Taxes & Insurance in Stuart
Stuart property owners pay overlapping Martin County, municipal, and school-district millage, and homeowners insurance runs meaningfully higher for waterfront property than for a typical inland home. Confirm both figures for a specific address rather than relying on a single citywide estimate.
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Learn moreProperty tax: falling county millage, still-real bills
Martin County's 2025 total millage across all levies (county, school, municipal, and special districts combined) runs about 15.47 mills, per the Martin County Property Appraiser. The county's own general-fund millage was cut to 6.5614 mills for FY2025-26, down from 9.9897 -- but a third-party estimate of the effective rate (about 1.37%, assuming the standard $50,000 homestead exemption) is a scenario-based figure, not an official blended rate, and actual bills vary by whether a property sits inside a municipality and which special districts apply.
Homeowners insurance runs sharply higher on the water
A typical Stuart homeowner's insurance runs about $2,971/year per one 2025 source (1800Insurance), with waterfront properties along the Indian River, St. Lucie River, or Atlantic running 20%-50% higher ($3,500-$4,500+/year). A separate source (Worth Insurance) cites a much higher $5,993/year figure for Martin County overall -- likely reflecting a more waterfront-weighted property mix or different methodology rather than a directly comparable number. Flood insurance is a separate policy, typically mandatory for mortgaged waterfront or high-risk-zone homes.
Homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap
Florida's 2026 homestead exemption totals $51,411 for a primary residence (a fixed $25,000 slice on all levies plus a second, inflation-adjusted $26,411 slice on non-school levies), filed with the Martin County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year after closing. Once homesteaded, the Save Our Homes cap limits future annual assessed-value increases to the lesser of 3% or CPI -- 2.7% for 2026 -- though it doesn't apply to a new buyer's first-year bill.
Key takeaways
- Martin County's 2025 total millage runs about 15.47 mills; a third-party effective-rate estimate (1.37%, standard homestead exemption) is scenario-based, not an official blended figure -- confirm a specific parcel's bill with the Property Appraiser.
- A typical Stuart homeowner's insurance runs about $2,971/year, but waterfront property runs 20%-50% higher ($3,500-$4,500+/year); a separate countywide estimate cites $5,993/year, likely reflecting a more waterfront-weighted mix.
- The 2026 homestead exemption totals $51,411, and the Save Our Homes cap limits assessed-value growth to 2.7% for 2026 once homesteaded -- but not on a first-year bill.
- Flood insurance is separate from homeowners coverage and typically mandatory for mortgaged waterfront or high-risk-zone property.
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