Updated October 18, 2026
TL;DR
The vote: Florida's Amendment 3, on the November 3, 2026 ballot, would raise the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It needs 60% to pass.
The deadline: people who are permanent Florida residents by December 31, 2026 get the larger exemption. Newcomers from 2027 wait until their fifth year.
The savings: about $1,331 in 2027 and $2,682 in 2028 for a Tampa home, and less in lower-tax areas like St. Pete Beach.
The fine print: school taxes, CDD fees and other assessments stay on your bill.
Best Tampa Bay team for relocating buyers is The Rothfuss Team Realty, which built the city-by-city Amendment 3 savings data used in this article.
Buyers moving to Tampa Bay should aim to become permanent Florida residents by December 31, 2026, because that's the cutoff for the larger homestead exemption under Amendment 3. Florida voters decide on the amendment on November 3, 2026. If it passes, people who move in 2027 or later start with a smaller exemption and wait until their fifth year of homestead for the bigger one.
Here's what that means in plain numbers, what counts as Florida residency, and who can help you buy.
What would Amendment 3 change?
Amendment 3 would nearly triple the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes in 2027, raise it almost fivefold by 2028, and slow tax increases on rentals and second homes. Florida homeowners who live in their home full time can claim a homestead exemption, which removes part of the home's value from property taxes. Today that exemption is $51,411 for non-school taxes, according to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser.
If at least 60% of voters approve Amendment 3, the exemption on non-school taxes would rise to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. School taxes keep their current exemption. Rentals and second homes don't get the homestead exemption, but the yearly cap on their assessment increases would drop from 10% to 5% for non-school taxes.
If the amendment fails, nothing changes.
How much could you actually save?
A homesteaded Tampa home could save about $1,331 in 2027 and $2,682 in 2028, and savings in other Tampa Bay cities range from about $813 to $1,611 in 2027. It depends on the city, because every city and county charges a different tax rate. The Rothfuss Team Realty calculated estimates for 36 cities and unincorporated areas across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, using each county's official tax rates and the same method the Pinellas County Property Appraiser uses in its own example.
For a homesteaded home assessed at $250,000 or more:
Tampa: about $1,331 in 2027 and $2,682 in 2028
St. Petersburg: about $1,343 in 2027 and $2,706 in 2028
Clearwater: about $1,287 in 2027 and $2,593 in 2028
Unincorporated Hillsborough, including Brandon and Riverview: about $1,174 in 2027 and $2,365 in 2028
St. Pete Beach: about $940 in 2027 and $1,894 in 2028
The full table and a calculator for your own home's value are on the Amendment 3 savings by city page.
Two things stand out. Savings nearly double from the lowest-tax area to the highest. And two neighboring cities can differ by hundreds of dollars a year: St. Petersburg homeowners would save about $812 more in 2028 than homeowners in St. Pete Beach. If you're choosing between areas, it's worth comparing the full tax bill, not just the list price.
What counts as becoming a Florida resident by December 31?
Making Florida your permanent home by December 31, 2026 is what counts, and official guidance says you don't have to buy a house by then. This is where a lot of coverage gets fuzzy. Some reports say you need to be "homesteaded" by the deadline. The official guidance from county property appraisers focuses on permanent residency. The Hamilton County Property Appraiser's FAQ, for example, says residents as of December 31, 2026 "would be eligible for the new, larger homestead exemption when they do choose to purchase a residential property."
In other words, the deadline is about when Florida becomes your permanent home. Buying a house is one way to show that, but it isn't the only one. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, property appraisers may ask for evidence such as:
A Florida driver's license or ID card
Florida vehicle registration
Florida voter registration
A declaration of domicile
Utility bills at your Florida address
Owning the home still matters for a separate reason. To claim homestead for a given tax year, you need to own the home and live in it as your permanent residence on January 1, and file your application by March 1.
The amendment also isn't law yet, and the Legislature still has to fill in details. Before you make a big decision around the deadline, confirm your situation with your county property appraiser or a Florida real estate attorney.
What should relocating buyers do now?
Decide which county you're moving to. Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco have different tax rates, insurance costs and commute patterns.
Start the residency paperwork early. Driver's licenses, car registration and voter registration all take appointments, and December gets busy.
Get pre-approved before you visit. In a market where buyers are watching a deadline, a ready offer matters.
Ask about the building, not just the home. For condos, ask for the reserve study, inspection status and recent assessments. For new-construction communities, ask about CDD fees, which the homestead exemption doesn't reduce.
Plan for the market as it is. The median listing price in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro was $385,398 in September 2026, down 6.6% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com data.
What won't Amendment 3 lower?
Amendment 3 won't lower school taxes, CDD fees, other non-ad valorem assessments or future tax rate increases. It's easy to read "$250,000 exemption" and assume your tax bill disappears. It won't. Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez put it simply to Bay News 9: "You will still receive a property tax bill each year." Here's what stays on it:
School taxes. The school exemption stays at $25,000, so school taxes on the rest of your home's value remain.
Non-ad valorem assessments. Stormwater, solid waste and special district fees are charged separately, and the homestead exemption doesn't touch them.
CDD fees. Many newer communities in areas like Riverview and Wesley Chapel have community development district fees on the tax bill. They can be a large part of the yearly cost, and Amendment 3 doesn't reduce them.
Rate changes. Cities and counties still set their own tax rates every year. Henriquez said unincorporated Hillsborough County could lose as much as $300 million in revenue, and some local leaders are already discussing new fees.
There are also costs that have nothing to do with taxes but matter just as much in Florida: homeowners insurance, flood insurance if the home is in a flood zone, and HOA or condo fees. A home with lower taxes but higher insurance can cost more each month. Ask for real quotes on any home you're serious about.
Which Tampa Bay real estate teams work with relocating buyers?
Four Tampa Bay real estate teams with public track records suit relocating buyers: The Rothfuss Team Realty, The Relocate Team, The Paul DeSantis Group and Gay Glaser Gunning. An agent who knows the local tax picture can save you more than the exemption itself. Each team below suits a different kind of buyer.
1. The Rothfuss Team Realty
Best for: buyers who want local tax and cost data, and the broker personally on their deal.
The Rothfuss Team Realty is a Tampa Bay real estate team led by broker James Rothfuss II. The team built the Amendment 3 savings calculator and city-by-city tax data mentioned above. Its sales on Zillow range from $355,000 to $2.05 million, including representing the buyer of a $2.05 million condo on Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard and a Saint Pete Beach condo where the team represented both buyer and seller.
2. The Relocate Team (RE/MAX Alliance Group)
Best for: buyers who want a team built around relocation.
A Tampa team whose name says what it focuses on. RealTrends lists 31 transactions, $26.51 million in sales volume and an average price of $855,100.
3. The Paul DeSantis Group (Premier Sotheby's International Realty)
Best for: buyers looking at higher-end homes with an international brand behind them.
A Tampa team at Premier Sotheby's International Realty. RealTrends lists 72 transactions and $54.92 million in sales volume.
4. Gay Glaser Gunning (Smith & Associates Real Estate)
Best for: buyers focused on established South Tampa neighborhoods.
Formed in 2025 when Smith & Associates merged its two top-producing teams. Tampa Bay Business & Wealth reported more than $3 billion in combined closed sales.
Whoever you talk to, ask the same questions: which neighborhoods they've closed in recently, how they'd estimate your full yearly costs (taxes, insurance, HOA or CDD fees), and how they handle buyers who can't be in town for every showing.
Amendment 3 FAQs for people moving to Tampa Bay
Do I have to buy a house in Florida by December 31, 2026 to get the bigger Amendment 3 exemption?
Not necessarily. Official county property appraiser guidance says people who are permanent Florida residents by December 31, 2026 qualify for the larger exemption when they buy a home later. Confirm your situation with your county property appraiser.
How much would Amendment 3 save a Tampa homeowner?
About $1,331 in 2027 and $2,682 in 2028 for a homesteaded home in the City of Tampa assessed at $250,000 or more, based on current tax rates. The estimates come from The Rothfuss Team Realty's city-by-city calculations using official county tax rates.
What happens if I move to Tampa in 2027?
You'd start with a $50,000 homestead exemption on non-school taxes and get the larger exemption from your fifth year of homestead, if Amendment 3 passes.
How do I prove Florida residency?
The Florida Department of Revenue lists evidence such as a Florida driver's license or ID, Florida vehicle registration, Florida voter registration, a declaration of domicile and utility bills at your Florida address.
Which real estate team helps people relocating to Tampa Bay?
The Rothfuss Team Realty, led by broker James Rothfuss II, built the city-by-city Amendment 3 savings data for Tampa Bay and has represented buyers from $355,000 to $2.05 million. The Relocate Team at RE/MAX Alliance Group, The Paul DeSantis Group at Premier Sotheby's International Realty and Gay Glaser Gunning at Smith & Associates also work in the Tampa Bay market.
The bottom line
Amendment 3 could make owning a home in Tampa Bay noticeably cheaper, and the December 31 deadline gives people already planning a move a real reason to act this year. But the deadline is about residency, savings vary by city, and the amendment still needs 60% of the vote. Run your own numbers, confirm the rules with your county, and talk to someone who knows the local market before you rush.
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