs by operation of law to the surviving spouse or minor child or children under s. 732.401;
4. Upon the death of the owner, the transfer is between the owner and another who is a permanent resident and who is legally or naturally dependent upon the owner; or
5. The transfer occurs with respect to a property where all of the following apply:
a. Multiple owners hold title as joint tenants with rights of survivorship;
b. One or more owners were entitled to and received the homestead exemption on the property;
c. The death of one or more owners occurs; and
d. Subsequent to the transfer, the surviving owner or owners previously entitled to and receiving the homestead exemption continue to be entitled to and receive the homestead exemption.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, a leasehold interest that qualifies for the homestead exemption under s. 196.031 or s. 196.041 shall be treated as an equitable interest in the property.
(4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and s. 193.624, changes, additions, or improvements to homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after the changes, additions, or improvements are substantially completed.
(b)1. Changes, additions, or improvements that replace all or a portion of homestead property, including ancillary improvements, damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity shall be assessed upon substantial completion as provided in this paragraph. Such assessment must be calculated using the homestead property’s assessed value as of the January 1 immediately before the date on which the damage or destruction was sustained, subject to the assessment limitations in subsections (1) and (2), when:
a. The square footage of the homestead property as changed or improved does not exceed 130 percent of the square footage of the homestead property before the damage or destruction; or
b. The total square footage of the homestead property as changed or improved does not exceed 2,000 square feet.
2. The homestead property’s assessed value must be increased by the just value of that portion of the changed or improved homestead property which is in excess of 130 percent of the square footage of the homestead property before the damage or destruction or of that portion exceeding 2,000 square feet.
3. Homestead property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity which, after being changed or improved, has a square footage of less than 100 percent of the homestead property’s total square footage before the damage or destruction shall be assessed pursuant to subsection (5).
4. Changes, additions, or improvements assessed pursuant to this paragraph must be reassessed pursuant to subsection (1) in subsequent years. This paragraph applies to changes, additions, or improvements commenced within 5 years after the January 1 following the damage or destruction of the homestead.
(c) Changes, additions, or improvements that replace all or a portion of real property that was damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity shall be assessed upon substantial completion as if such damage or destruction had not occurred and in accordance with paragraph (b) if the owner of such property:
1. Was permanently residing on such property when the damage or destruction occurred;
2. Was not entitled to receive homestead exemption on such property as of January 1 of that year; and
3. Applies for and receives homestead exemption on such property the following year.
(d) Changes, additions, or improvements include improvements made to common areas or other improvements made to property other than to the homestead property by the owner or by an owner association, which improvements directly benefit the homestead property. Such changes, additions, or improvements shall be assessed at just value, and the just value shall be apportioned among the parcels benefiting from the improvement.
(5) When property is destroyed or removed and not replaced, the assessed value of the parcel shall be reduced by the assessed value attributable to the destroyed or removed property.
(6) Only property that receives a homestead exemption is subject to this section. No portion of property that is assessed solely on the basis of character or use pursuant to s. 193.461 or s. 193.501, or assessed pursuant to s. 193.505, is subject to this section. When property is assessed under s. 193.461, s. 193.501, or s. 193.505 and contains a residence under the same ownership, the portion of the property consisting of the residence and curtilage must be assessed separately, pursuant to s. 193.011, for the assessment to be subject to the limitation in this section.
(7) If a person received a homestead exemption limited to that person’s proportionate interest in real property, the provisions of this section apply only to that interest.
(8) Property assessed under this section shall be assessed at less than just value when the person who establishes a new homestead has received a homestead exemption as of January 1 of any of the 3 immediately preceding years. For purposes of this subsection, a husband and wife who owned and both permanently resided on a previous homestead shall each be considered to have received the homestead exemption even though only the husband or the wife applied for the homestead exemption on the previous homestead. The assessed value of the newly established homestead shall be determined as provided in this subsection.
(a) If the just value of the new homestead as of January 1 is greater than or equal to the just value of the immediate prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the immediate prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of $500,000 or the difference between the just value and the assessed value of the immediate prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as provided in this section.
(b) If the just value of the new homestead as of January 1 is less than the just value of the immediate prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the immediate prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new homestead divided by the just value of the immediate prior homestead and multiplied by the assessed value of the immediate prior homestead. However, if the difference between the just value of the new homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated pursuant to this paragraph is greater than $500,000, the assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that the difference between the just value and the assessed value equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as provided in this section.
(c) If two or more persons who have each received a homestead exemption as of January 1 of any of the 3 immediately preceding years and who would otherwise be eligible to have a new homestead property assessed under this subsection establish a single new homestead, the reduction from just value is limited to the higher of the difference between the just value and the assessed value of either of the prior eligible homesteads as of January 1 of the year in which either of the eligible prior homesteads was abandoned, but may not exceed $500,000.
(d) If two or more persons abandon jointly owned and jointly titled property that received a homestead exemption as of January 1 of any of the 3 immediately preceding years, and one or more such persons who were entitled to and received a homestead exemption on the abandoned property establish a new homestead that would otherwise be eligible for assessment under this subsection, each such person establishing a new homestead is entitled to a reduction from just value for the new homestead equal to the just value of the prior homestead minus the assessed value of the prior homestead divided by the number of owners of the prior homestead who received a homestead exemption, unless the title of the property contains specific ownership shares, in which case the share of reduction from just value shall be proportionate to the ownership share. In the case of a husband and wife abandoning jointly titled property, the husband and wife may designate the ownership share to be attributed to each spouse by following the procedure in paragraph (f). To qualify to make such a designation, the husband and wife must be married on the date that the jointly owned property is abandoned. In calculating the assessment reduction to be transferred from a prior homestead that has an assessment reduction for living quarters of parents or grandparents pursuant to s. 193.703, the value calculated pursuant to s. 193.703(6) must first be added back to the assessed value of the prior homestead. The total reduction from just value for all new homesteads established under this paragraph may not exceed $500,000. There shall be no reduction from just value of any new homestead unless the prior homestead is reassessed at just value or is reassessed under this subsection as of January 1 after the abandonment occurs.
(e) If one or more persons who previously owned a single homestead and each received the homestead exemption qualify for a new homestead where all persons who qualify for homestead exemption in the new homestead also qualified for homestead exemption in the previous homestead without an additional person qualifying for homestead exemption in the new homestead, the reduction in just value shall be calculated pursuant to paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), without application of paragraph (c) or paragraph (d).
(f) A husband and wife abandoning jointly titled property who wish to designate the ownership share to be attributed to each person for purposes of paragraph (d) must file a form provided by the department with the property appraiser in the county where such property is located. The form must include a sworn statement by each person designating the ownership share to be attributed to each person for purposes of paragraph (d) and must be filed prior to either person filing the form required under paragraph (h) to have a parcel of property assessed under this subsection. Such a designation, once filed with the property appraiser, is irrevocable.
(g) For purposes of receiving an assessment reduction pursuant to this subsection, a person entitled to assessment under this section may abandon his or her homestead even though it remains his or her primary residence by notifying the property appraiser of the county where the homestead is located. This notification must be in writing and delivered at the same time as or before timely filing a new application for homestead exemption on the property.
(h) In order to have his or her homestead property assessed under this subsection, a person must file a form provided by the department as an attachment to the application for homestead exemption, including a copy of the form required to be filed under paragraph (f), if applicable. The form, which must include a sworn statement attesting to the applicant’s entitlement to assessment under this subsection, shall be considered sufficient documentation for applying for assessment under this subsection. The department shall require by rule that the required form be submitted with the application for homestead exemption under the timeframes and processes set forth in chapter 196 to the extent practicable.
(i)1. If the previous homestead was located in a different county than the new homestead, the property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located must transmit a copy of the completed form together with a completed application for homestead exemption to the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located. If the previous homesteads of applicants for transfer were in more than one county, each applicant from a different county must submit a separate form.
2. The property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located must return information to the property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located by April 1 or within 2 weeks after receipt of the completed application from that property appraiser, whichever is later. As part of the information returned, the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located must provide sufficient information concerning the previous homestead to allow the property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located to calculate the amount of the assessment limitation difference which may be transferred and must certify whether the previous homestead was abandoned and has been or will be reassessed at just value or reassessed according to the provisions of this subsection as of the January 1 following its abandonment.
3. Based on the information provided on the form from the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located, the property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located shall calculate the amount of the assessment limitation difference which may be transferred and apply the difference to the January 1 assessment of the new homestead.
4. All property appraisers having information-sharing agreements with the department are authorized to share confidential tax information with each other pursuant to s. 195.084, including social security numbers and linked information on the forms provided pursuant to this section.
5. The transfer of any limitation is not final until any values on the assessment roll on which the transfer is based are final. If such values are final after tax notice bills have been sent, the property appraiser shall make appropriate corrections and a corrected tax notice bill shall be sent. Any values that are under administrative or judicial review shall be noticed to the tribunal or court for accelerated hearing and resolution so that the intent of this subsection may be carried out.
6. If the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located has not provided information sufficient to identify the previous homestead and the assessment limitation difference is transferable, the taxpayer may file an action in circuit court in that county seeking to establish that the property appraiser must provide such information.
7. If the information from the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located is provided after the procedures in this section are exercised, the property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located shall make appropriate corrections and a corrected tax notice and tax bill shall be sent.
8. This subsection does not authorize the consideration or adjustment of the just, assessed, or taxable value of the previous homestead property.
9. The property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located shall promptly notify a taxpayer if the information received, or available, is insufficient to identify the previous homestead and the amount of the assessment limitation difference which is transferable. Such notification shall be sent on or before July 1 as specified in s. 196.151.
10. The taxpayer may correspond with the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located to further seek to identify the homestead and the amount of the assessment limitation difference which is transferable.
11. If the property appraiser in the county where the previous homestead was located supplies sufficient information to the property appraiser in the county where the new homestead is located, such information shall be considered timely if provided in time for inclusion on the notice of proposed property taxes sent pursuant to ss. 194.011 and 200.065(1).
12. If the property appraiser has not received information sufficient to identify the previous homestead and the amount of the assessment limitation difference which is transferable before mailing the notice of proposed property taxes, the taxpayer may file a petition with the value adjustment board in the county where the new homestead is located.
(j) Any person who is qualified to have his or her property assessed under this subsection and who fails to file an application by March 1 may file an application for assessment under this subsection and may, pursuant to s. 194.011(3), file a petition with the value adjustment board requesting that an assessment under this subsection be granted. Such petition may be filed at any time during the taxable year on or before the 25th day following the mailing of the notice by the property appraiser as provided in s. 194.011(1). Notwithstanding s. 194.013, such person must pay a nonrefundable fee of $15 upon filing the petition. Upon reviewing the petition, if the person is qualified to receive the assessment under this subsection and demonstrates particular extenuating circumstances judged by the property appraiser or the value adjustment board to warrant granting the assessment, the property appraiser or the value adjustment board may grant an assessment under this subsection.
(k) Any person who is qualified to have his or her property assessed under this subsection and who fails to timely file an application for his or her new homestead in the first year following eligibility may file in a subsequent year. The assessment reduction shall be applied to assessed value in the year the transfer is first approved, and refunds of tax may not be made for previous years.
(l) The property appraisers of the state shall, as soon as practicable after March 1 of each year and on or before July 1 of that year, carefully consider all applications for assessment under this subsection which have been filed in their respective offices on or before March 1 of that year. If, upon investigation, the property appraiser finds that the applicant is entitled to assessment under this subsection, the property appraiser shall make such entries upon the tax rolls of the county as are necessary to allow the assessment. If, after due consideration, the property appraiser finds that the applicant is not entitled to the assessment under this subsection, the property appraiser shall immediately prepare a notice of such disapproval, giving his or her reasons therefor, and a copy of the notice must be served upon the applicant by the property appraiser by personal delivery or by registered mail to the post office address given by the applicant. The applicant may appeal the decision of the property appraiser refusing to allow the assessment under this subsection to the value adjustment board, and the board shall review the application and evidence presented to the property appraiser upon which the applicant based the claim and hear the applicant in person or by agent on behalf of his or her right to such assessment. Such appeal shall be heard by an attorney special magistrate if the value adjustment board uses special magistrates. The value adjustment board shall reverse the decision of the property appraiser in the cause and grant assessment under this subsection to the applicant if, in its judgment, the applicant is entitled to the assessment or shall affirm the decision of the property appraiser. The action of the board is final in the cause unless the applicant, within 60 days following the date of refusal of the application by the board, files in the circuit court of the county in which the homestead is located a proceeding against the property appraiser for a declaratory judgment as is provided under chapter 86 or other appropriate proceeding. The failure of the taxpayer to appear before the property appraiser or value adjustment board or to file any paper other than the application as provided in this subsection does not constitute a bar to or defense in the proceedings.
(m) For purposes of receiving an assessment reduction pursuant to this subsection, an owner of a homestead property that was significantly damaged or destroyed as a result of a named tropical storm or hurricane may elect, in the calendar year following the named tropical storm or hurricane, to have the significantly damaged or destroyed homestead deemed to have been abandoned as of the date of the named tropical storm or hurricane even though the owner received a homestead exemption on the property as of January 1 of the year immediately following the named tropical storm or hurricane. The election provided for in this paragraph is available only if the owner establishes a new homestead as of January 1 of the third year immediately following the storm or hurricane. This paragraph shall apply to homestead property damaged or destroyed on or after January 1, 2017.
(9) Erroneous assessments of homestead property assessed under this section may be corrected in the following manner:
(a) If errors are made in arriving at any assessment under this section due to a material mistake of fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property, the just value and assessed value must be recalculated for every such year, including the year in which the mistake occurred.
(b) If changes, additions, or improvements are not assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after they were substantially completed, the property appraiser shall determine the just value for such changes, additions, or improvements for the year they were substantially completed. Assessments for subsequent years shall be corrected, applying this section if applicable.
(c) If back taxes are due pursuant to s. 193.092, the corrections made pursuant to this subsection shall be used to calculate such back taxes.
(10)(a) If the property appraiser determines that for any year or years within the prior 10 years a person who was not entitled to the homestead property assessment limitation granted under this section was granted the homestead property assessment limitation, the property appraiser making such determination shall serve upon the owner a notice of intent to record in the public records of the county a notice of tax lien against any property owned by that person in the county, and such property must be identified in the notice of tax lien. The property appraiser must include with such notice information explaining why the owner is not entitled to the limitation, the years for which unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest are due, and the manner in which unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest have been calculated. Such property that is situated in this state is subject to the unpaid taxes, plus a penalty of 50 percent of the unpaid taxes for each year and 15 percent interest per annum. However, when a person entitled to exemption pursuant to s. 196.031 inadvertently receives the limitation pursuant to this section following a change of ownership, the assessment of such property must be corrected as provided in paragraph (9)(a), and the person need not pay the unpaid taxes, penalties, or interest. Before a lien may be filed, the person or entity so notified must be given 30 days to pay the taxes and any applicable penalties and interest.
(b) If the property appraiser improperly grants the property assessment limitation as a result of a clerical mistake or an omission, the person or entity improperly receiving the property assessment limitation may not be assessed a penalty or interest. Back taxes shall apply only as follows:
1. If the person who received the limitation as a result of a clerical mistake or omission voluntarily discloses to the property appraiser that he or she was not entitled to the limitation before the property appraiser notifies the owner of the mistake or omission, no back taxes shall be due.
2. If the person who received the limitation as a result of a clerical mistake or omission does not voluntarily disclose to the property appraiser that he or she was not entitled to the limitation before the property appraiser notifies the owner of the mistake or omission, back taxes shall be due for any year or years that the owner was not entitled to the limitation within the 5 years before the property appraiser notified the owner of the mistake or omission.
3. The property appraiser shall serve upon an owner that owes back taxes under subparagraph 2. a notice of intent to record in the public records of the county a notice of tax lien against any property owned by that person in the county, and such property must be identified in the notice of tax lien. The property appraiser must include with such notice information explaining why the owner is not entitled to the limitation, the years for which unpaid taxes are due, and the manner in which unpaid taxes have been calculated. Before a lien may be filed, the person or entity so notified must be given 30 days to pay the taxes.
History.s. 62, ch. 94-353; s. 5, ch. 2001-137; s. 1, ch. 2006-38; s. 1, ch. 2006-311; s. 5, ch. 2007-339; s. 3, ch. 2008-173; s. 1, ch. 2010-109; s. 5, ch. 2012-193; s. 4, ch. 2013-72; s. 2, ch. 2013-77; s. 5, ch. 2016-128; s. 9, ch. 2018-118; s. 1, ch. 2020-175; ss. 2, 3, ch. 2021-31; s. 4, ch. 2024-158; s. 4, ch. 2025-190.

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Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 193.155

Total Results: 36  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Zingale v. Powell, 885 So. 2d 277 (Fla. 2004).

Cited 43 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 2004 WL 2050106

...e assessment but rather claim that date as January 1, 2000, more than a year before they applied for a homestead exemption. The Fourth District's resolution of the issue is also contrary to the implementing legislation for article VII, section 4(c). Section 193.155, Florida Statutes (2001), provides: Homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property receives the exemption. Section 193.155(6) specifies that "[o]nly property that receives a homestead exemption is subject to this section." Therefore, under the implementing statute, the initial baseline assessment would be in 2001, the year in which the Powells obtained the homestead exemption. Because the first paragraph of article VII, section 4(c) applies only to the initial, January 1, 1994, assessment, we reject the Powells' suggestion that the reference in section 193.155 to property that receives the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, places the statute in conflict with the constitutional provision. In fact, section 193.155 is consistent with another provision of the cap, article VII, section 4(c)(4), which provides that "new homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of *284 the homestead...
...heir property taxes from 2000 to 2001. Under subsection 4(c)(4), the Powells' successful application for the exemption in 2001 constituted an "establishment of the homestead," which triggered the baseline assessment for the Save Our Homes cap. Under section 193.155, their baseline year is 2001, and thereafter they will receive the benefits of the cap....
...6 (Fla.1992); In re Advisory Opinion to Attorney General — Homestead Valuation Limitation, 581 So.2d 586, 587 (Fla.1991). [4] Article VII, subsection 6(d) authorizes an increase of the homestead exemption to $25,000 for 1982 and subsequent years. [5] Section 193.155(1) requires the baseline assessment as of January 1 of the year in which the property receives the exemption, while article IV, section 4(c)(4) requires the baseline assessment "as of January 1st of the year following the establishmen...
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Reinish v. Clark, 765 So. 2d 197 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000).

Cited 17 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2000 WL 991017

...n-residents. First, eligible property is subject to an exclusion of the first $25,000 from ad valorem taxes. Second, any future increases in the assessed value of eligible property are limited to three per cent annually. Art. VII, § 4, Fla. Const.; § 193.155, Fla....
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Smith v. Welton, 729 So. 2d 371 (Fla. 1999).

Cited 8 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1999 WL 11219

...Turbow, of Law Offices of Brent M. Turbow, Jacksonville; and Joseph A. Franco, Jr., of Farah, Farah & Gazaleh, P.A., Jacksonville, on behalf of Doris L. Boone, for Appellees. PER CURIAM. We have on appeal Smith v. Welton, 710 So.2d 135 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998) (declaring invalid section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes (1995)), and Boone v....
...Smith increased the assessed value of the Welton property from $58,488 in 1994 to $130,645 in 1995. Welton filed a complaint in circuit court protesting the increase, and the court determined that the statute on which the property appraiser relied, i.e. section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes (1995), was unconstitutional. On appeal, the district court affirmed, holding that section 193.155(8)(a) violates article VII, section 4, Florida Constitution, which sets forth guidelines for the taxing of homesteads....
...estead of a taxpayer, Doris Boone. Mastroianni increased the value of the Boone property from a just value of $62,000 in 1994 to an assessed value of $91,518 in 1995. Boone protested, and the circuit court ruled in favor of Mastroianni, holding that section 193.155(8)(a) is constitutional....
...In brief, the amendment was designed to ensure that citizens on fixed incomes will not lose their homes on the tax block due to the rising value of Florida property. In 1994, the legislature enacted legislation implementing Amendment 10. See Ch. 94-353, § 62, at 2567, Laws of Fla. This legislation, which is codified in section 193.155, Florida Statutes (1995), gives the property appraiser authority to rectify an annual assessment that was based on "a material mistake of fact": 193.155 Homestead assessments.— Homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994....
...n the following manner: (a) If errors are made in arriving at any annual assessment under this section due to a material mistake of fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property, the assessment must be recalculated for every such year. § 193.155, Fla. Stat. (1995). In the present cases, the property appraisers assert that section 193.155(8)(a) bestows upon them the authority to reach back and correct an erroneous calculation of the base year "just value" assessment and then apply that corrected value to subsequent years. We disagree. Section 193.155(8)(a) on its face is inapplicable to the base year assessment set forth in article VII, section 4, Florida Constitution....
...The statute by its plain language refers to errors in the "annual assessment" (i.e., the value that is ascribed to a homestead each year after the "just value" has been determined in the base year), not errors in the base year "just value" assessment. Nowhere in section 193.155(8)(a) is the base year "just value" assessment even mentioned. By its plain wording, section 193.155(8)(a) thus bestows no authority on a property appraiser to make a retroactive change in the base year assessment. Accordingly, we hold that Smith and Mastroianni lack authority under section 193.155(8)(a) to retroactively change the base year "just value" assessment of the Smith and Boone properties....
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Smith v. Welton, 710 So. 2d 135 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998).

Cited 8 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1998 WL 176668

...Dent and John Chapman of Cook & Dent, Sarasota, for Appellant Okaloosa County Property Appraiser. Mark H. Welton of Mark Welton & Associates, P.A., Crestview, for Appellees. BOOTH, Judge. This cause is before us on appeal from summary judgment for Appellee, based on the trial court's holding that section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes, is unconstitutional as contrary to Article VII, Section 4(c) of the Florida Constitution. [1] The trial court reasoned that the constitution "clearly states that the assessment of just value `shall only change as provided herein,'" but section 193.155(8)(a) "allows for changes to the assessment for reasons not contained in the [constitution]." The trial court concluded that section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes, is "an unlawful attempt by the legislature to alter and enlarge the restrictions placed on the assessment of homestead property" by the constitution. The issue on appeal is whether section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes, is facially unconstitutional in light of Article VII, Section 4(c) of the Florida Constitution, which provides: [Art....
...x exemption (Article VII, Section 6, Florida Constitution), exemption from forced sale (Article X, Section 4(a), Florida Constitution), and the inheritance and alienation of homestead (Article X, Section 4(c), Florida Constitution). Florida Statutes section 193.155, effective June 3, 1994, is entitled "Homestead Assessments." Subsection (8)(a), at issue here, provides (8) Erroneous assessments of homestead property assessed under this section may be corrected in the following manner: (a) If erro...
...The Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 4(c), provides that "assessment[s] shall change only as provided herein," thus prohibiting changes to just value that are not expressly stated in the constitution. [3] Art. VII, § 4(c), Fla. Const. The purported exception to the three-percent rule in section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes, is not one provided for in the constitution and is, therefore, facially unconstitutional. We note that Appellant's argument, that holding section 193.155(8)(a) unconstitutional will result in inequitable taxation, is unavailing because the constitution expressly mandates the special or "inequitable" taxation....
...plain language of the amendment." [4] We conclude that the trial court correctly granted summary judgment; accordingly, that judgment is hereby AFFIRMED. JOANOS, J., concurs. VAN NORTWICK, J., dissents with opinion. VAN NORTWICK, Judge, dissenting. I respectfully dissent. As I read section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes (1995), under consideration here, this statute cannot be facially unconstitutional because it does not authorize an increase in the just value assessment of a homestead....
...In the event homestead property is erroneously assessed because of a material mistake of fact concerning the statutory assessment factors, then the erroneous assessment could not have reflected the property's true "just value." Thus, if a material mistake of fact has resulted in an assessment at other than just value, section 193.155(8)(a) does not authorize a change in the just value assessment, but a corrected assessment of the property to just value. Further, the correction cannot be the result of the application of additional or new factors not considered in making the erroneous assessment, but only to rectify a material mistake of fact which resulted in the erroneous assessment. § 193.155(8)(a), Fla. Stat. (1995). Rather than violating a constitutional mandate, by section 193.155(8)(a) the legislature is attempting to ensure that all Florida homesteads will be assessed at just value as required by the constitution....
...ust value. I would reverse the summary judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings to determine whether the alleged erroneous assessment was due to "material mistake of fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property." § 193.155(8)(a), Fla....
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Willens v. Garcia, 53 So. 3d 1113 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 533, 2011 WL 222150

his disabled father within the meaning of section 193.155, Florida Statutes (2007), of this state’s general
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Greer v. Owners Ins., 434 F. Supp. 2d 1267 (N.D. Fla. 2006).

Cited 5 times | Published | District Court, N.D. Florida | 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40790, 2006 WL 1589815

...f the home, $95,000, which Owners argues is much lower than the actual market value. See Empire State Insur. Co. v. Chafetz, 278 F.2d 41 (5th Cir.1960). In this case, the plaintiffs have owned their home for over twenty years, and in accordance with Section 193.155(1) of the Florida Statutes, the tax assessed value of the plaintiffs' property may only be increased on an annual basis by, at the most, three percent....
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Lanning v. Pilcher, 16 So. 3d 294 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009).

Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 13118, 2009 WL 2605426

...For these reasons we hold that article VII, section 4(c) of the Florida Constitution is valid under the United States Constitution and that it does not violate a nonresident's rights under the Equal Protection Clause, the Privileges and Immunities Clause, or the Commerce Clause. Likewise, we hold that section 193.155, Florida Statutes, the law implementing article VII, section 4(c), is constitutionally valid....
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Smith v. Krosschell, 937 So. 2d 658 (Fla. 2006).

Cited 4 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 2006 WL 2505993

...Krosschell further contended that section 197.122(1) of the Florida Statutes (2000), which authorized a property appraiser to correct "acts of omission or commission" at any time, was inapplicable in the instant proceeding, and the statute *660 that did apply, section 193.155 of the Florida Statutes (2000), did not allow for correction of the data entry error that occurred here....
...e in the base year assessment of Krosschell's homestead. See Krosschell, 892 So.2d at 1146. In support of its holding, the district court relied on Smith v. Welton, 729 So.2d 371 (Fla.1999), in which this Court held that on the facts presented there section 193.155(8)(a) of the Florida Statutes did not provide property appraisers the authority to make a retroactive change in the base year assessment of homesteaded property....
...change the original assessed value of Krosschell's property. See id. at 1147. The Second District certified direct conflict with Robbins v. Kornfield, 834 So.2d 955 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003), in which the Third District held that the same 2001 amendment to section 193.155 authorized property appraisers to retroactively correct errors in the calculation of the base year just value assessment of a property....
...motion for summary judgment to be inapplicable in the present controversy. ANALYSIS After receiving supplemental briefing from the parties, we conclude that it is unnecessary in the instant case to resolve the issue of whether the 2001 amendment to section 193.155 applies retroactively. This conclusion is based on our determination that the decisions in Krosschell and Kornfield involve consideration of errors that are fundamentally different, and section 193.155(8)(a) of the Florida Statutes does not apply to the data entry error that occurred in the instant case. A review of the conflict case, Kornfield, and the decision of this Court in Smith v. Welton , each of which interprets and applies section 193.155(8)(a), demonstrates that in each of these cases, a property appraiser underassessed some aspect of a homesteaded property....
...he evaluated Krosschell's property; instead, a purely clerical data entry error occurred, and the square footage of Krosschell's base living area was accidentally eliminated and entered as zero. Neither this Court nor any district court has utilized section 193.155(1) to address the correction of an administrative or clerical mistake such as a data entry error which totally eliminates the improvements on real property which are in place and previously in the records....
...d mathematical errors that occurred in Robbins, Straughn, and McNeil Barcelona than the underassessments resulting from the errors in evaluation or judgment that occurred in Kornfield and Welton. Accordingly, we conclude that section 197.122(1), not 193.155(8)(a), applies to the error that occurred in the instant case, and pursuant to this statute, this error "may be corrected at any time." § 197.122(1), Fla....
...and services afforded to their property and to themselves, and that none bears an added or unfair burden by reason of other taxpayers not paying their just share." Korash, 263 So.2d at 582. In conclusion, we hold that section 197.122(1), rather than section 193.155(8)(a), applies to correct the computer data entry error which occurred in the instant case and, pursuant to that subsection, Smith possesses the statutory authority to correct the erroneous data and result on the assessment of Krosschell's property "at any time." § 197.122(1), Fla....
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Thomas v. Smith, 882 So. 2d 1037 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).

Cited 4 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2004 WL 1824123

...City Average, all items 1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Art. VII, § 4(c)(1)(a)-(b), Fla. Const. The Save Our Homes amendment is implemented in section 193.155, Florida Statutes (1997)....
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Nikolits v. Delaney, 719 So. 2d 348 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1998 WL 670421

...Schwencke, P.A., West Palm Beach, for respondent William H. Delaney. PER CURIAM. We find that the Respondents Delaneys' claim that the homestead tax assessment on their property exceeds the statutory cap on increases of homestead assessments, in violation of section 193.155, Florida Statutes (1997), is an action to contest a tax assessment governed by section 194.171, Florida Statutes (1997)....
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Nikolits v. Ballinger, 736 So. 2d 1253 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1999 WL 493103

...perty. Ballinger contended that the assessed value of the property exceeded the increase permitted by law, in that the assessed *1254 value in 1996 was $1,922,756.00 and that any change for 1997 was not permitted to exceed 3% of the 1996 value under section 193.155(1), Florida Statutes (1997)....
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Robbins v. Kornfield, 834 So. 2d 955 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2003 WL 142308

...The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the taxpayers and held that both the Florida Constitution and the Florida Supreme Court decision in Smith v. Welton, 729 So.2d 371 (Fla.1999), prohibited the property appraiser from reassessing the property's just value. This appeal followed. Section 193.155, Florida Statutes (2001), permits a property appraiser to correct erroneous assessments of homestead property. However, in Welton, the Florida Supreme Court held that property appraisers lacked authority under Section 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes (1995), to retroactively change the base year "just *957 value" assessment of a homestead property. See Smith v. Welton, 729 So.2d at 373. In response to Welton, the Florida Legislature amended Section 193.155 in 2001. See Ch. 01-137, § 5, at 788, Laws of Fla. (amending § 193.155, Fla. Stat. (2000)). Prior to the amendment, § 193.155(8)(a) read, "(a) If errors are made in arriving at any annual assessment under this section due to a material mistake of fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property, the assessment must be recalculated for every such year." § 193.155(8)(a), Florida Statutes, (2000). The 2001 version of Section 193.155(8)(a) deletes the word, "annual" and adds the words, "just value [2] ." Clearly, the Legislature amended the section to allow for adjustments to be made to correct errors in the calculation of a property's just value. Therefore, Welton is superceded by the 2001 amendment to Section 193.155. See Nicoll v. Baker, 668 So.2d 989 (Fla.1996). In accordance with the legislative intent, as evinced by the specific amendments made to Section 193.155(8)(a), we hold that the property appraiser has the authority to place a back assessment on the portion of the taxpayers' property which has escaped taxation....
...93.092. Reversed and remanded for calculation of the back assessment. NOTES [1] Although the improvements escaped taxation for nine years, back assessments could only be made for three years, pursuant to Section 193.092, Florida Statutes (2001). [2] Section 193.155(8)(a) now reads: (a) If errors are made in arriving at any assessment under this section due to a material mistake of fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property, the just value and assessed value must be recalculated...
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Nikolits v. Haney, 221 So. 3d 725 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2017 WL 2350298, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 7829

homestead, the Save Our Homes provision of section 193.155(1), Florida Statutes (2010), applied to any
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In Re Santiago, 404 B.R. 564 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2009).

Cited 1 times | Published | United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Florida.

...or her right to claim a home as protected by the homestead exemption, as the homestead right is not derived from, nor dependent on, the constitutional or statutory right to claim the tax exemption. Id. See also Fla. Const. Art. VII, § 6; Fla. Stat. § 193.155, In re Gatto, 380 B.R....
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Smith v. Krosschell, 892 So. 2d 1145 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2005 WL 50104

...The order directed the Property Appraiser to appraise Krosschell's property at $188,700 for the year 2000 and found that this amount established the base year just value assessment *1146 for the property pursuant to the "Save-Our-Homes" cap. Art. VII, § 4(c), Fla. Const.; § 193.155(1)(a)(b), Fla....
...We conclude that the trial court correctly relied on Smith v. Welton, 729 So.2d 371 (Fla.1999), in finding that the Property Appraiser had no statutory authority to make a retroactive change in the assessment of Krosschell's property. In Smith, 729 So.2d at 373, the court held: "By its plain wording, section 193.155(8)(a) thus bestows no authority on a property appraiser to make a retroactive change in the base year assessment. Accordingly, we hold that [the property appraisers] lack authority under section 193.155(8)(a) to retroactively change the base year `just value' assessment...." As the Property Appraiser notes, section 193.155, Florida Statutes (2000), was amended [1] effective July 1, 2001, to allow property appraisers to change the base year assessment and thus correct an error like the one which occurred here....
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Gary R. Nikolits, as Prop. Appraiser for Palm Beach Cnty., Florida v. Sarah B. Neff a/k/a Susan B. Neff a/k/a Sally B. Neff, 184 So. 3d 538 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 18399, 2015 WL 8348320

...f a qualifying new homestead. The SOH benefit is the difference between the market value (known as just value) and assessed value (as capped by the SOH amendment) of the former homestead as of January 1 of the year the former homestead is abandoned. § 193.155(8), Fla....
...homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection. Art. VII, § 4(d)(8)a.1, Fla. Const. (emphasis supplied); see also § 193.155(8)(a), Fla....
...ars untimely challenges); see also Taylor v. City of Lake Worth, 964 So. 2d 243, 244 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007). In addition, the statute providing for the transfer of an SOH benefit expressly prohibits any retroactive adjustment of a prior assessment. § 193.155(8)(i)8., Fla....
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Karayiannakis v. Nikolits, 23 So. 3d 844 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 19251, 2009 WL 4641820

receives a homestead exemption is subject to section 193.155, Florida Statutes (2007), the codification
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Bill Furst, etc. v. Susan K. DeFrances (Fla. 2021).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida

the Florida Constitution and Section 193.155, Florida Statutes), to no more
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Robert R. Turner v. Sharon W. Jordan (11th Cir. 2024).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Argued: Apr 19, 2024

administer is the homestead exemption. See id. § 193.155(8)(l); Fla. Const. art. X, § 4. A property
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Gerald J. Brielmaier v. Bill Furst, Prop. Appraiser (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2019).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

tax cap. See art. VII, § 4(d)(1), Fla. Const.; § 193.155(8), Fla. Stat. (2016).
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William David Fitts v. Bill Furst, Prop. Appraiser (Fla. 3d DCA 2019).

Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

tax cap. See art. VII, § 4(d)(1), Fla. Const.; § 193.155(8), Fla. Stat. (2016).
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Robert Frehling v. Pedro J. Garcia, Etc. (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2023).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

4(d)(8), Fla. Const. (emphasis added); see also § 193.155(8), Fla. Stat. (2019);3 Baldwin v. Henriquez
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DeFrances v. Furst, 267 So. 3d 525 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019).

Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

case correctable under a recent amendment to section 193.155, Florida Statutes. The Krosschell opinion opts
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Susan K. Defrances v. Bill Furst, Prop. Appraiser (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2019).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

case correctable under a recent amendment to section 193.155, Florida Statutes. The Krosschell opinion opts
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DeFrances v. Furst, 267 So. 3d 525 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019).

Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

case correctable under a recent amendment to section 193.155, Florida Statutes. The Krosschell opinion opts
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2003).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

thereto in the manner prescribed by law."7 Section 193.155, Florida Statutes, provides that homestead
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2003).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

property assessment increases as provided in section 193.155, Florida Statutes? According to your letter
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Meyer v. Burgess, 786 So. 2d 652 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001).

Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 7834, 2001 WL 617522

property appraisal assessment cap contained in section 193.155, Florida Statutes. He also alleges error in
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Lee v. Hartsfield, 848 So. 2d 430 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003).

Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 9900, 2003 WL 21502783

that an assessment is made in violation of section 193.155 is an action to contest an assessment and is
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2007).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

substantially the following question: Does section 193.155(3), Florida Statutes, as amended in 2006, which
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Laurel Kelly, as Martin Cnty. Prop. Appraiser, & Ruth Pietruszewski, as Martin Cnty. Tax Collector, 160 So. 3d 78 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 2614, 2015 WL 774658

...as provided by law”; and, second, “a refund from the Tax Collector of the amount of the 2012 property taxes paid in excess of the taxes due had the -2- homestead exemption not been revoked by the Property Appraiser.” Relying upon section 193.155(3)(a), Florida Statutes (2011), which comprises part of the “Save Our Homes” amendment’s implementing statute, Mary Jane argued her husband’s “death did not constitute a change of ownership of the [home] that triggered the requirement to reassess the [home] at just value.” Rather, Mary Jane interpreted section 193.155(3)(a) in pari materia with section 196.011, Florida Statutes (2011)—the homestead exemption’s implementing statute—as mandating that “there is no change of ownership where subsequent to the change, the same person is entitled...
...file a new homestead application. However, as Mary Jane argues, there was no such change of ownership that triggered the need for a new application. Section 196.011 must be read in pari materia with the “Save Our Homes” amendment’s implementing statute—section 193.155, Florida Statutes (2011)—which expressly provides that there is no change in ownership when there is a transfer of homestead property to one spouse upon the death of the other. In Zingale, the Supreme Court concluded that subsec...
...ust be construed or interpreted in such manner as to fulfill the intent of the people, never to defeat it.” Browning v. Fla. Hometown Democracy, Inc., PAC, 29 So. 3d 1053, 1063 (Fla. 2010) (citation and quotations omitted). Sections 196.011 and 193.155 both implement the constitutional provisions concerning the taxation of homestead properties....
...in any manner, when the applicant for homestead exemption ceases to use the property as his or her homestead, or when the status of the owner changes so as to change the exempt status of the property.” While section 196.011 fails to define the term “ownership change,” section 193.155(3)(a), which pertains to assessment caps under the “Save Our Homes” amendment, fills this void by stating: (3)(a) Except as provided in this subsection or subsection (8), property assessed under this section shall be...
...Legal or equitable title is changed or transferred between husband and wife, including a change or transfer to a surviving spouse or a transfer due to a dissolution of marriage . . . .4 (Emphasis added). As referenced within subsection 193.155(3)(a), which deals with the establishment of a new homestead, the statute’s subsection (8) provides that a husband or wife have the benefit of a single homestead application filed by only one of them: 4The statute also provides tha...
...occurs by operation of law to the surviving spouse or minor child or children under s. 732.401” or if “[u]pon the death of the owner, the transfer is between the owner and another who is a permanent resident and is legally or naturally dependent upon the owner.” § 193.155(3)(a)3., 4., Fla....
...owned and both permanently resided on a previous homestead shall each be considered to have received the homestead exemption even though only the husband or the wife applied for the homestead exemption on the previous homestead. § 193.155(8), Fla. Stat. (2011) (emphasis added). Reading sections 196.011 and 193.155 together leads to two conclusions....
...mption on behalf of a spouse. See § 196.011(1)(b), Fla. Stat. (2013). We therefore read “applicant” as including both spouses who own a property as tenants by the entirety. This reading is reinforced by treatment accorded spouses in subsections 193.155(3) and (8)....
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2007).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

thereafter in accordance with the requirements of F.S. 193.155." The taxing authority of a municipality is
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Todora v. Silverstein, 889 So. 2d 177 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).

Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 19097, 2004 WL 2895610

Homes” amendment. Art. VII, § 4, Fla. Const.; § 193.155, Fla. Stat. (1997). The Property Appraiser responded
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2001).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

that does not meet the criteria enumerated in section 193.155(3)(a), (b), (c) or (d), Florida Statutes, should
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Orange Cnty. Prop. Appraiser v. Sommers, 84 So. 3d 1277 (Fla. 5th DCA 2012).

Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2012 WL 1365061, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 6191

the Florida Constitution, and implemented in section 193.155(1), Florida Statutes (2010). The assessment
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2002).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

(e.s.) The Legislature subsequently adopted section 193.155, Florida Statutes, to implement the homestead

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.