Florida Amendment 3 Passed: What It Means for Brevard County Homeowners and Buyers

Amendment 3 is the biggest change to Florida property taxes in years, and it touches buyers, sellers, homeowners, second home owners and investors differently. Here is what the official amendment text says, what it does not say, and what to check before you buy or sell on the Space Coast.

What did Florida Amendment 3 change?

According to the Florida Division of Elections amendment text and the official ballot summary, Amendment 3 does four main things:

• Raises the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments after that.
• Lowers the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, beginning January 1, 2027.
• Gives people who are not Florida residents on December 31, 2026 the existing homestead exemption when they qualify, with the increased exemption starting in their fifth year of exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution.
• Requires counties and cities to use property taxes for listed purposes such as public safety, schools, infrastructure, natural resources, debt service, employee retirement benefits, and operations.

The amendment takes effect January 1, 2027. The state's Florida Election Watch results page shows it passed with about 62% of the vote, above the 60% Florida requires.

How does the homestead exemption work today?

Today the Florida homestead exemption has two parts. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school taxes. The second part applies only to non-school taxes on assessed value above $50,000, and it is adjusted for inflation. The Florida Department of Revenue lists that second part at $26,411 for 2026, for a total of up to $51,411. As NBC 6 South Florida reported, Amendment 3 changes the non-school part, and the portion that applies to school taxes does not change.

Year	Homestead exemption for non-school taxes	School taxes
2026	Up to $51,411 (current law)	First $25,000 only
2027	$150,000	Not changed by Amendment 3
2028	$250,000, then adjusted for inflation	Not changed by Amendment 3

The exact way each year's exemption is applied to a specific levy will come from the Legislature and the Brevard County Property Appraiser. Please do not turn these figures into a fixed dollar saving for any home without a parcel specific estimate.

What does Amendment 3 mean for people moving to Brevard County?

Timing matters. Under the amendment text, a person who is not a Florida resident on December 31, 2026 receives the existing homestead exemption when they first qualify, and the increased exemption begins with their fifth year of exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution. If you are relocating to the Space Coast, including military families on PCS orders to Patrick Space Force Base, ask the Property Appraiser how your residency date and filing date apply to you. Homestead still requires that the home be your permanent residence on January 1 and that you file by the county deadline.

What does it mean for second homes, rentals and investment property?

Non-homestead property does not get the homestead exemption, before or after Amendment 3. What changes is the cap. The amendment text says assessments on non-homestead residential property with nine units or fewer can rise no more than 10% a year before January 1, 2027, and no more than 5% a year beginning January 1, 2027, for non-school levies. The cap still resets after a change of ownership or control, so a buyer should not assume the seller's assessed value carries over.

Will my Brevard County tax bill go down?

Nobody can promise that. Your bill depends on your assessed value, your exemptions, the millage rates set by each taxing authority, and non-ad valorem charges like stormwater and solid waste that are not affected by exemptions. Local governments may also adjust budgets and rates in response to the change. The honest answer is to wait for the Property Appraiser's guidance and your TRIM notice, and to budget with a parcel specific estimate.

What should buyers and sellers do now?

• Buyers: Do not budget from the seller's current tax bill. It reflects their exemptions and Save Our Homes history. Ask your lender to estimate escrow on your own expected assessed value, and look up the parcel on the Brevard County Property Appraiser site.
• Relocating buyers: Note your Florida residency date and keep records. Ask the Property Appraiser how the December 31, 2026 date applies to your situation.
• Sellers: Buyers will be asking about Amendment 3. A clear, sourced answer about how exemptions work, without promises, helps keep a deal on track.
• Homestead owners already filed: Watch for official notices from the Property Appraiser about 2027 and confirm your exemption is on your parcel record.
• Investors and second home owners: Factor the 5% cap into long term holding cost estimates, while remembering it resets at sale.

Questions about how this fits a specific home or move? Call or text Carrie at 256-479-2800. She can walk you through what the sources say, and you can make your own call with the Property Appraiser's numbers in hand.

Frequently asked questions

When does Florida Amendment 3 take effect?

The amendment takes effect January 1, 2027. The non-school homestead exemption is $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and the 5% non-homestead cap begins January 1, 2027.

Does Amendment 3 change school property taxes?

No. The increased exemption applies to non-school taxes. The first $25,000 exemption that applies to school taxes is not changed by Amendment 3.

I am moving to Florida in 2027. Do I get the higher exemption?

Under the amendment text, people who are not Florida residents on December 31, 2026 receive the existing homestead exemption when they qualify, and the increased exemption starts with their fifth year of exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution. Confirm your situation with the Brevard County Property Appraiser.

Does Amendment 3 help investment property owners?

Investment and second home properties do not get the homestead exemption. Beginning January 1, 2027, annual assessment increases on non-homestead residential property with nine units or fewer are capped at 5% instead of 10% for non-school levies. The cap resets after a change of ownership.

Where can I check my Brevard County exemptions?

Look up your parcel and exemption status on the Brevard County Property Appraiser website at bcpao.us, or contact that office directly.

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections amendment text, No. 3 Constitutional Amendment, ballot summary and full text
• Florida Department of State, Constitutional Initiatives, Amendment 3 (HJR 1F) ballot summary
• Florida Election Watch, Amendment 3 statewide results
• Florida Department of Revenue, homestead exemption inflation adjustment
• NBC 6 South Florida, "Florida Amendment 3 passes. What the result means for homeowners," November 3, 2026