Property Taxes in Fort Lauderdale
Broward County cut its countywide millage rate for FY2026 -- the first reduction since 2018 -- but the combined bill a Fort Lauderdale property owner actually pays depends on city, school, and special-district levies layered on top, and effective-rate estimates vary enough by source and neighborhood that this page presents a range rather than one number.
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Learn moreCounty Millage Cut for FY2026
Broward County commissioners approved a $1.7 billion property tax budget for FY2026 that lowers the countywide millage rate to 5.6658 mills, down slightly from 5.6690 -- described as the county's first millage reduction since 2018, per Broward County's own budget documents and coverage from the Caribbean National Weekly (CNW Network) and WLRN. This is the county-operating-purposes portion only, not the full bill.
Combined Millage for a Fort Lauderdale Property
Once school district, city, water-management-district, and any special-district levies are layered on top of the county rate, the combined millage for a property within the City of Fort Lauderdale typically runs about 19-21 mills, per one property-tax aggregator (JoshDotoliGroup, 2026); more broadly across Broward County, combined rates range roughly 16-23 mills depending on the specific city and taxing districts that apply. The gap between a $1,882 annual bill cited for one Broward zip code (33321) and a $9,888 bill cited for a downtown Fort Lauderdale zip code (33301) -- per Ownwell's Broward County trend data -- illustrates just how much location and assessed value matter within the county, more than the millage rate alone.
Effective Rate Estimates Also Vary
One source puts Broward County's 2025-26 effective property tax rate at approximately 1.1% of assessed value; the same source notes effective rates can range from about 0.85% to 2.02% depending on the specific area and local levies that apply. This is a wide enough range that no single 'Fort Lauderdale effective rate' figure should be treated as precise -- check the Broward County Property Appraiser's millage lookup (bcpa.net) or your TRIM notice for a specific parcel.
Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes
Florida's standard homestead exemption reduces a primary residence's taxable value by up to $50,000, and the Save Our Homes provision caps annual increases in assessed value for homesteaded properties -- a statewide benefit, not unique to Fort Lauderdale, but a meaningful one given how much Broward property values have risen over the past decade. This applies only to owner-occupied primary residences.
Investment and Non-Homestead Buyers Pay More
Investment properties, second homes, and any non-homesteaded property in Broward County are taxed on full assessed value without the Save Our Homes cap -- a material consideration for anyone buying a Fort Lauderdale property, including canal-front or Intracoastal homes, as a rental or vacation property rather than a primary residence.
Key takeaways
- Broward County's FY2026 countywide millage rate is 5.6658 mills, its first reduction since 2018 -- but this is only the county-operating portion, not the full combined bill.
- Combined millage for a City of Fort Lauderdale property typically runs about 19-21 mills once school, city, and special-district levies are added; countywide, combined rates range roughly 16-23 mills by jurisdiction.
- Annual bills vary enormously by location within the county -- from about $1,882 in one Broward zip code to about $9,888 in a downtown Fort Lauderdale zip code, per Ownwell trend data.
- Effective rate estimates range from about 0.85% to 2.02% of assessed value depending on area and levies -- check bcpa.net or your TRIM notice for a specific parcel rather than relying on a single citywide figure.
- The homestead exemption (up to $50,000) and Save Our Homes cap apply only to owner-occupied primary residences -- investment and second-home buyers pay full freight.
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