Homestead and related programs

Qualification

You may qualify for homestead if you answer yes to any of these statements:

• You are a Minnesota resident
• You own the property in your own name — not as a business entity
• You live in the property year-round
• You or your property co-owner have a social security number or an individual taxpayer identification number
• Your relative lives in the property. This person must be your child, grandchild, sibling, parent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or your spouse’s parent.

Deadline

You must own, occupy and apply by December 31.

Application

Start your application.

Remove your homestead status

Notify the county assessor within 30 days if you sell, move, or for any reason no longer qualify for homestead.

Complete the notice-of-move form (PDF, 1MB).

Email form to ao.programs@hennepin.us or mail to the address on the form.

Prerequisite for this program

Your property must be classified as homestead.

If your property is not classified as homestead complete the online homestead application before applying for this program.

People who qualify for this program get a reduction of their property’s taxable value.

Qualification

$150,000 market value exclusion

• Honorably discharged veterans must have a 70–99% service-connected disability either temporary or permanent or
• 100% service-connected disability not considered permanent

$300,000 market value exclusion

• An honorably discharged veteran who is both 100% service-connected disability and permanent service-connected disability
• Veterans with 100% unemployability regardless of disability percentage
• Surviving spouses of veterans permanently and totally disabled
• Surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
• Surviving spouses of service members who died while serving honorably in active service
• Family caregivers of a veteran with a disability

Deadline

Deadline is December 31.

Application

After applying and being approved for homestead:

1. Complete the appropriate application:

• Veteran with a disability (PDF, 1MB)
• Family caregiver of a veteran with a disability (PDF, 1MB)
• Surviving spouse of a veteran with a disability (PDF, 1MB)

2. Mail completed application and required documentation to the address on the application.

If you need help filling out your application contact at county veterans service staff at vetservices@hennepin.us or 612-348-3300.

Prerequisite for this program

Your property must be classified as homestead.

If your property is not classified as homestead complete the online homestead application before applying for this program.

People who qualify for this program get a lower property tax rate on the first $50,000 of value.

Qualification

Blind persons

You must be certified legally blind to qualify.

Disabled persons

You must be permanently disabled and currently receiving public assistance to qualify.

Deadline

Deadline is October 1.

Application

After applying and being approved for homestead:

1. Complete the application: For homesteads of persons who are blind or permanently and totally disabled (PDF, 1MB).

2. Mail completed application and required documentation to the address on the application.

Special agricultural homesteads

Prerequisite for this program

You must own a homesteaded property to qualify for this program.

People who qualify for this program get a lower property tax rate on the qualifying land.

Qualification

• Either you or a qualifying relative must actively farm the land.
• Property owned by a trust or authorized farm entity may also qualify.

Deadline

Deadline is December 31.

Application

1. Complete the appropriate application:

• Individually owned special agricultural homestead (PDF, 1MB)
• Trust owned special agricultural homestead (PDF, 1MB)
• Entity owned special agricultural homestead (PDF, 1MB)

2. Mail completed application to the address on the application.

Green Acres and Rural Preserve

This is a property tax deferral program for certain agricultural property.

Two values are determined on qualifying property:

1. The agricultural value based on sales of agricultural property not impacted by other influences, such as development.
2. The actual market value based on sales of similar property, which may be influenced by development pressures.

Taxes are calculated on both market values, but paid on the lower, agricultural value each year.

The difference between the tax calculated on agricultural market value and the actual market value is deferred until the property is sold or no longer qualifies for the program.

Qualification

The property must be:

1. Classified as 2a agricultural land primarily devoted to agricultural use

2. At least 10 acres in size or a nursery or greenhouse

3. Either:

• Classified as homestead
• Farmed with the homestead property of a qualifying person or entity
• Owned by the applicant or their family at least 7 years
• Owned by a commercial nursery or greenhouse

Deadline

Deadline is May 1.

Application and addendum

1. Complete the application: Application for agricultural land (PDF, 1MB).
Note: complete an addendum for each parcel you wish to enroll in the program.

2. Mail completed form(s) to the address on the application.

Changes in ownership or use of property

The county will evaluate your property when there is a change in:

• Use (for example, the property is no longer being farmed)
• Ownership

Any new owner must apply for the program within 30 days of a transfer of ownership. Enrollment in the program does not transfer from owner to owner.

If no new application is submitted by the new owner or the property no longer qualifies due to change in use, the owner must pay:

• Deferred taxes for the current year and two previous years
• Any deferred special assessments plus interest

To initiate removal from the program please complete (the request) and email to ao.programs@hennepin.us.