Can You Get a Property Tax Exemption for Renovating a Historic Orlando Home? (2026)
Quick answer
Yes, if you qualify. As of November 2026, Orlando offers a 10-year exemption on 100% of the assessed-value increase from a qualifying rehab, but only on the city’s share of the tax. Meet the Historic Preservation Officer before you pull permits.
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Program length in Orlando | 10 years |
| What can be exempt | 100% of the increase in assessed value from a qualifying rehabilitation |
| Taxes the city program reduces | The City of Orlando’s share of ad valorem tax only |
| Who sets the dollar amount | Orange County Property Appraiser |
| Who may apply | Local historic landmarks and properties that contribute to a local historic district |
| When to apply | Before building permits; the city says the exemption cannot be applied to in-progress or completed projects |
| City review after you apply | The city says it will notify you within 10 days if you are approved to move forward |
| Eligibility meeting | Historic Preservation Office, 407.246.3416 |
Sources: Florida Department of State, Property Tax Exemption for Historic Properties (s. 196.1997; checked Nov 10, 2026); City of Orlando Historic Preservation Property Tax Exemption page (checked Nov 10, 2026); City of Orlando Council agenda item for 716 E Pine Street (meeting date Dec 8, 2025; checked Nov 10, 2026).
What does Florida law allow?
Section 196.1997 of the Florida Statutes lets a county or city adopt an ordinance that exempts up to 100% of the assessed value of improvements that come from restoring, renovating or rehabilitating a historic property. The Florida Department of State says the exemption may last up to 10 years, and that it applies only to the portion of the tax levied by the government that granted it. School district and other levies are not included unless those governments have adopted their own ordinance.
A property can qualify if it is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a contributing building in a National Register district, or is designated as historic under a local preservation ordinance. The work has to follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. A covenant is required for the term of the exemption.
How does the City of Orlando program work?
Orlando has adopted the program. The city’s application page says it provides a 10-year exemption for qualifying owners who renovate historic landmarks or contributing property in historic districts. A December 8, 2025, City Council agenda item states the exemption more precisely: the owner is exempt from the portion of ad valorem taxation levied by the City of Orlando on 100% of the increase in assessed value that results from the qualifying improvement, for 10 years, if the owner keeps a recorded covenant to maintain the property’s historic character.
The amount of the exemption is determined by the Orange County Property Appraiser after the usual post-rehab appraisal. Not every renovation qualifies. Interior work, routine repairs or changes that do not meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards may be left out. The exemption does not erase the existing assessed value, and it does not, by itself, reduce school or county taxes.
Who qualifies, and when do you have to apply?
The city limits the program to local historic landmarks and to properties that contribute to the historic context of a historic district. Non-contributing buildings in a district, and homes that are simply old, are not eligible just because of their age. Use the city’s historic district and landmark lists, or the city’s locator map, to check the property first.
Timing is strict. The city says you must call the Historic Preservation Office at 407.246.3416 and meet to determine eligibility before you apply to the Historic Preservation Board or secure building permits. The tax exemption cannot be applied to in-progress or completed projects. After you submit the application to cityplanning@orlando.gov, the city says it will notify you within 10 days if you have been approved and can move forward with the work.
How does this relate to a Certificate of Appropriateness?
They are separate steps. A Certificate of Appropriateness is the city’s review of visible work on a designated landmark or a property in a local historic district. The tax exemption is an optional incentive after a qualifying rehab. You may need a certificate, and ordinary building permits, even if you never apply for the tax break.
If you want both, start with the Historic Preservation Officer before design work is finished. The exemption is tied to work that meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and the city will not add a project that has already started or already finished. For the certificate process, fees and what counts as major or minor review, see our Certificate of Appropriateness guide.
Have questions about buying or selling here? Call or text 407-706-5000 or visit jaredjones.com.
Jared Jones Team, Brokered by eXp Realty.
Frequently asked questions
Does the exemption wipe out my entire Orlando property tax bill for 10 years?
No. The city’s program exempts the city’s share of tax on 100% of the increase in assessed value that comes from a qualifying rehabilitation. It does not exempt the value the home already had, and it does not automatically reduce school district or county taxes. The Orange County Property Appraiser sets the dollar amount after the usual post-rehab appraisal.
Can I apply after the renovation is already under way?
No. The City of Orlando says you must meet with the Historic Preservation Officer to determine eligibility before you apply for Historic Preservation Board approval or secure building permits, and that the tax exemption cannot be applied to in-progress or completed projects. Call 407.246.3416 to set up that meeting first.
Does a National Register listing automatically qualify me?
Florida law allows National Register properties, contributing buildings in a National Register district and locally designated historic properties to qualify if a local government has adopted the exemption. The City of Orlando’s own instructions are narrower on the application page: only local historic landmarks and properties that contribute to a local historic district may be considered. Confirm your status with the Historic Preservation Officer before you apply.
Do I still need a Certificate of Appropriateness?
Often, yes, if the property is a local landmark or is in a local historic district and the work is visible from the exterior. The certificate is the city’s design review. The tax exemption is a separate incentive. Completing a qualifying rehab without the required certificate can also create problems for permits and for the covenant the exemption requires.
Is the exemption available in unincorporated Orange County?
Section 196.1997 lets either a county or a city adopt the exemption, and it applies only to taxes levied by the government that granted it. This page describes the City of Orlando program. If the home is outside the city, or you want to know whether any county exemption applies, ask the Orange County Property Appraiser and the county’s historic preservation staff before you start work.
What standards does the rehabilitation have to meet?
The work must be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which is the test in s. 196.1997 and in the Florida Department of State’s program summary. The city also requires a recorded covenant to maintain the historic character of the property and the qualifying improvements for the 10-year exemption period. Not every renovation will meet that test.
Sources
- Florida Statutes s. 196.1997 (2026): Ad valorem tax exemptions for historic properties (counties and cities may exempt up to 100% of the assessed value of qualifying improvements; applies only to taxes of the granting government; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources: Property Tax Exemption for Historic Properties (exemption may last up to 10 years; Secretary of the Interior’s Standards; covenant required; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- City of Orlando: Apply for a Historic Preservation Property Tax Exemption (10-year city program; amount set by the Orange County Property Appraiser; meet the Historic Preservation Officer before permits; cannot apply to in-progress or completed work; 10-day notice; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- City of Orlando Council agenda item, Historic Preservation Property Tax Exemption for 716 E Pine Street (meeting date Dec 8, 2025; city tax on 100% of the increase in assessed value for 10 years, with a recorded covenant; checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Jared Jones – Orlando Living (YouTube): Orlando’s Old Neighborhoods: What It’s Like to Live Here (published Nov 3, 2026)
Related guides
- Winter Garden & Horizon West Real Estate (2026): Buy, Sell and Invest Hub
- Do You Need a Certificate of Appropriateness to Renovate a Historic Orlando Home? (2026)
- What Is It Like to Live in Orlando’s Historic Neighborhoods? College Park, Lake Cherokee and Lake Eola Heights (2026)
- How Do You File for Homestead Exemption in Orange County, Florida? (2026)
- Winter Garden Property Taxes Explained: Millage, Homestead, Save Our Homes and Portability (2026)