Your First Central Florida Winter as a Homeowner: A November-to-March Checklist

Moving to Central Florida · Seasonal checklist

Florida's "winter" is mild, but it comes with its own calendar. Here are the dates and habits new homeowners usually learn the hard way.

Your first summer in Central Florida teaches you about heat and afternoon storms. Your first winter is quieter, but it has its own deadlines, and a few of them involve money. If you bought a home this year, here’s what to put on the calendar.

Nov. 1: Clocks change, and so might your sprinklers

Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1. In areas covered by the St. Johns River Water Management District, which includes much of Orange County, that’s also when lawn watering drops to one day a week. Homes with odd-numbered or no addresses water on Saturday, and even-numbered addresses water on Sunday. Watering isn’t allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in any season, and the district limits it to one hour per zone.

Your schedule depends on where you live and who supplies your water, so check yours:

• Kissimmee and St. Cloud area: Toho Water Authority posts its own schedules, which vary by account type and some neighborhoods. A common one is Wednesday and Saturday for odd addresses and Thursday and Sunday for even addresses, with no watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look up yours on Toho’s site.
• Polk County (including Davenport and Haines City): The Southwest Florida Water Management District extended its Modified Phase III water shortage through March 31, 2027, because of ongoing drought. That means one watering day a week, based on the last digit of your address, with shortened watering hours. The order also limits pressure washing for purely cosmetic reasons.

While you’re resetting the irrigation timer, update outdoor lighting timers too.

November: Your property tax bill (and a discount)

Florida property tax bills generally go out in early November. Paying early earns a discount. The Osceola County Tax Collector lists 4% for payments made in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February, with the full amount due by March 31. Those discount rates are set by state law, so other Florida counties follow the same schedule.

If you have an escrow account, your lender typically pays the bill from it. Check your escrow statement to see when it was paid. If you closed recently, ask your closing agent how the 2026 taxes were prorated. Our real monthly cost of owning a home in Central Florida covers how taxes fit into the budget.

Nov. 30: Hurricane season ends

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Once it ends, take stock: Did your shutters or panels go up easily? Do you know where your flood zone and wind mitigation paperwork is? Our insurance-smart house hunting guide explains why those documents matter at renewal time.

Before March 1: File for homestead exemption

If the home is your permanent residence, Florida’s homestead exemption can lower your taxable value. The key dates come from state law: you must own the home on Jan. 1, and you must file with the county property appraiser by March 1. Missing the deadline generally means waiving the exemption for that year. If you bought and moved in during 2026, that typically means filing for the 2027 tax year by March 1, 2027.

Most county property appraisers accept online applications. Have your deed or closing documents ready along with proof of Florida residency, such as a Florida driver’s license and vehicle registration. Our Florida residency guide and first 30 days checklist cover the paperwork.

When a cold snap is forecast

Central Florida freezes are usually brief, but they can still damage tropical landscaping. UF/IFAS Extension in Orange County recommends a few steps:

• Cover tender plants with frost cloth, sheets, blankets, or burlap rather than plastic. Let the cover drape all the way to the ground and weigh it down.
• Water before the cold front arrives. Moist soil holds more daytime heat and releases it overnight.
• Move container plants somewhere sheltered.
• After a freeze, you can trim leaves that are clearly dead. If a plant needs heavy pruning, wait until new growth appears.

If your home has a pool, check that the pump’s freeze-protection setting is on, if your equipment has one. Then test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when you switch the thermostat to heat for the first time.

Still looking for your Central Florida home?

Browse Our Listings, or explore an area like St. Cloud. If you’re also weighing a vacation home, the Hot Short-Term Rentals page shows homes from this week’s screen.

Ryan Sager, REALTOR®, LPT Realty · ANEW Collective · FL License #3540605 · (407) 342-6367 · ryan@sagerfl.com