(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Nonresidential real property” means real property that is not subject to the assessment limitations set forth in subsection 4(a), (b), (c), (d), or (g), Art. VII of the State Constitution.

(b) “Improvement” means an addition or change to land or buildings which increases their value and is more than a repair or a replacement.

(2) For all levies other than school district levies, nonresidential real property and residential real property that is not assessed under s. 193.155 or s. 193.1554 shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year that the property becomes eligible for assessment pursuant to this section.

(3) Beginning in the year following the year the property becomes eligible for assessment pursuant to this section, the property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change resulting from such reassessment may not exceed 10 percent of the assessed value of the property for the prior year.

(4) If the assessed value of the property as calculated under subsection (3) exceeds the just value, the assessed value of the property shall be lowered to the just value of the property.

(5) Except as provided in this subsection, property assessed under this section shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year following a qualifying improvement or change of ownership or control. Thereafter, the annual changes in the assessed value of the property are subject to the limitations in subsections (3) and (4). For purpose of this section:

(a) A qualifying improvement means any substantially completed improvement that increases the just value of the property by at least 25 percent.

(b) A change of ownership or control means any sale, foreclosure, transfer of legal title or beneficial title in equity to any person, or the cumulative transfer of control or of more than 50 percent of the ownership of the legal entity that owned the property when it was most recently assessed at just value, except as provided in this subsection. There is no change of ownership if:

1. The transfer of title is to correct an error.

2. The transfer is between legal and equitable title.

3. For a publicly traded company, the cumulative transfer of more than 50 percent of the ownership of the entity that owns the property occurs through the buying and selling of shares of the company on a public exchange. This exception does not apply to a transfer made through a merger with or acquisition by another company, including acquisition by acquiring outstanding shares of the company.

(6)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), changes, additions, or improvements to nonresidential real property shall be assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after the changes, additions, or improvements are substantially completed.

(b) Changes, additions, or improvements that replace all or a portion of nonresidential real property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity shall not increase the property’s assessed value when the square footage of the property as changed or improved does not exceed 110 percent of the square footage of the property before the damage or destruction and do not change the property’s character or use. Changes, additions, or improvements that do not cause the total to exceed 110 percent of the total square footage of the property before the damage or destruction and do not change the property’s character or use shall be reassessed as provided under subsection (3). The property’s assessed value shall be increased by the just value of that portion of the changed or improved property which is in excess of 110 percent of the square footage of the property before the damage or destruction. Property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity which, after being changed or improved, has a square footage of less than 100 percent of the property’s total square footage before the damage or destruction shall be assessed pursuant to subsection (8). This paragraph applies to changes, additions, or improvements commenced within 3 years after the January 1 following the damage or destruction of the property.

(7) Any increase in the value of property assessed under this section which is attributable to combining or dividing parcels shall be assessed at just value, and the just value shall be apportioned among the parcels created.

(a) For divided parcels, the amount by which the sum of the just values of the divided parcels exceeds what the just value of the parcel would be if undivided shall be attributable to the division. This amount shall be apportioned to the parcels pro rata based on their relative just values.

(b) For combined parcels, the amount by which the just value of the combined parcel exceeds what the sum of the just values of the component parcels would be if they had not been combined shall be attributable to the combination.

(c) A parcel that is combined or divided after January 1 and included as a combined or divided parcel on the tax notice is not considered to be a combined or divided parcel until the January 1 on which it is first assessed as a combined or divided parcel.

(8) When property is destroyed or removed and not replaced, the assessed value of the parcel shall be reduced by the assessed value attributable to the destroyed or removed property.

(9) Erroneous assessments of nonresidential real property assessed under this section may be corrected in the following manner:

(a) If errors are made in arriving at any assessment under this section due to a material mistake of fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property, the just value and assessed value must be recalculated for every such year, including the year in which the mistake occurred.

(b) If changes, additions, or improvements are not assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after they were substantially completed, the property appraiser shall determine the just value for such changes, additions, or improvements for the year they were substantially completed. Assessments for subsequent years shall be corrected, applying this section if applicable.

(c) If back taxes are due pursuant to s. 193.092, the corrections made pursuant to this subsection shall be used to calculate such back taxes.

(10) If the property appraiser determines that for any year or years within the prior 10 years a person or entity who was not entitled to the property assessment limitation granted under this section was granted the property assessment limitation, the property appraiser making such determination shall serve upon the owner a notice of intent to record in the public records of the county a notice of tax lien against any property owned by that person or entity in the county, and such property must be identified in the notice of tax lien. Such property that is situated in this state is subject to the unpaid taxes, plus a penalty of 50 percent of the unpaid taxes for each year and 15 percent interest per annum. Before a lien may be filed, the person or entity so notified must be given 30 days to pay the taxes and any applicable penalties and interest. If the property appraiser improperly grants the property assessment limitation as a result of a clerical mistake or an omission, the person or entity improperly receiving the property assessment limitation may not be assessed a penalty or interest.

History.—ss. 12, 13, ch. 2007-339; s. 5, ch. 2008-173; s. 13, ch. 2009-21; s. 22, ch. 2010-5; s. 3, ch. 2010-109; ss. 3, 4, ch. 2011-125; s. 7, ch. 2012-193; s. 7, ch. 2016-128.