Florida tax vote adds to Canadian snowbirds’ property burden
Over 500,000 Canadians own a residential property in Florida, and they pay an estimated $600 million a year in property taxes alone, according to figures from the Canadian consulate in Miami. If Amendment 3 passes, that tax burden would remain unchanged, while neighbouring permanent residents receive steadily larger exemptions.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been explicit about the intent. Speaking to Fox News in June 2026, he said: “We are focusing on homestead. Obviously they tax property that are non-homestead: Residential, Airbnb, Canadian snowbirds, commercial.”
The amendment also caps assessed value increases on non-homesteaded properties (which include second homes and investment properties) at five per cent per year. That cap replaces the current 10 per cent limit and offers some modest protection for non-resident owners, though critics note it is far less valuable than the expanded homestead exemption that permanent residents would receive.
A shifting landscape for snowbird clients
Canadian snowbirds in particular have already drastically cut their visits to Florida over the past year. According to a December 2025 survey by Snowbird Advisor, only approximately 70 per cent of Canadian snowbirds were planning to spend the winter in the United States, down from 82 per cent the year prior.
The retreat is being driven by a convergence of financial forces. Insurance costs, a weakening Canadian dollar – worth approximately 71 U.S. cents as of late July 2026 – and shifting market conditions have encouraged a growing number of Canadians to cash out of Florida real estate.
