Best Places to Live in Florida

Off-grid & homestead laws in Florida

How Florida treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. Scores feed the national rankings; rules often vary by county.

• Building-code freedomFlorida Building Code enforced everywhere; no rural exemption.ICC / NAHB code-adoption summaries (2026) ↗statewide-mandatory
• Greywater reuse<=1,500 gpd for toilet flushing with NSF 350 treatment; outdoor reuse restricted.Greywater Action / EPA REUSExplorer (2026) ↗permitted
• Rainwater harvestingLegal statewide; municipal rebate programs.NCSL (2026) ↗encouraged
• Zoning / land-use freedomCommunity Planning Act; state-reviewed local comp plans.American Planning Association / Lincoln Institute (2026) ↗statewide-planning
• Water rightsConsumptive-use permits via Water Mgmt Districts; domestic use exempt.National Agricultural Law Center (2026) ↗regulated-riparian
• Right-to-farm protectionDamage limits; SB 88 (2021) tightened standing/proof.National Agricultural Law Center (2026) ↗strong
• Cottage-food / home sales$250k cap, no license; shelf-stable only.Institute for Justice / Forrager (2026) ↗expansive
• Property tax burdenMedian ~0.7% effective rate across 67 counties.Census ACS (county median) (2023) ↗low
• Income tax burdenNo state individual income tax.Tax Foundation (2026) ↗none
• Homestead exemptionUp to $50k + Save Our Homes 3% assessment cap.Lincoln Institute / state revenue departments (2026) ↗strong

General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

All 67 Florida counties, ranked

1. 1Union County78
2. 2Lafayette County78
3. 3Holmes County76
4. 4Calhoun County76
5. 5Liberty County75
6. 6Hamilton County75
7. 7Madison County74
8. 8Baker County72
9. 9Dixie County72
10. 10Washington County71
11. 11Bradford County71
12. 12Glades County71
13. 13Gilchrist County70
14. 14Taylor County70
15. 15Jefferson County70
16. 16Jackson County69
17. 17Franklin County68
18. 18Suwannee County67
19. 19Gulf County67
20. 20Hardee County66
21. 21Levy County66
22. 22Hendry County65
23. 23Okeechobee County64
24. 24Columbia County64
25. 25Gadsden County64
26. 26Putnam County64
27. 27Highlands County64
28. 28DeSoto County63
29. 29Wakulla County63
30. 30Walton County62
31. 31Santa Rosa County62
32. 32Bay County62
33. 33Nassau County61
34. 34Okaloosa County59
35. 35Flagler County59
36. 36Osceola County59
37. 37Clay County57
38. 38Sumter County57
39. 39Indian River County55
40. 40Citrus County55
41. 41Charlotte County55
42. 42Escambia County55
43. 43Hernando County54
44. 44Alachua County54
45. 45Marion County54
46. 46Collier County54
47. 47Martin County53
48. 48Polk County53
49. 49Leon County53
50. 50Monroe County52
51. 51Volusia County51
52. 52Brevard County51
53. 53Lake County51
54. 54Pasco County51
55. 55St. Lucie County51
56. 56Manatee County50
57. 57St. Johns County50
58. 58Seminole County50
59. 59Sarasota County50
60. 60Orange County49
61. 61Duval County49
62. 62Lee County49
63. 63Palm Beach County48
64. 64Pinellas County48
65. 65Hillsborough County47
66. 66Broward County46
67. 67Miami-Dade County43