Fort Myers set its 2026 tax rate at 6.9000 mills, up from 6.5000. Lee County bills go out in November with a 4% discount that month.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Sources: the Lee County Property Appraiser, the City of Fort Myers budget page and FY2027 Budget in Brief, and the Florida Department of Revenue’s property tax guide for taxpayers.
Three offices handle property taxes in Fort Myers. The Lee County Property Appraiser sets your home’s value and handles exemptions. Taxing bodies, including the City Council, set the rates. The Lee County Tax Collector mails the bill and takes payment.
Who to call
- Lee County Property Appraiser (values, homestead, exemptions): 239-533-6100, 2480 Thompson St., 4th floor, Fort Myers
- Lee County Tax Collector (bills, payment): leetc.com
- City of Fort Myers (city budget and rate): City Hall, 239-321-7000
- Official pages: homestead filing, exemptions and the city budget
The city’s rate for 2026
The Fort Myers City Council adopted a rate of 6.9000 mills for the 2026 tax year on Sept. 21, 2026, in Ordinance No. 4113. That is 0.4000 mills, or 6.2%, more than the 6.5000 rate of 2025, the city’s Budget in Brief says.
A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value. At 6.9000 mills, the city’s share on a home with $200,000 of taxable value is $1,380 a year.
Other figures from the same document:
- The city’s certified taxable value rose $62.42 million, or 0.45%, to about $14.02 billion. New construction added $257.62 million, while existing properties fell 1.4% on average.
- The rate brings in $92.9 million in property tax revenue, $5.5 million more than last year.
- Of the 6.9000 mills, 0.0833 mills (about $1 million) goes to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Ten years of the city rate
The city rate fell every year from 2017 to 2025 as taxable values more than doubled, from $6.12 billion to $13.96 billion. The 2026 rate is the first increase in that run.
What else is on the bill
The city’s rate is one line. Your bill also carries Lee County, the School District of Lee County, water management and other districts. The state’s 2025 levy table, posted by the property appraiser, lists the county-wide rates adopted for 2025:
| Taxing body | 2025 rate (mills) |
|---|---|
| City of Fort Myers | 6.5000 |
| Lee County Board of County Commissioners | 3.7623 |
| Lee County Library Fund | 0.4218 |
Your own rates for 2026 are on the TRIM notice the property appraiser mailed in August, and on the bill.
When to pay
From the Florida Department of Revenue:
- Bills go out in November.
- Pay early for a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, 1% in February.
- Taxes not paid by April 1 are delinquent, and tax certificates are sold on unpaid bills by June 1.
- To pay in quarterly installments next year, apply to the tax collector by May 1.
- Homestead owners with limited income can apply to defer part of the tax with Form DR-570 by March 31.
Homestead exemption
If you own and live in your Fort Myers home as your permanent residence, file for homestead with the property appraiser. The state deadline is March 1. The appraiser’s office says:
- The first $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from all property taxes.
- An added exemption of up to $26,411 applies to assessed value over $50,000, for non-school taxes only. The figure is adjusted each year for inflation.
- The Save Our Homes cap then limits yearly increases in your assessed value to 3%.
- Exemptions renew each Jan. 1 unless you sell, move or rent the home.
Smaller exemptions exist for seniors with limited income, widows and widowers, the blind, people with disabilities, veterans and first responders. The appraiser’s exemptions page has the rules.
How to appeal
- Read your TRIM notice (the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes) when it arrives in August.
- Call the property appraiser at 239-533-6100 to talk through the value.
- To appeal formally, file a petition (Form DR-486) with the Value Adjustment Board through the Lee County clerk of court within 25 days of the date the TRIM notice was mailed.
- A denied exemption has its own deadline: 30 days from the date the denial letter was mailed.
The 2026 petition window has closed. The next one opens when 2027 TRIM notices go out.
On the Nov. 3 ballot
A proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot would change how property taxes apply to homesteads. In a March 31 news post, the city estimated that if it passes, its tax base would shrink by $1.6 billion in 2027 and $2.3 billion in 2028, cutting city property tax revenue by $9.6 million to $14.4 million a year. See our voting guide for how and where to vote.
What this means for you
- The city’s share of your 2026 bill rises unless your taxable value fell.
- Pay in November for the full 4% discount.
- New owners: file homestead by March 1, 2027.
Related: Fort Myers home prices, moving to Fort Myers and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
When are Lee County property taxes due?
Bills go out in November. Florida gives a 4% discount for paying in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Unpaid taxes become delinquent April 1.
What is the Fort Myers millage rate for 2026?
The City Council adopted 6.9000 mills on Sept. 21, 2026, up 0.4000 mills from 6.5000 in 2025. That is the city’s share only; county, school and other rates are added on the bill.
What is the homestead exemption deadline in Lee County?
March 1. The first $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from all property taxes, and an added exemption of up to $26,411 applies to value over $50,000 for non-school taxes.
How do I appeal my property value in Lee County?
File a petition with the Value Adjustment Board through the clerk of court within 25 days of the date your TRIM notice was mailed. The property appraiser’s office is at 239-533-6100.
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