The short answer: the CDD is the district itself, a special district created under Florida’s Chapter 190. (Homes in the Lady Lake / Lake County area aren’t inside a numbered residential district.) A district charges two things on the tax bill: a bond assessment that repays the infrastructure it borrowed for, and a maintenance assessment for ongoing upkeep. You can pay the bond off. The maintenance assessment stays.
The CDD is the district, not a fee
A Community Development District is a local special-purpose government created under Chapter 190, Florida Statutes. The Villages’ residential districts were created this way, each by a county or city ordinance listed on its District page (for example District 5). People say “the CDD” when they mean one of its charges. That’s where the confusion starts.
Side by side
| Bond assessment | Repays the special assessment bonds that built the district’s infrastructure. Shows on the annual tax bill. Can be paid off any time. If unpaid, it stays with the home when it sells. |
|---|---|
| CDD maintenance | Pays ongoing upkeep of the district’s common areas. Shows on the annual tax bill. Set each year by the district budget. Continues after a bond payoff. |
| Amenity fee (not a CDD assessment) | Monthly bill from District Utilities, set by the home’s deed covenant. How it works |
From District FAQs, District 5 and District finance.
Which districts still have bonds
It depends on the district and even the unit. The District says District 1 has no outstanding bond assessments on any unit (finance page). Newer districts do: District 13’s fiscal year 2023 audit lists three bond series maturing from 2050 to 2052 (audit). For anything in between, the tax bill and the Bond Team (352-751-3900) are the answer. District-by-district notes are on the neighborhoods pages.
Should you pay the bond off?
It’s a money decision, not a rule. Paying it off removes the bond line from future bills. Whether that beats keeping the cash depends on the remaining balance, the bond’s rate and how long you’ll own the home. Selling soon? Sometimes the balance is better handled in the price. I run both ways on your actual numbers. More detail: the bond guide and calculator.
Want the bond and maintenance numbers for one address?
Send the address. I’ll pull the tax bill lines and the bond balance and send back what each one is. Prefer a call? 352-298-8602.
Questions people ask
Is CDD the same as the bond?
No. The CDD is the district. It levies a bond assessment (repays infrastructure) and a maintenance assessment (ongoing upkeep). Both show on the tax bill.
Can I pay off the CDD?
You can pay off the bond assessment any time. The maintenance assessment continues every year.
Does the bond go away when I sell?
Not by itself. An unpaid bond balance stays with the home and the buyer takes it over, unless it’s paid off at or before closing.
Do resale contracts need a CDD disclosure?
Florida’s s. 190.048 requires a specific bold CDD notice in contracts for the initial sale of a lot or home in a CDD. Resale contracts commonly include CDD language too; your contract and title company handle the details.
Sources
Checked October 8, 2026. Rules, fees and numbers change, so I confirm anything that matters on the specific address.