Elder Living Quarters Temporary Assessment Abeyance
Per Florida Statute 193.703 and St. Johns County Ordinance 2005-123 a reduction in the assessed value of homestead property which results from the construction or reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing living quarters for parents or grandparents of the owner of the property if at least one of the parents/grandparents for whom the living quarters are provided is at least 62 years of age. Technically, this provision is actually a “classification” of property rather than an “exemption.”
You and your property must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for the classification:
1. The property owner(s) filing must have already established homestead exemption on the property at the time of substantial completion of the addition or renovation.
2. The construction must be completed after the date set forth in the county ordinance (1/1/05) and prior to January 1st of the year for which the owner is applying.
3. The addition or renovation must be fully allowable under county zoning and appropriately permitted.
4. The addition must be to house natural or adoptive parents or grandparents (of the homestead exemption recipients) who have achieved the age of 62 by January 1st of the year of completion.
5. Qualified addition residents must not claim any other benefits requiring a declaration of permanent residency at any other property in any other County or State.
6. Application must be made in the Property Appraiser’s office annually by March 1st. The application process will require sufficient proofs of residency and age of the elderly occupants as well as all permitting data.
Please contact the Property Appraiser’s Office for more details if you think you may be eligible.
If I qualify, how does it work?
The just value of the addition or renovation will be determined in the first year by the Property Appraiser. That value will be added to both market and assessed [Amendment 10 (SOH)] values in that year (just like all other properties). The amount of the addition becomes the “exemption” amount unless it exceeds 20% of the assessed value (including addition). If it exceeds 20% of the new assessed value, the 20% value will be used as the exemption amount.
At the end of its use as a granny flat, the “exemption” will be removed.
***IMPORTANT WARNING***IMPORTANT WARNING***
For any person found to be fraudulently claiming the classification, F.S.193.703 (5) states that the reduction shall be revoked and the owner is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 and be disqualified from claiming the reduction for a period of 5 years.
Per F.S.196.131(2), “Any person who knowingly and willfully gives false information for the purpose of claiming homestead exemption as provided for in this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by fine not exceeding $5,000, or both." Additionally, per F.S.196.161, if the Property Appraiser learns that for any year or years within the prior 10 years a person not entitled to the exemption was granted it, the Property Appraiser shall place a notice of tax lien in the public records of the county for the property and the lien shall be for the taxes incorrectly exempted plus a penalty of 50 percent of the unpaid taxes for each year and 15 percent interest per annum.