What is a property tax appeal?

A property tax appeal (also called a protest) is a formal process where you challenge your county appraisal district's assessed value of your home. In Texas, you file a protest with your county's Appraisal Review Board (ARB), present evidence that your home is overvalued, and the ARB issues a ruling.

What's the deadline to file a property tax protest in Texas?

In Texas, the deadline to file a property tax protest is May 15, 2026 (or 30 days after your appraisal notice is mailed, whichever is later). There are no extensions.

How much can I save by appealing my property taxes?

Texas homeowners who appeal save an average of $774 per year. Success rates range from 80-91% when homeowners bring comparable sales evidence.

When is the property tax appeal deadline in Lee County?

Lee County VAB petitions are due 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed by the LeePA. TRIM notices typically mail Aug 21, 2026, making the petition deadline approximately Sept 15, 2026. Petitions must be RECEIVED by the Clerk of Court — postmark date does not count.

How do I appeal property taxes in Lee County?

File Form DR-486 with the Lee County Value Adjustment Board (VAB), administered by the Clerk of Court. The filing fee is $15 per parcel. Strong appeals include 3-5 comparable sales from the last 12 months, adjusted for size, age, and condition. Lee County saw catastrophic Hurricane Ian damage (2022) that still affects valuations. Storm-impacted areas like Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel often have outdated comp data — bring current post-storm sales.

What is the average property tax savings in Lee County?

Lee County homeowners with successful VAB petitions save approximately $700 per year. Savings compound — Florida's Save Our Homes 3% cap means a one-time reduction protects against future increases for as long as the home is your homestead.

What is the median home value in Lee County?

The median home value in Lee County is approximately $365,000, with an effective property tax rate around 0.94% (~$3,431/year in property taxes).

Major FL County · Petition deadline Sept 15, 2026

Lee County Property Tax Appeal Guide

Fort Myers-area homeowners save an average of $700/year by filing a DR-486 petition with the LeePA Value Adjustment Board. Save Our Homes 3% cap protects every dollar reduced.

Florida Launch · Get notified when Lee County goes live

Early Access

Lee County packets coming soon

We're building county-specific appeal packets for Lee County. Drop your email and we'll send you the Lee County ARB filing checklist today, plus notify you the moment packets launch.

Phone optional. We'll only contact you about Lee County appeals — no spam.

TRIM notices mail Aug 21, 2026. We'll email your overassessment estimate the day yours hits the mailbox.

$365,000

Median Home Value

0.94%

Effective Tax Rate

$3,431

Avg Annual Tax

$700/yr

Avg Appeal Savings

How property tax appeals work in Lee County

Florida property owners have a right to challenge their assessed value under Florida Statutes §194.011. In Lee County, petitions are filed with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB), administered by the Clerk of Court — the LeePA (Lee County Property Appraiser) handles the underlying valuation.

The petition window is 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed. For Lee County, TRIM notices typically mail around Aug 21, 2026 — putting the 2026 petition deadline at approximately Sept 15, 2026. The filing fee is $15 per parcel.

Lee County saw catastrophic Hurricane Ian damage (2022) that still affects valuations. Storm-impacted areas like Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel often have outdated comp data — bring current post-storm sales.

The strongest petitions include 3-5 comparable sales from the last 12 months in your immediate neighborhood, adjusted for square footage, year built, and condition. Many counties use the Axia e-filing portal for VAB submissions — your packet works with both online and paper filing.

File With

Lee County Value Adjustment Board

Property Appraiser: Lee County Property Appraiser
County Seat: Fort Myers
PAO Website: www.leepa.org/
VAB Filing Portal: www.leeclerk.org/departments/value-adjustment-board-vab
TRIM Mails: Aug 21, 2026
Petition Deadline: Sept 15, 2026
Petition Form: Form DR-486 (statewide)
Filing Fee: $15 per parcel

Cities we'll cover in Lee County

When Lee County goes live, our DR-486 packets will work for homeowners across:

Cape Coral, FLFort Myers, FLLehigh Acres, FLBonita Springs, FLEstero, FLSanibel, FLFort Myers Beach, FL

Early Access

Lee County packets coming soon

We're building county-specific appeal packets for Lee County. Drop your email and we'll send you the Lee County ARB filing checklist today, plus notify you the moment packets launch.

Phone optional. We'll only contact you about Lee County appeals — no spam.

Other Florida county appeal guides

Miami-Dade County →Broward County →Hillsborough County →Palm Beach County →Orange County →Duval County →Pinellas County →Polk County →Brevard County →Pasco County →Volusia County →Seminole County →Sarasota County →Manatee County →Osceola County →Marion County →

See all 67 Florida counties →