Can I rent out my homestead property in Florida and keep the exemption?

What does Florida law say?

Section 196.061 says renting all or substantially all of a dwelling previously claimed as a homestead is an abandonment of the homestead, and the abandonment lasts until the owner physically moves back in. If the abandonment happens after January 1, that year's exemption is not affected unless the property is rented for more than 30 days per calendar year for two consecutive years.

As of the 2026 statutes, the rule does not apply to members of the U.S. Armed Forces or to certain full-time federal diplomatic, intelligence, consular or foreign service officers who are required to live or be stationed outside Florida.[1]

How do Palm Beach and Broward apply the rule?

The two county offices describe the limits a little differently, so read your own county's guidance:

• Palm Beach County: renting 30 days or less per calendar year is allowed; renting more than 30 days but less than six months in one year is allowed, but renting again the next year for more than 30 days costs you the exemption.
• Palm Beach County: the home cannot be rented on January 1, and renting for more than six months is treated as abandonment.
• Broward County: the property appraiser's answer is "generally, no," and it says a rental covering part of two consecutive years (such as a December-to-February lease, or seasonal rentals in back-to-back years) can disqualify the home.
• Both offices allow active-duty members of the Armed Forces to rent their homesteads, and Palm Beach County notes they still cannot claim a residency-based exemption elsewhere.[2][3]

What is at stake if you get it wrong?

You are required to notify the property appraiser when the property no longer qualifies. If an appraiser later finds you received the exemption when you were not entitled to it, Florida law allows a tax lien for up to 10 prior years of exempted taxes, plus a penalty of 50% of the unpaid taxes for each year and 15% interest per year.

Losing homestead also means losing the Save Our Homes savings: once the home becomes non-homestead property, it is assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year it first falls under the 10% non-homestead cap. Before renting, ask the property appraiser how your plan will be treated, and talk with a Florida real estate attorney or CPA about the tax consequences.[2][4][5]