[TrapX]

Enclosing the lanai and adding AC is reason enough for tax man to add to your taxable square footage.
However, enclosing the lanai and adding a DEHUMIDIFIER (which could be a mini split AC) does not qualify as new taxable square footage.

[vintageogauge]

We used All Season Rooms, great smaller family company with personal service. They offer a double pane glass that has a lifetime "Transferrable" warranty which the others do not offer and they were priced lower than the others. We chose sliders all the way around so we can still use it as an open air lanai if we choose, so far we have never chosen to do that as the view is still great, no rain intrusion, no dust, no dirt. Quite the enjoyable room now. It's been over 3 years with no problems whatsoever with the installation or the materials they used. Call Chip for a no pressure presentation of what they have to offer and the cost, you have nothing to lose.

[PJackpot]

Originally Posted by Kelevision

As a Floridian, it’s so strange to me that people enclose their lanai? It’s a space so you can enjoy sitting outside bug free. Like a deck in non bug parts of the country.

An enclosed lanai does not mean you can't sit out and enjoy a beautiful bug free day. On a beautiful day you can open the glass sliders on your lanai and enjoy it as much as anyone else. The advantage is, you can still enjoy it when the weather does not permit you to sit outside.

[PJackpot]

Originally Posted by clossonjunk

We enclosed our lanai (about 150 sq ft) but we went with First Choice Windows out of Ocala. Our neighbors used them, too. They were fantastic!!! They were also half the price of Custom Windows for better quality. We got double paned windows and a custom doggie door for around 7k last year. We had a company come out and shoot some insulation over the lanai (and garage while we were at it) for just a couple hundred dollars. That and double pane was the trick to not having to use a separate a/c! We keep sliders open and the lanai stays within 2 degrees of the house temp. No impact on electric bill that we saw. We were super pleased with the company and results.

Gorgeous!

[Red Rose]

We enclosed our lanai because of the rain and dirt that got in. We have wide sliding windows out there so in cooler weather we open them and it feels like your sitting outside. Why would you not enclose your lanai?

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by TrapX

Enclosing the lanai and adding AC is reason enough for tax man to add to your taxable square footage.
However, enclosing the lanai and adding a DEHUMIDIFIER (which could be a mini split AC) does not qualify as new taxable square footage.

It does if you raise the floor.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

It does if you raise the floor.

Some people do not agree that raising the floor to the same level as the rest of the house causes an increase in real estate taxes no matter what the inspector working for Sumter says

[assuredcode2022@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Deep question:
If one encloses their lanai is it still a lanai?

Lees deep questions:
If you enclose your lanai in glass and put up shades and air condition it, isn't it just another room ? Can't you do the same things in the living room and even more in the bedroom?
Does this now add on to the square footage (feetage? feets?) of your home and increase your taxes?
Why do they call those "Mitsubishi Splits" dehumidifiers in all the advertisements and not air conditioners? Is there some sneaky reason to get around something?

Good evening, this is a test reply to make sure I have everything working ( first reply post ). EJ AuBuchon state of Fl. licensed plans examiner and retired Sumter Co. Bld. Dept. Will post answers to questions soon. Thank you.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by assuredcode2022@yahoo.com

Good evening, this is a test reply to make sure I have everything working ( first reply post ). EJ AuBuchon state of Fl. licensed plans examiner and retired Sumter Co. Bld. Dept. Will post answers to questions soon. Thank you.

Welcome we can sure use your expertise

[assuredcode2022@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by kp11364

I can answer a few since I've asked the same questions...

1) It's considered another "room" if the floor is raised to be level to that of the house. That would add square FOOTage to your home and would increase the taxes.

You can verify this statement with Sumter county property tax accessors office; The accessed square footage of your home ONLY increases IF you remove the sliding glass door from the main part of residence to the sunroom (lanai) They view it as increasing the perimeter of the living area. AC, leveling slab, etc. DOES NOT increase the taxable value. My qualifications: Managed Sumter Plan review office for 7.1 years 7/2013/- 8/2020. Many of you may remember speaking with EJ concerning your lanai conversion to sunroom. Hope this helps.

[rsmurano]

Most people are wrong regarding how a lanai is taxed when enclosed. If you look on the Sumter county website or talk with custom windows when they come out to give you a bid, there are 5 levels of enclosing your lanai according to the county, and you only pay taxes on levels 4 or 5. I raised my floor, put the same tile down as in my house, and I'm not taxed. To be taxed, you have to remove your sliders for 1 and put in a cooling system. I also didn't put in a split system/dehumidifier in it and use it everyday. We did put 97% light filtering shades in which helped dramatically on the heat and we have the sliders that open completely so we have a 8' opening on 1 end and a 16' opening on the other to let the main house heat/cool the lanai. Our lanai fans run from morning to night to keep the room pleasant. I do know a couple of houses that sold that the realtor added the enclosed lanai sq footage to the basis for the house price. We enclosed the lanai because our main house was 2100 sq ft which is very small compared to what we are used to, the extra 350 sq ft makes the house more livable.