How Property Tax Works in Davie, Florida

If you own — or plan to buy — a home in Davie, understanding property taxes is one of the most important financial steps you can take. Florida has no state income tax, which means local governments rely heavily on property tax revenue to fund schools, roads, fire rescue, and municipal services.

In Davie, the effective property tax rate is approximately 1.1% of assessed value. That figure is not a single tax — it is the combined result of several independent taxing authorities, each setting their own millage rate every year. The Broward County Property Appraiser (BCPA), currently led by Marty Kiar, determines your property’s assessed value. From there, each taxing authority applies its millage rate to calculate what you owe.

Because assessed value and millage rates can shift year to year, your tax bill is never truly fixed — but Florida offers powerful tools like Homestead Exemption and the Save Our Homes cap to help keep costs predictable.

Understanding Your Davie Tax Bill: Millage Rate Breakdown

Your annual tax bill is the sum of charges from multiple taxing authorities. Each one sets a “millage rate” — the amount of tax per $1,000 of taxable value. Here is a simplified breakdown of the major components on a typical Davie property tax bill:

• Town of Davie — Funds municipal services including police, parks, and public works.
• Broward County — Covers county-wide services such as libraries, transit, and health programs.
• Broward County School Board — The single largest component on most tax bills, funding public education.
• Special Districts — Includes South Broward Drainage District, Children’s Services Council, and other regional authorities.

When combined, these millage rates produce the effective rate of roughly 1.1%. On a home with an assessed value of $500,000 and no exemptions, that translates to approximately $5,500 per year. On a $1,000,000 home with Homestead Exemption applied, annual taxes typically fall in the $11,000 – $13,000 range, depending on the gap between market value and assessed value.

You can look up your exact parcel details using the BCPA Interactive Parcel Map.

Homestead Exemption Explained

Florida’s Homestead Exemption is one of the most valuable tax benefits available to homeowners. If you use your Davie property as your primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year, you may qualify for up to $50,000 off your property’s assessed value.

The exemption is split into two parts:

• First $25,000 — Applies to all taxing authorities, including the School Board.
• Second $25,000 — Applies to assessed values between $50,000 and $75,000, and covers all taxing authorities except the School Board.

For most Davie homeowners, this exemption saves roughly $750 – $1,000 per year in property taxes. It also unlocks the Save Our Homes assessment cap, which provides even greater long-term savings.

How to File for Homestead Exemption in Davie

Filing is straightforward, but there is a firm deadline:

1. Establish residency. You must own the property and use it as your permanent residence as of January 1.
2. Gather documents. You will need a Florida driver’s license or ID (with the Davie address), a Florida vehicle registration, and a recorded deed or tax bill showing ownership.
3. File with the BCPA. Applications can be submitted online through the Broward County Property Appraiser’s website or in person at their office in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
4. Meet the deadline. You must file by March 1 of the tax year. Late filings may still be accepted through a petition process, but there are no guarantees.

Once approved, your Homestead Exemption renews automatically each year — you do not need to refile unless you move or change ownership.

The Save Our Homes Cap: Long-Term Tax Protection

Once you have Homestead Exemption in place, Florida’s Save Our Homes (SOH) amendment limits how much your assessed value can increase each year. The cap is the lesser of:

• 3%, or
• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for that year

This is enormously valuable in a market like Davie, where home values have appreciated significantly. Without Save Our Homes, a property that doubled in market value would see its tax bill double as well. With the cap, your assessed value rises gradually — creating a growing gap between what the county says your home is “worth” and what they actually tax you on.

Over time, this benefit compounds. A homeowner who has lived in their Davie home for 10 or more years could have an assessed value that is hundreds of thousands of dollars below market value — translating to thousands in annual tax savings.

Portability: Take Your Tax Savings When You Move

One of the most overlooked benefits in Florida real estate is portability. If you sell your Homesteaded property and buy another home anywhere in Florida, you can transfer your Save Our Homes benefit to the new property.

Here is how it works:

• The “portability” amount is the difference between your old home’s market value and its assessed value at the time of sale.
• You can port up to $500,000 of that differential to your new home.
• If you are moving to a more expensive home, the full differential transfers. If you are downsizing, a proportional amount transfers.
• You must file for portability within 3 tax years of giving up your old Homestead.

For long-time Davie homeowners who are upgrading to a larger property in neighborhoods like Ivanhoe Estates, Flamingo Gardens, or Rolling Hills, portability can save thousands per year on the new home’s tax bill.

Additional Exemptions Available in Davie

Beyond the standard Homestead Exemption, Florida offers additional property tax relief for qualifying residents:

• Senior Exemption — Homeowners age 65 and older with household income below a certain threshold may qualify for an additional $50,000 exemption. This is subject to annual income verification.
• Veteran Exemption — Veterans with a service-connected disability may receive a partial or full property tax exemption, depending on the disability rating. Veterans with a 100% permanent and total disability rating may qualify for a complete exemption.
• Disability Exemption — Residents who are permanently and totally disabled may qualify for additional exemptions regardless of veteran status.
• Widow/Widower Exemption — A $500 exemption for qualifying surviving spouses.

All additional exemptions must be filed through the Broward County Property Appraiser. Documentation requirements vary by exemption type.

How Property Taxes Affect Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

If you are buying a home in Davie with a mortgage, your property taxes will almost certainly be rolled into your monthly payment through an escrow account. The lender collects one-twelfth of your estimated annual tax bill each month, then pays the county on your behalf when taxes come due in November.

This means your monthly housing cost is not just principal and interest — it includes taxes and insurance (often called PITI). For a Davie home assessed at $500,000 with Homestead, expect roughly $400 – $500 per month in the escrow portion for property taxes alone.

First-time buyers are often caught off guard by escrow adjustments. If the county reassesses your property at a higher value, your escrow payment increases — sometimes by several hundred dollars per month. Understanding how Homestead and Save Our Homes limit those increases is essential for long-term budgeting.

For a full breakdown of real estate terminology, visit our Davie Real Estate Glossary.