Annual registration & MH decals

If you own a mobile home on land you do not own, an annual mobile home (MH) decal is generally required. An unoccupied home still needs registration unless a specific exception applies.

Renew by December 31

Florida’s annual mobile home registration runs from January 1 through December 31. Renew during December before the existing decal expires. A double-wide or triple-wide requires a decal for each section.

Prepare for renewal

• Have the current registration or decal information for every section.
• Confirm the owner’s name, mailing address and home location are correct.
• Ask the office to confirm the amount due; registration charges depend on the home and transaction.
• Display the issued decal as directed, in the lower left corner of the window closest to the access street or road.

Keep track of the expiration even if a courtesy notice does not arrive. A mobile home without the required current decal may be assessed as tangible personal property.

State mobile home registration guidance (PDF) →

Own the home and the land?

When the same owner owns the land and the mobile home is permanently affixed, the home is generally assessed as real property. The Columbia County Property Appraiser determines the classification and provides the documentation needed for a real-property (RP) decal.

Start with the Property Appraiser

Have your current mobile home registrations and proof of ownership of the home and land available. Ask about the Declaration of Mobile Home as Real Property (DR-402). Once the classification and declaration are complete, contact the Tax Collector about issuance of the RP decal.

A permanent decal is different from an annual decal

An RP decal is a one-time purchase rather than an annual MH renewal. The home is taxed on the real-property tax roll. If the home is moved or ownership arrangements change, contact both offices about the required record updates.

If this is your permanent residence, ask the Property Appraiser whether you qualify for homestead exemption. An RP decal by itself does not establish homestead eligibility.

Columbia County Property Appraiser’s mobile home FAQs →

Property Appraiser forms, including DR-402 →

Florida’s taxation of mobile homes guide (PDF) →

Buying or transferring a mobile home

Confirm the title status of every section before completing a purchase. A mobile home’s title, annual registration and real-property assessment are related records with different purposes.

Gather the transfer documents

• Properly assigned title certificates for each titled section, or a manufacturer’s certificate of origin for a new home.
• Identification for the applicants and the required owner signatures.
• A bill of sale or invoice showing the purchase details and any sales tax already paid.
• Complete lienholder information if the home is financed.
• Current registration and decal information, when available.

If purchased from a Florida dealer, the dealer generally processes the title application. For a private purchase, out-of-state title, missing title or lender-held title, contact the office before visiting so the correct documents and fees can be confirmed.

Check each section

A multi-section home may have separate titles and identification numbers. Bring records for all sections so the transfer can be reviewed together.

How to retire a Florida mobile home title

An RP decal and title retirement are separate. Florida allows title retirement for a mobile home permanently attached to land owned by the same person. A recorded leasehold of at least 30 years may also qualify.

1. Gather your documents. Have the original Florida title for each section, the legal description of the land, a copy of the lease if applicable, and a sworn statement of ownership and permanent attachment. If a lien is recorded, obtain a lien satisfaction or the lienholder’s written statement that the lien will be released when the title is retired.
2. Record the documents with the Columbia County Clerk of Court. Contact the Clerk’s Official Records office about recording requirements and fees. Keep copies of the recorded documents.
3. Apply through the Tax Collector. Bring copies of the recorded documents and the signed Application for Retirement of a Mobile Home Certificate of Title (HSMV 82109, PDF). Complete one application for each titled section of a double-wide or triple-wide home. Call 386-758-1077 to confirm what to bring and the fees.

Buying or selling a home with a retired title? Confirm the recorded ownership and transfer requirements with the Clerk, Property Appraiser, and your closing professional before using an ordinary title-transfer application.

Read Florida’s title retirement law.

Vehicle & Boat Titles guide →

Common mobile home questions