If you install a solar system for your Florida home, your property taxes won’t increase. Back in 2006 I wrote an article about changing our system of increasing property taxes every time you pulled a permit for home improvements. This legislation achieves the same result but only for solar or renewable energy projects, and is basically an update from prior legislation that was expiring.
Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption
The 2008 Florida Statutes
Title XIV
TAXATION AND FINANCE
Chapter 196
EXEMPTION
View Entire Chapter
196.175 Renewable energy source exemption.–
(1) Improved real property upon which a renewable energy source device is installed and operated shall be entitled to an exemption in the amount of the original cost of the device, including the installation cost thereof, but excluding the cost of replacing previously existing property removed or improved in the course of such installation.
(2) The exempt amount authorized under subsection (1) shall apply in full if the device was installed and operative throughout the 12-month period preceding January 1 of the year of application for this exemption. If the device was operative for a portion of that period, the exempt amount authorized under this section shall be reduced proportionally.
(3) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant for an exemption pursuant to this section to demonstrate affirmatively to the satisfaction of the property appraiser that he or she meets the requirements for exemption under this section and that the original cost and the period for which the device was operative, as indicated on the exemption application, are correct.
(4) No exemption authorized pursuant to this section shall be granted for a period of more than 10 years. No exemption shall be granted with respect to renewable energy source devices installed before January 1, 2009.