ServicesCounty DR-504AFH Filing
County DR-504AFH Filing in Pompano Beach
The DR-504AFH is the form the county property appraiser uses to decide your Live Local Act exemption. We prepare it, check every figure against your FHFC certification and rent roll, and file it on time so the exemption you qualify for is the one you receive.
What the DR-504AFH Does and When You Need It
Your FHFC certification says the property meets the Live Local Act's affordability rules. It does not, on its own, lower your tax bill. That happens only when the county property appraiser receives a complete DR-504AFH, reviews it and approves the exemption for the year.
The form asks for the parcel, the unit count, the number of units set aside at each income level and the rents charged. Each number has to agree with what you gave FHFC and with your current rent roll. When they do not, the appraiser can ask questions, reduce the exemption or deny it.
We handle this filing for owners and managers in Pompano Beach and across Broward County, including Deerfield Beach, Margate and Fort Lauderdale. If you already have your certification in hand, this is usually the next step.
What Our DR-504AFH Filing Includes
Eligibility check first
Before any paperwork, we confirm the property's unit count, set-aside percentages and rent levels fit the exemption you plan to claim. If something falls short, you hear it from us now rather than from the appraiser later.
Matching to your FHFC certification
We line up the parcel numbers, unit totals and income tiers on the form with your FHFC certification letter. Small mismatches, like a parcel listed under an old folio number, are a common reason for delays.
Rent roll and unit schedule
We build the unit schedule from your rent roll, showing which units are set aside, at what income level and at what rent. You review it before anything is signed.
Prepared form and attachments
You receive a completed DR-504AFH with the supporting documents the appraiser expects, organized in the order they will read them.
Filing and follow-up
We file with the property appraiser, keep a dated record showing when the application went in and answer follow-up questions from the office on your behalf as needed.
Signs This Filing Needs Attention
Certified, but the tax bill hasn't changed
FHFC approval is only half the process. If your tax notice still shows the full assessed value, the county application may never have been filed, or it was filed incomplete.
March 1 is coming up
The application generally has to reach the property appraiser by March 1 for that tax year. Starting a few weeks ahead leaves time to sort out rent roll or unit count problems.
Your unit mix shifted
Units that moved between income tiers, turned over at new rents or sat empty during renovation all change what belongs on the form.
Mail arrived from the appraiser's office
When the office asks for more documents or approves only part of the exemption, there is usually a figure that doesn't line up somewhere. We go through the notice with you and put its questions into plain terms.
Ownership or management changed hands
A new owner or a new management company often means a fresh filing and new records to gather. Last year's paperwork rarely carries over cleanly.
How a DR-504AFH Filing Works With Us
- 1
A short call
You call, tell us about the property and what you already have. We start with a free eligibility check so you know where you stand before committing to anything.
- 2
Document gathering
On that call we walk through a plain list of what we need: the FHFC certification, current rent roll, unit schedule and parcel details. Most clients go over these with us by video call or at our office.
- 3
Preparation and your review
We complete the form and attachments, then walk you through every figure. Nothing is filed until you agree it is accurate.
- 4
Filing and confirmation
We file the application with the county property appraiser and keep a dated record of it. When the office responds, we call you to explain what it means and what, if anything, comes next.
What Affects the Cost of a DR-504AFH Filing
We quote each filing by phone once we understand the property. The price depends on how much preparation the form needs, not on a percentage of your savings. You can also ask for our free savings estimate to see what the exemption may be worth before deciding.
- Number of parcels and units
- A single building on one parcel is simpler than a community spread across several folios with separate unit schedules.
- Condition of your records
- A clean, current rent roll keeps the work short. Records that need reconciling with leases or FHFC figures take more time.
- Timing
- Filings started well before the deadline can be done at a normal pace. Last-minute work compresses review time.
- Follow-up with the appraiser
- Some filings go through without questions. Others need written responses or added documents after the application is in.
Common Questions About the DR-504AFH
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Does FHFC certification have to come before the county form?
It does. The property appraiser expects to see that certification with the application. If you haven't received it yet, our FHFC Certification Filing service handles that part, and we can schedule the two filings side by side.
Do I have to file every year?
The exemption is not a one-time approval. Each year the property must still meet the rules, and updated filings are expected. Our Annual Recertification service keeps the yearly cycle on schedule.
What happens if the appraiser denies or reduces the exemption?
The letter usually explains the reason, often a documentation gap or a figure that does not match. We review it with you, explain your options plainly and help prepare a corrected response where one is possible.
How familiar are you with these county applications?
To date we've prepared filings for about 100 Florida properties. Over that work we've seen where county applications tend to stall, such as a folio number that changed after a parcel split or an income tier listed one way on the rent roll and another way on the FHFC letter. We look for those details before anything reaches the appraiser.
Can we work together without meeting in person?
Yes. Many clients work with us entirely by phone and video, going over documents as we go. You are also welcome at our office in Pompano Beach if you prefer to sit down together.
Let's Get Your County Application Ready
A quick call is enough for us to learn about the property and the records you have on hand. From there we'll confirm eligibility, flag anything missing and lay out what the DR-504AFH requires well ahead of March 1.