MyProptimizer

2026 Appeal Deadline Guides / Florida

Santa Rosa County, FL Property Tax Appeal Deadline 2026

Your 2026 Santa Rosa County VAB petition is due 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed (Fla. Stat. §194.011). TRIM notices go out in August, so the deadline lands in mid-September — the exact date is printed on your notice.

Check my property — free
2026 filing window
25 days after your August TRIM notice (mid-September 2026)
Where to file
Santa Rosa County Value Adjustment Board (VAB)
Form
DR-486 (Petition to the Value Adjustment Board)
Filing fee
$50 per petition, plus $5 for each additional contiguous parcel
How to file
File the DR-486 petition with the clerk's VAB office by email or hardcopy (mail or in person) — no online portal; fee payable by check, or by card over the phone
Governing law
Fla. Stat. Ch. 194; Rule 12D-9 F.A.C.

Every August, the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser mails the TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice to homeowners in Milton, Navarre and Gulf Breeze — and that notice starts a hard 25-day clock to petition the Santa Rosa County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) under Fla. Stat. §194.011. Miss it, and the assessed value stands for the year.

Before filing, you can request an informal conference with the Property Appraiser's office — assessments are sometimes corrected without a petition. If that doesn't resolve it, file DR-486 (Petition to the Value Adjustment Board) with the VAB clerk. Filing fee: $50 per petition, plus $5 for each additional contiguous parcel.

  • Florida's 25-day rule is uniform statewide, but the clock starts on your county's TRIM mailing date — check the date printed on the notice itself.

How to challenge your assessment in Santa Rosa County — step by step

  1. 1

    Read your TRIM notice carefully

    It shows your market, assessed, and taxable values plus the petition deadline — exactly 25 days after the mailing date printed on it.

  2. 2

    Try the informal route first

    Call or visit the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser's office. If you bring sales evidence, they can adjust the value without a VAB petition.

  3. 3

    File DR-486 (Petition to the Value Adjustment Board) before the deadline

    Submit to the VAB clerk. File the DR-486 petition with the clerk's VAB office by email or hardcopy (mail or in person) — no online portal; fee payable by check, or by card over the phone. Fee: $50 per petition, plus $5 for each additional contiguous parcel.

  4. 4

    Exchange evidence

    You and the Property Appraiser exchange evidence before the hearing — comparable sales near the January 1, 2026 assessment date carry the most weight.

  5. 5

    Attend your VAB hearing

    A special magistrate (an independent appraiser or attorney) hears residential petitions. Decisions typically arrive in writing within weeks.

  6. 6

    Mind the partial-payment rule

    If your petition is still pending when taxes come due, Florida law requires a good-faith partial payment before April 1 — otherwise the VAB must deny the petition.

Is your Santa Rosa County home over-assessed?

Free 5-minute check against county data — see your estimated savings before you decide anything. If a records-based appeal packet is available for your area, it's $39 with a 7-day unconditional refund: any reason, any time before you download it.

Check my property — free

Frequently asked questions

  • When is the deadline to appeal property taxes in Santa Rosa County in 2026?

    Your 2026 Santa Rosa County VAB petition is due 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed (Fla. Stat. §194.011). TRIM notices go out in August, so the deadline lands in mid-September — the exact date is printed on your notice.

  • What does it cost to file a VAB petition?

    $50 per petition, plus $5 for each additional contiguous parcel (Florida caps petition fees at $50 by statute).

  • Do I need a lawyer or agent?

    No. You can represent yourself at the VAB, or authorize an agent on the DR-486 petition. Hearings are informal and evidence-driven.

  • What if I miss the 25-day deadline?

    The VAB can accept a late petition only for good cause (e.g., hospitalization), which is rarely granted. Practically, the 25 days are the whole game — set a reminder for the day your TRIM notice arrives.

More Florida county deadline guides

This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Deadlines and fees are drawn from state statute and county sources as of July 2026 and can change — always confirm with the Santa Rosa County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) before relying on a date.