What Is Florida’s PACE Program?
PACE is a state-authorized financing mechanism for energy-efficiency, renewable, and wind-mitigation upgrades. When approved, a non-ad valorem assessment is added to your property tax bill for a set term with fixed payments. Program rules are set by Florida statute and local ordinances; administrators handle approvals and billing coordination with county tax collectors.
Why homeowners choose PACE:
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No upfront payment for approved projects
- Fixed terms; approval emphasizes property equity and payment history
- Can be faster to approve than many traditional loans
- (Program scope, timelines, and consumer protections updated effective July 1, 2024 under SB 770.)
Eligibility, Protections & 2024 SB 770 Update
Florida’s 2024 legislation clarified consumer protections and requires a local ordinance before residential PACE can operate in your county (effective July 1, 2024).
Typical homeowner eligibility:
- Property is in a participating county/municipality (see checker below)
- Current on property taxes and mortgage; no recent significant delinquencies
- Sufficient property equity and ability to repay, as evaluated by the administrator
- Improvement meets qualifying categories (energy efficiency, renewables, wind mitigation)
Fees & billing transparency: County tax collector and property appraiser may charge up to a combined 4% of the annual assessment (2% each maximum) to cover actual costs for billing/collection. This appears on the tax bill with your annual PACE installment.
Consumer protections you’ll see on your agreement (high-level):
- Clear disclosures of total financed amount, term, APR/interest, fees
- Confirmation calls and right-to-cancel windows under program rules
- Contractor registration and completion verification processes
Services We Offer
Guardian Home is licensed for the upgrades Florida homeowners most often finance via PACE:
