Hillsborough County homeowners facing expensive, essential repairs may be able to get help through the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program. It offers eligible residents an interest-free, deferred loan that may be forgiven over time. The assistance is intended for health, safety and accessibility needs—not cosmetic upgrades—and comes with eligibility rules and a lien on the property.
Key takeaways
- Eligible homeowners may receive a 0% interest loan with no monthly payments while they meet program conditions.
- The loan may be forgiven over five to 15 years, depending on the amount and loan terms.
- The program serves unincorporated Hillsborough County, Plant City and Temple Terrace—not the City of Tampa.
- Household income, property value, occupancy and other requirements apply; funding is not guaranteed.
What the program can cover
The county program is designed to address repairs that affect a home’s safety, condition or accessibility and help bring it into compliance with Florida building requirements. Potential work includes roof, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, structural and water-heater repairs. Accessibility modifications and certain environmental-safety or weatherization measures may also qualify. The county determines eligible work after reviewing the home.
This is not a general remodeling benefit. Landscaping and irrigation are excluded, and homeowners may have limited choices over materials and finishes. If repairs would cost more than half the home’s appraised value, demolition and reconstruction may be considered, depending on funding.
Who may qualify
Applicants generally must own and live in an eligible home in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Plant City or Temple Terrace. The property must have a homestead exemption for at least two years, and household income must be below 80% of the area median income. The program also lists requirements involving property taxes, mortgages, utilities, permits and ownership of other real estate.
The reported 2026 income limits range from $64,250 for a one-person household to $121,150 for a household of eight. The county generally limits eligible homes to an appraised value of $300,000 or less and a size of 2,000 square feet or less. Single-family homes, villas and condominiums may qualify; mobile homes face additional ownership and building-standard conditions. Tampa residents should look into the city’s separate rehabilitation assistance instead.
Understand the loan conditions
Although payments are deferred and interest is 0%, the assistance is not an unconditional grant. Homeowners must sign a promissory note and allow a mortgage lien to be recorded against the property. Forgiveness is gradual and depends on the loan amount and continued compliance with the agreement.
Selling the home, moving out or otherwise breaching the terms before the forgiveness period ends could trigger repayment. Applicants should review the loan documents carefully and ask the county to explain what would happen if their circumstances required a move or sale.
How to apply
Applicants can review the county’s Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation materials and submit an application with supporting documents, such as proof of income, ownership, homestead status and property-tax records. If an application advances, the county and its partners assess the home, identify necessary work and establish project costs. Homeowners should not assume that repairs they arrange independently will be reimbursed.
The program is described as active, but an application deadline and guaranteed funding are not specified. Residents should confirm that applications are being processed and funds remain available before relying on assistance.
- Hillsborough County Home Repair Program May Help Cover Costly Repairs, Low Income Relief.