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Lee County · FL

Property taxes in Fort Myers Beach

By Mariela Lovo Ol, REALTOR® · Updated

Property taxes in Fort Myers Beach are set by the Town, Lee County, the school board and special districts. The Lee County Tax Collector bills them once a year. Rebuilding after Ian can also change a home's assessed value.

How is a Fort Myers Beach property tax bill built?

The Lee County Property Appraiser sets the value as of January 1 and applies exemptions and caps. The taxing authorities set the millage rates. They include the Town of Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, the school board, the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District and other special districts. The Property Appraiser does not set your tax amount.

Before rates are final, the Property Appraiser mails a TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice. It shows the proposed value, exemptions and proposed taxes. It also lists the dates of budget hearings. That is the time to question a value or speak at a hearing.

How does the homestead exemption work?

If the home is your permanent residence on January 1, file for homestead with the Lee County Property Appraiser by March 1. The first $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from all property taxes. For tax year 2026, up to $26,411 more is exempt from non-school taxes. That part applies to value above $50,000.

After that, the Save Our Homes cap limits yearly increases in assessed value to 3%. Other exemptions exist for seniors with limited income, widows and widowers, and people with disabilities.

Can I bring my Save Our Homes benefit from another Florida home?

Yes, through portability. You can transfer up to $500,000 of the Save Our Homes benefit to a new Florida homestead if you establish it within three years of leaving the old one. File form DR-501T with your homestead application.

What if the Fort Myers Beach home is not my primary residence?

Second homes, rentals and vacant lots do not get homestead. Most non-homestead property gets a 10% cap on yearly assessed-value increases. It is applied automatically. But the cap does not apply to school board levies.

A sale resets the value. When ownership changes before January 1, the prior owner's Save Our Homes or 10% cap benefit is removed. The assessed value resets to market value. Do not budget from the seller's tax bill.

How does rebuilding affect my Fort Myers Beach tax bill?

New construction or improvements that were not assessed before can raise the market and assessed values. A home rebuilt or elevated after Ian may carry a very different value than its storm-damaged neighbor. Ask the Property Appraiser how recent work is reflected before you estimate taxes.

If you plan to rent, the Town's vacation rental registration asks owners to follow state licensing and tax registration rules as well.

When are Fort Myers Beach property taxes due?

Bills go out in November and are due by March 31. Paying early earns a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February.

A proposed constitutional amendment, HJR 1-F, is on the November 2026 ballot. If voters approve it, the homestead exemption for non-school levies would rise. It would be $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with a different amount for new residents. Check the final result before you budget.

Compare the full budget on the Fort Myers Beach cost of living page, and estimate a payment with the mortgage calculator.

Common questions

When is the homestead deadline in Fort Myers Beach?

File with the Lee County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year you qualify. You must own and live in the home as your permanent residence on January 1 of that year.

Why will my taxes be higher than the seller's?

A sale resets the assessed value to market value on the next January 1. That removes the seller's Save Our Homes or 10% cap benefit. Estimate taxes from the purchase price and current rates, not the seller's bill.

Is there a discount for paying Fort Myers Beach property taxes early?

Yes. The Lee County Tax Collector gives 4% off in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. The full amount is due by March 31.

What is on the November 2026 ballot about property taxes?

HJR 1-F would raise the homestead exemption on non-school levies to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It would also lower the yearly assessment cap on non-residential property from 10% to 5%. It needs voter approval to take effect.

Sources

  1. QuickFacts: Fort Myers Beach town, Florida, U.S. Census Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  2. About Fort Myers Beach, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  3. Short Term Rentals, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  4. Utilities, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  5. Flood Information, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  6. Frequently Asked Questions about FEMA's 50% Rule (Building Services, Feb. 2023), Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  7. Building Services & Permitting Services, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  8. FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (CRS timeline and letters), Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  9. PSA: New Hurricane Season Passes Required (April 2, 2026), Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  10. Town of Fort Myers Beach Recovery and Resilience Plan, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  11. Mound House, Town of Fort Myers Beach / Mound House (read 2026-09-24)
  12. Lynn Hall Memorial Park, Lee County Parks & Recreation (read 2026-09-24)
  13. Bowditch Point Park, Lee County Parks & Recreation (read 2026-09-24)
  14. Matanzas Pass Preserve, Lee County Parks & Recreation (read 2026-09-24)
  15. Lovers Key State Park, Florida State Parks (read 2026-09-24)
  16. Big Carlos Pass Bridge Replacement Project, Lee County DOT project site (read 2026-09-24)
  17. LeeTran Maps & Schedules, Lee County (LeeTran) (read 2026-09-24)
  18. Evacuation, Lee County Public Safety (read 2026-09-24)
  19. General Exemption Information, Lee County Property Appraiser (read 2026-09-24)
  20. Student Enrollment Plan 2026-2027, School District of Lee County (read 2026-09-24)
  21. Florida Statutes 509.032 (vacation rentals), Florida Legislature (read 2026-09-24)
  22. Disaster and Flood Related Frequently Asked Questions (NFIP waiting period and limits), Village of Estero (read 2026-09-24)
  23. About LCEC (service area), LCEC (read 2026-09-24)
  24. Times Square, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  25. Bay Oaks Park, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  26. Newton Beach Park, Town of Fort Myers Beach (read 2026-09-24)
  27. Sales and Use Tax, Florida Department of Revenue (read 2026-09-24)
  28. Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026 (DR-15DSS), Florida Department of Revenue (read 2026-09-24)
  29. Do I have to file a personal income tax return in Florida?, Florida Department of Revenue (read 2026-09-24)
  30. Real Estate Property Taxes, Lee County Tax Collector (read 2026-09-24)
  31. General Exemption Information, Lee County Property Appraiser (read 2026-09-24)
  32. Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference (Portability), Lee County Property Appraiser (read 2026-09-24)
  33. 10% Assessment Limitation Frequently Asked Questions, Lee County Property Appraiser (read 2026-09-24)
  34. TRIM Information (six factors that increase taxes; ownership change resets caps), Lee County Property Appraiser (read 2026-09-24)
  35. Senate Passes Historic $250,000 Property Tax Cut for Florida Homeowners (HJR 1-F), June 2, 2026, The Florida Senate (read 2026-09-24)
  36. Inspections (milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Condominiums (read 2026-09-24)
  37. 2025-2026 School Grades Report (district grade issued by FLDOE July 1, 2026), The School District of Lee County (read 2026-09-24)
  38. Charter School Frequently Asked Questions, The School District of Lee County (read 2026-09-24)
  39. School Grades, Florida Department of Education (read 2026-09-24)
  40. External Affairs Service Area Map (counties served, including Lee), Florida Power & Light (read 2026-09-24)
  41. Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian (AL092022), NOAA National Hurricane Center (read 2026-09-24)
  42. Flood Insurance, FEMA (read 2026-09-24)
  43. School Zones, The School District of Lee County (read 2026-09-24)

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24. Descriptions cover places and amenities, not the people who live there. We are committed to the Fair Housing Act.