What is the homestead exemption deadline in Okaloosa County?

March 1. You must own and live in the home as your permanent residence on Jan. 1 of that year. For the 2027 tax year, file by March 1, 2027 with the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser.

How much does the Florida homestead exemption save?

Under current law it exempts up to $50,000 of assessed value: $25,000 from all taxes and another $25,000 from non-school taxes. Each $1,000 exempted saves $1 per mill of tax on your bill.

What happens to my homestead exemption if the Nov. 3, 2026 amendment passes?

The non-school exemption would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 from 2028. The school-tax exemption stays at $25,000. New residents who establish homestead after Dec. 31, 2026 would get $50,000 for their first five years.

Do I need to reapply for homestead every year?

No. Florida homestead renews automatically while you keep owning and living in the home. You apply again only when you move to a new home.

Can I keep my Save Our Homes savings if I move within Florida?

Yes. Portability lets you move up to $500,000 of your Save Our Homes benefit to a new homestead set up within three years. File the portability form with your new homestead application.

Homestead exemption in Florida: deadline and savings in Okaloosa County

By the Money & Law Desk, Emerald Coast Dispatch

If you own and live in your home in Okaloosa County, you can cut its taxable value with Florida’s homestead exemption. Under current law it removes up to $50,000 of assessed value from most property taxes, and Save Our Homes then caps how fast that assessed value can rise. You apply once with the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year you want it, based on owning and living in the home on Jan. 1. A property tax amendment on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot would raise the exemption sharply starting in 2027, so the next filing window matters more than usual.

How the homestead exemption works today

As of Oct. 2026, per Florida Statutes s. 196.031, the exemption has two parts:

First $25,000 of assessed value: exempt from all property taxes, including school taxes.
Second $25,000 (assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000): exempt from non-school taxes only. This part is indexed to inflation.

Once you have the exemption, Save Our Homes (F.S. s. 193.155) limits yearly increases in your home’s assessed value to 3% or the change in CPI, whichever is lower, even if market value climbs faster.

What the Nov. 3 amendment would change

Voters will decide CS/HJR 1-F, titled “Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes,” on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot. It needs 60% of the vote. If approved, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, per the Florida Senate bill page and the Florida House analysis.

Item	Current law	If the amendment passes
Non-school homestead exemption	Up to $50,000	$150,000 in 2027; $250,000 from 2028 (indexed from 2029)
School-tax exemption	$25,000	$25,000 (unchanged)
New residents (homestead after Dec. 31, 2026)	Same as everyone	$50,000 for their first 5 years
Cap on assessment increases, non-homestead property (non-school taxes)	10% a year	5% a year
Local budgets	No new limit	Limits what counties and cities may fund with property tax

The Florida House analysis estimates the change would reduce local non-school property tax revenue statewide by about $4.95 billion in FY 2027-28 and about $8.78 billion in FY 2028-29.

How much you could save in Okaloosa County

Your savings depend on your home’s assessed value and the millage rates on your tax bill. One mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value, so:

Each $1,000 of exemption saves $1 for every mill of tax it applies to.
Today, a home assessed at $75,000 or more gets $25,000 off school millage and $50,000 off non-school millage.
If the amendment passes, the non-school exemption grows from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027. That is $100,000 more exempt value, or $100 a year for each non-school mill on your bill. In 2028 the gap grows to $200,000 ($200 per mill).

Your TRIM notice (mailed each August) and your November tax bill list the millage for each taxing authority. Okaloosa County’s 2026 millage rates were not included in this guide; use your own bill for the exact math.

Tip: Tax bills go out around Nov. 1. Paying in November gets a 4% discount, then 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February (F.S. s. 197.162).

How to apply in Okaloosa County, step by step

Own and live in the home on Jan. 1 as your permanent residence.
File between Jan. 1 and March 1 with the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser (F.S. s. 196.011). For the 2027 tax year, the deadline is March 1, 2027.
Moving from another Florida homestead? File the portability form with your application to carry up to $500,000 of Save Our Homes benefit to the new home, if you set up the new homestead within 3 years (F.S. s. 193.155(8)).
New to Florida? You may also file a Declaration of Domicile with the Clerk of the Circuit Court (F.S. s. 222.17). It is optional but documents your residency.
Missed the deadline? Late filers can petition the Value Adjustment Board within 25 days after TRIM notices are mailed, showing extenuating circumstances. The petition fee is $15.

Okaloosa County Property Appraiser offices

Office	Address	Phone
Shalimar (main)	1250 Eglin Pkwy. N., Suite 201, Shalimar, FL 32579	(850) 651-7240
Crestview	302 Wilson St., Suite 201, Crestview, FL 32536	(850) 689-5900

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central, per the Property Appraiser’s website. The office serves Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Crestview and the rest of the county.

Key dates for Okaloosa homeowners

Date	What happens
Nov. 1, 2026 (approx.)	Tax bills mailed; 4% discount through November
Nov. 3, 2026	Vote on the property tax amendment (CS/HJR 1-F)
Nov. 18, 2026	Okaloosa Value Adjustment Board good-cause hearings, Crestview Courthouse
Jan. 1, 2027	Ownership date for 2027 homestead; amendment takes effect if approved
March 1, 2027	Homestead application deadline
August 2027	TRIM notices mailed; 25 days to petition the VAB

Who to contact

This guide explains the law; it is not tax or legal advice for your situation. For your exemption status or filing, call the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser. For questions about your bill, contact the Okaloosa County Tax Collector. For legal questions, such as ownership through a trust, the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service is at 1-800-342-8011 (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.); the first 30-minute consultation costs no more than $25. A licensed CPA can help with tax planning.

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