What Florida counties have the lowest property taxes?
Property taxes are one of the most important and often most misunderstood parts of Florida homeownership. Here’s a straightforward look at where taxes are lowest — and how to think about this when choosing where to buy.
How Florida property taxes work
Florida doesn’t have a state income tax, but it does have property taxes. These are levied at the county level (and sometimes city level), based on the assessed value of your property.
The key metric is the millage rate — expressed as tax per $1,000 of assessed value. A millage rate of 15 means $15 in taxes per $1,000 of assessed value, or $15,000 per year on a $1,000,000 home.
Effective tax rates (what you actually pay as a percentage of market value) range from roughly 0.5% to 2% across Florida, depending on county and whether you have a homestead exemption.
Counties with notably lower effective property tax rates
These counties have historically had lower effective tax rates (keep in mind this changes and the homestead exemption significantly affects your actual bill):
| County | Approx. effective rate (non-homestead) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walton County | ~0.5–0.7% | Panhandle, low millage |
| Santa Rosa County | ~0.6–0.8% | Pensacola metro |
| Okaloosa County | ~0.6–0.8% | Fort Walton / Destin |
| St. Johns County | ~0.7–0.9% | Jacksonville suburbs |
| Nassau County | ~0.7–0.9% | Northeast FL |
| Sarasota County | ~0.8–1.0% | Relative to home values |
Counties with higher effective rates
Urban, densely populated counties with more services to fund tend to have higher millage rates:
- Broward County (Fort Lauderdale)
- Palm Beach County
- Miami-Dade County
- Hillsborough County (Tampa)
- Orange County (Orlando)
That said, the dollar amount you pay depends on home values too. A moderate millage rate in a county with $700,000 median home prices may cost more than a higher millage rate in a county with $250,000 medians.
The homestead exemption effect
Once you have a homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap kicks in, your effective tax rate often declines over time as your assessed value is protected from rising with the market. Long-term homeowners in fast-appreciating areas like Naples or Miami can end up paying taxes on assessed values far below market.
How to look up taxes before you buy
Every county in Florida publishes its property tax rolls online. Before making an offer on any home, look up:
- The current annual tax bill (ask the listing agent or check the county property appraiser’s website)
- Whether the current owner has a homestead exemption (which you may not inherit — you’ll start fresh)
- Any CDD or special district fees layered on top
Have more questions? Browse our full FAQ library or get your free Florida Home Buying Guide.
Related questions
Still have a question about this?
Ask a licensed Florida agent directly, or get your free Home Buying Guide.