At a glance
- Who
- Florida homeowners whose assessed value falls under section 193.155.
- What
- The cap limits yearly increases to the lower of 3 percent or the CPI change. New improvements are valued at just value from the January 1 after they are substantially complete.
- When
- The January 1 after the work is substantially completed.
- Where
- Your county property appraiser sets the value. In Manatee County, see manateepao.gov.
- Why
- It helps you plan for a possible higher assessment after a larger project.
The short answer
A remodel that adds to your home can raise what the property appraiser values it at. Florida Statutes section 193.155(1) caps yearly assessment increases at the lower of 3 percent of the prior year's assessed value or the change in the Consumer Price Index. But section 193.155(4)(a) says changes, additions or improvements are valued at just value starting the January 1 after they are substantially completed.
Just value means market value. So the cap does not hide the value of new work. The new work is valued on its own terms from that January 1.
What the two rules do together
Think of it in two parts.
- The cap. It limits how fast the assessed value of what you already had can rise each year.
- The improvement rule. It says the changes you made are valued at just value from the January 1 after the work is substantially completed.
The Manatee County Property Appraiser describes Save Our Homes as the accumulated difference between your assessed value and your just (market) value. That gap is what the cap builds up over time.
Planning a remodel and thinking about taxes?
Leave your name and number. We call back by the next business day to set up a free in-home visit and a written estimate.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text (941) 284-2218.
What "substantially completed" means for you
The statute ties the change to the January 1 after substantial completion. That means the timing of your project can matter. Work that is substantially done in November is looked at on the next January 1. Work finished in February is looked at on the January 1 after that.
We cannot tell you how your property appraiser decides when a project is substantially complete, or how the office learns about it. Those are good questions to ask the office. In Manatee County, start at manateepao.gov.
What we could not confirm
Do not assume that a hurricane-hardening project is left out of the added value. We looked for such an exemption in the 2026 Florida Statutes and did not find one. We also did not find a page on the Manatee County Property Appraiser's website that explains how improvements or building permits affect assessed value.
We did not find a rule that excludes storm-hardening work from the new value. Ask your property appraiser before you count on one.
We also did not read how any particular remodel, such as a bath or a kitchen, is valued. That is the appraiser's call, based on what they see.
Questions to ask your property appraiser
- How does your office learn about completed work: through permits, inspections or reports?
- When does a project count as substantially complete?
- How is the value of a bath, a kitchen or an addition set?
- Does anything about my project, such as storm protection, change how it is valued?
Write down the answers and the date you asked. Then fold them into your budget. See how to budget for a remodel.
Keep your records
Keep a folder for the project: the signed contract, the permit, the inspection records, the final invoice and the dates the work started and ended. If your assessment changes after a project, those papers help you ask the property appraiser a clear question.
If you disagree with a value, ask the office what your options are. We have not confirmed the steps for any county.
How this fits in your budget
Plan for the cost of the remodel first. Then ask what a higher assessment could mean each year, once the project is substantially complete. We cannot give you that number. The appraiser's office and your tax bill can. Our guide to remodel or move helps you weigh the choice as a whole.
How Hildebrand fits in
We do not set taxes and cannot predict your assessment. What we do is give you a written estimate after a free in-home visit, so the cost of the work is clear before you decide. We pull the required permits and meet Florida Building Code inspections. One licensed contractor, Florida Certified Building Contractor license CBC1257253, runs the whole job.
This page is plain-language information, not legal or tax advice. For your own parcel, ask your property appraiser. If you plan a project, see whole-home renovations or contact us, or call (941) 284-2218.
Questions homeowners ask
Do home improvements raise property taxes in Florida?
They can. Under Florida Statutes 193.155(4)(a), improvements are valued at just value starting the January 1 after they are substantially completed.
What is the 3 percent cap?
Section 193.155(1) caps annual assessment increases at the lower of 3 percent of the prior year's assessed value or the change in the Consumer Price Index.
Is a hurricane upgrade exempt from the added value?
We did not find such an exemption in the 2026 Florida Statutes, so we cannot say it is. Ask your property appraiser.
Who decides what my remodel is worth for taxes?
Your county property appraiser. In Manatee County, start at manateepao.gov.
Know the cost of your project before you decide
Free in-home consultation and written estimate from a Florida licensed contractor serving Manatee County, Sarasota County and south Hillsborough.