Rules for expansion of lanai??

[hulahips]

Does anyone know the tax consequences for expansion of your lanai?? A contractor told us there were none. Spoke to homeowners today who said If they had raised up floor and put in AC, their taxes would have gone up. We are hearing all different stories?? We are looking at 2 options. First a Sunroom. 2nd. Stretching lanai , additional roof required either way, and adding sliders from bottom to almost top?? We want AC and to raise floor no matter how we go

[Bogie Shooter]

Does anyone know the tax consequences for expansion of your lanai?? A contractor told us there were none. Spoke to homeowners today who said If they had raised up floor and put in AC, their taxes would have gone up. We are hearing all different stories?? We are looking at 2 options. First a Sunroom. 2nd. Stretching lanai , additional roof required either way, and adding sliders from bottom to almost top?? We want AC and to raise floor no matter how we go

Maybe if you called these folks you would get the correct answer rather posting on a public forum and getting a lot of opinions.

Randy Mask - Sumter County Tax Collector (http://www.sumtertaxcollector.com/)

[biker1]

The basic rule is if you remove the sliders between the house and the lanai you will experience an increase in your taxes. I suggest you talk to the county.

Does anyone know the tax consequences for expansion of your lanai?? A contractor told us there were none. Spoke to homeowners today who said If they had raised up floor and put in AC, their taxes would have gone up. We are hearing all different stories?? We are looking at 2 options. First a Sunroom. 2nd. Stretching lanai , additional roof required either way, and adding sliders from bottom to almost top?? We want AC and to raise floor no matter how we go

[skip0358]

Also IF your going to expand your Lanai call Deed Compliance so you don't get a surprise. There are rear and side yard variances you will need to comply with. Don't take the word of a contractor he only wants your money!

[JoMar]

I agree with Bogie, talk to those that inspect and tax. We enclosed ours in 2015, raised the floor, insultated the heck out of the room, we put sliding windows and doors etc. AC or heat had nothing to do with anything, the issue would have been if we removed the sliders between the house and the Lanai, it would then be considered another room and expansion of living space. If I kept the sliders (which we did) it would not be considered living space and would not be taxable. But, that was in 2015. Now having said all that, I suggest you also investigate what the tax increase would be.....you might be surprised how insignificant it is compared to the expense and the enjoyment you will receive from the project.

[hulahips]

Maybe if you called these folks you would get the correct answer rather posting on a public forum and getting a lot of opinions.

Randy Mask - Sumter County Tax Collector (http://www.sumtertaxcollector.com/)

Call what folks?? The contractors are all giving us different information so reaching out to villagers who went through it is probably better

[hulahips]

I agree with Bogie, talk to those that inspect and tax. We enclosed ours in 2015, raised the floor, insultated the heck out of the room, we put sliding windows and doors etc. AC or heat had nothing to do with anything, the issue would have been if we removed the sliders between the house and the Lanai, it would then be considered another room and expansion of living space. If I kept the sliders (which we did) it would not be considered living space and would not be taxable. But, that was in 2015. Now having said all that, I suggest you also investigate what the tax increase would be.....you might be surprised how insignificant it is compared to the expense and the enjoyment you will receive from the project.

Thank you

[Bogie Shooter]

Call what folks?? The contractors are all giving us different information so reaching out to villagers who went through it is probably better

The man that is going to tax you.
Not the contractors nor villagers who went thru it, which may have all been different.

[villagetinker]

Call what folks?? The contractors are all giving us different information so reaching out to villagers who went through it is probably better

IMHO, no villagers that went through it may not be the best source of the info. There was a change in the building code about 2 years ago, not sure what the impact of that was on your plans, I know for a fact it caught us MID STREAM in our project, and we lost over 2 weeks getting revised plans approved.
The building department people (Pinellas Plaza) are very friendly and easy to deal with, I am assuming the tax people will be the same.
And just to provide you with some additional confusion, you will find that the requirements are different depending on whether your house is stick built or Block/poured concrete, go figure.
IMHO, talk to the experts, not contractors, or other villagers, it is way to easy to get caught in a detail....

[hulahips]

OK. Will do. Tks

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Maybe if you called these folks you would get the correct answer rather posting on a public forum and getting a lot of opinions.

Randy Mask - Sumter County Tax Collector (http://www.sumtertaxcollector.com/)

Yes go directly to the source. Do not trust what people tell you on here or elsewhere.

[784caroline]

Rather than focusing on the "slight" increase in taxes that may occur depending upon how you expand your lanai, I would first focus on how the lanai expansion would improve your quality of life and how important this is to you......then decide if the small increase in taxes should stop your expansion project.