Florida Statutes
Chapter 196 - Exemption
196.199 - Government Property Exemption.


(1) Property owned and used by the following governmental units shall be exempt from taxation under the following conditions:

(a)1. All property of the United States is exempt from ad valorem taxation, except such property as is subject to tax by this state or any political subdivision thereof or any municipality under any law of the United States.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of the exemption from ad valorem taxation provided in subparagraph 1., property of the United States includes any leasehold interest of and improvements affixed to land owned by the United States, any branch of the United States Armed Forces, or any agency or quasi-governmental agency of the United States if the leasehold interest and improvements are acquired or constructed and used pursuant to the federal Military Housing Privatization Initiative of 1996, 10 U.S.C. ss. 2871 et seq. As used in this subparagraph, the term “improvements” includes actual housing units and any facilities that are directly related to such housing units, including any housing maintenance facilities, housing rental and management offices, parks and community centers, and recreational facilities. Any leasehold interest and improvements described in this subparagraph, regardless of whether title is held by the United States, shall be construed as being owned by the United States, the applicable branch of the United States Armed Forces, or the applicable agency or quasi-governmental agency of the United States and are exempt from ad valorem taxation without the necessity of an application for exemption being filed or approved by the property appraiser. This subparagraph does not apply to a transient public lodging establishment as defined in s. 509.013 and does not affect any existing agreement to provide municipal services by a municipality or county.

(b) All property of this state which is used for governmental purposes shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation except as otherwise provided by law.
(c) All property of the several political subdivisions and municipalities of this state or of entities created by general or special law and composed entirely of governmental agencies, or property conveyed to a nonprofit corporation which would revert to the governmental agency, which is used for governmental, municipal, or public purposes shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation, except as otherwise provided by law.
(d) All property of municipalities is exempt from ad valorem taxation if used as an essential ancillary function of a facility constructed with financing obtained in part by pledging proceeds from the tax authorized under s. 212.0305(4) which is upon exempt or immune federal, state, or county property.

(2) Property owned by the following governmental units but used by nongovernmental lessees shall only be exempt from taxation under the following conditions:
(a) Leasehold interests in property of the United States, of the state or any of its several political subdivisions, or of municipalities, agencies, authorities, and other public bodies corporate of the state shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation and the intangible tax pursuant to paragraph (b) only when the lessee serves or performs a governmental, municipal, or public purpose or function, as defined in s. 196.012(6). In all such cases, all other interests in the leased property shall also be exempt from ad valorem taxation. However, a leasehold interest in property of the state may not be exempted from ad valorem taxation when a nongovernmental lessee uses such property for the operation of a multipurpose hazardous waste treatment facility.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), the exemption provided by this subsection shall not apply to those portions of a leasehold or other interest defined by s. 199.023(1)(d), Florida Statutes 2005, subject to the provisions of subsection (7). Such leasehold or other interest shall be taxed only as intangible personal property pursuant to chapter 199, Florida Statutes 2005, if rental payments are due in consideration of such leasehold or other interest. All applicable collection, administration, and enforcement provisions of chapter 199, Florida Statutes 2005, shall apply to taxation of such leaseholds. If no rental payments are due pursuant to the agreement creating such leasehold or other interest, the leasehold or other interest shall be taxed as real property. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to exempt personal property, buildings, or other real property improvements owned by the lessee from ad valorem taxation.
(c) Any governmental property leased to an organization which uses the property exclusively for literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purposes shall be exempt from taxation.

(3) Nothing herein or in s. 196.001 shall require a governmental unit or authority to impose taxes upon a leasehold estate created, extended, or renewed prior to April 15, 1976, if the lease agreement creating such leasehold estate contains a covenant on the part of such governmental unit or authority as lessor to refrain from imposing taxes on the leasehold estate during the term of the leasehold estate; but any such covenant shall not prevent taxation of a leasehold estate by any such taxing unit or authority other than the unit or authority making such covenant.
(4) Property owned by any municipality, agency, authority, or other public body corporate of the state which becomes subject to a leasehold interest or other possessory interest of a nongovernmental lessee other than that described in paragraph (2)(a), after April 14, 1976, shall be subject to ad valorem taxation unless the lessee is an organization which uses the property exclusively for literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purposes.
(5) Leasehold interests in governmental property shall not be exempt pursuant to this subsection unless an application for exemption has been filed on or before March 1 with the property appraiser. The property appraiser shall review the application and make findings of fact which shall be presented to the value adjustment board at its convening, whereupon the board shall take appropriate action regarding the application. If the exemption in whole or in part is granted, or established by judicial proceeding, it shall remain valid for the duration of the lease unless the lessee changes its use, in which case the lessee shall again submit an application for exemption. The requirements set forth in s. 196.194 shall apply to all applications made under this subsection.
(6) No exemption granted before June 1, 1976, shall be revoked by this chapter if such revocation will impair any existing bond agreement.
(7) Property which is originally leased for 100 years or more, exclusive of renewal options, or property which is financed, acquired, or maintained utilizing in whole or in part funds acquired through the issuance of bonds pursuant to parts II, III, and V of chapter 159, shall be deemed to be owned for purposes of this section.

(8)(a) Any and all of the aforesaid taxes on any leasehold described in this section shall not become a lien on same or the property itself but shall constitute a debt due and shall be recoverable by legal action or by the issuance of tax executions that shall become liens upon any other property in any county of this state of the taxpayer who owes said tax. The sheriff of the county shall execute the tax execution in the same manner as other executions are executed under chapters 30 and 56.
(b) Nonpayment of any such taxes by the lessee shall result in the revocation of any occupational license of such person or the revocation, upon certification hereunder by the property appraiser to the Department of State, of the corporate charter of any such domestic corporation or the revocation, upon certification hereunder by the property appraiser to the Department of State, of the authority of any foreign corporation to do business in this state, as appropriate, which such license, charter, or authority is related to the leased property.

(9) Improvements to real property which are located on state-owned land and which are leased to a public educational institution shall be deemed owned by the public educational institution for purposes of this section where, by the terms of the lease, the improvement will become the property of the public educational institution or the State of Florida at the expiration of the lease.
(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, property held by a port authority and any leasehold interest in such property are exempt from ad valorem taxation to the same extent that county property is immune from taxation, provided such property is located in a county described in s. 9, Art. VIII of the State Constitution (1885), as restated in s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution (1968).
History.—s. 11, ch. 71-133; s. 1, ch. 76-283; s. 1, ch. 77-174; ss. 1, 2, ch. 80-368; s. 4, ch. 82-388; s. 13, ch. 83-215; s. 30, ch. 85-342; s. 1, ch. 86-141; s. 61, ch. 86-152; s. 81, ch. 88-130; s. 47, ch. 91-45; s. 160, ch. 91-112; s. 1, ch. 96-288; s. 1, ch. 96-323; s. 9, ch. 2006-312; s. 1, ch. 2012-32; s. 26, ch. 2012-193; s. 1, ch. 2015-80.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XIV - Taxation and Finance

Chapter 196 - Exemption

196.001 - Property Subject to Taxation.

196.002 - Legislative Intent.

196.011 - Annual Application Required for Exemption.

196.012 - Definitions.

196.015 - Permanent Residency; Factual Determination by Property Appraiser.

196.021 - Tax Returns to Show All Exemptions and Claims.

196.031 - Exemption of Homesteads.

196.041 - Extent of Homestead Exemptions.

196.061 - Rental of Homestead to Constitute Abandonment.

196.071 - Homestead Exemptions; Claims by Members of Armed Forces.

196.075 - Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older.

196.077 - Additional Homestead Exemption for Classroom Teachers, Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Child Welfare Professionals, and Servicemembers.

196.081 - Exemption for Certain Permanently and Totally Disabled Veterans and for Surviving Spouses of Veterans; Exemption for Surviving Spouses of First Responders Who Die in the Line of Duty.

196.082 - Discounts for Disabled Veterans; Surviving Spouse Carryover.

196.091 - Exemption for Disabled Veterans Confined to Wheelchairs.

196.095 - Exemption for a Licensed Child Care Facility Operating in an Enterprise Zone.

196.101 - Exemption for Totally and Permanently Disabled Persons.

196.102 - Exemption for Certain Totally and Permanently Disabled First Responders; Surviving Spouse Carryover.

196.111 - Property Appraisers May Notify Persons Entitled to Homestead Exemption; Publication of Notice; Costs.

196.121 - Homestead Exemptions; Forms.

196.131 - Homestead Exemptions; Claims.

196.141 - Homestead Exemptions; Duty of Property Appraiser.

196.151 - Homestead Exemptions; Approval, Refusal, Hearings.

196.161 - Homestead Exemptions; Lien Imposed on Property of Person Claiming Exemption Although Not a Permanent Resident.

196.171 - Homestead Exemptions; City Officials.

196.173 - Exemption for Deployed Servicemembers.

196.181 - Exemption of Household Goods and Personal Effects.

196.182 - Exemption of Renewable Energy Source Devices.

196.183 - Exemption for Tangible Personal Property.

196.185 - Exemption of Inventory.

196.192 - Exemptions From Ad Valorem Taxation.

196.193 - Exemption Applications; Review by Property Appraiser.

196.194 - Value Adjustment Board; Notice; Hearings; Appearance Before the Board.

196.195 - Determining Profit or Nonprofit Status of Applicant.

196.196 - Determining Whether Property Is Entitled to Charitable, Religious, Scientific, or Literary Exemption.

196.1961 - Exemption for Historic Property Used for Certain Commercial or Nonprofit Purposes.

196.197 - Additional Provisions for Exempting Property Used by Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Homes for Special Services.

196.1975 - Exemption for Property Used by Nonprofit Homes for the Aged.

196.1976 - Provisions of Ss. 196.197(1) or (2) and 196.1975; Severability.

196.1977 - Exemption for Property Used by Proprietary Continuing Care Facilities.

196.1978 - Affordable Housing Property Exemption.

196.198 - Educational Property Exemption.

196.1983 - Charter School Exemption From Ad Valorem Taxes.

196.1985 - Labor Organization Property Exemption.

196.1986 - Community Centers Exemption.

196.1987 - Biblical History Display Property Exemption.

196.199 - Government Property Exemption.

196.1993 - Certain Agreements With Local Governments for Use of Public Property; Exemption.

196.1995 - Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption.

196.1996 - Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption; Effect of Ch. 94-136.

196.1997 - Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions for Historic Properties.

196.1998 - Additional Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions for Historic Properties Open to the Public.

196.1999 - Space Laboratories and Carriers; Exemption.

196.2001 - Not-for-Profit Sewer and Water Company Property Exemption.

196.2002 - Exemption for S. 501(c)(12) Not-for-Profit Water and Wastewater Systems.

196.202 - Property of Widows, Widowers, Blind Persons, and Persons Totally and Permanently Disabled.

196.24 - Exemption for Disabled Ex-Servicemember or Surviving Spouse; Evidence of Disability.

196.26 - Exemption for Real Property Dedicated in Perpetuity for Conservation Purposes.

196.28 - Cancellation of Delinquent Taxes Upon Lands Used for Road Purposes, Etc.

196.29 - Cancellation of Certain Taxes on Real Property Acquired by a County, School Board, Charter School Governing Board, or Community College District Board of Trustees.

196.295 - Property Transferred to Exempt Governmental Unit; Tax Payment Into Escrow; Taxes Due From Prior Years.

196.31 - Taxes Against State Properties; Notice.

196.32 - Executive Office of the Governor; Consent Required to Certain Assessments.