Groveland, FL Real Estate: Buying & Selling Guide (2026)

The short version: Groveland homes are recorded by the Lake County Property Appraiser and billed by the Lake County Tax Collector. The City adopted 5.5000 mills for 2026, down from 5.7000 in 2025. City parcels also carry a fire protection assessment, a separate charge on the tax bill set by the home’s square footage. The City provides drinking water, reclaimed water and wastewater, and Waste Connections of Florida collects residential garbage. City impact fees on a new single-family home on City water and sewer add up to about $17,717 before county fees. None of The Villages’ residential districts lists Groveland.

Groveland, FL at a glance

County	Lake County
History	Settled by 1895 as Taylorville; renamed Groveland in 1922The City marked its 100th birthday in 2022
Crossroads	State Roads 50, 19 and 33, per the City
2026 city millage	5.5000 mills adopted5.7000 in 2025; 2026 rolled-back rate 5.6040
Fire assessment	Non-ad valorem charge on the tax bill, tiered by square footage per dwelling unitResolution 2025-42 preliminary rates: $259.50 to $532.78 a unit
City utilities	Drinking water, reclaimed water and wastewater (Public Utilities Division)
Opening a water account	$200 deposit plus a $50 service chargeOwners show the warranty deed or closing disclosure and a driver’s license
Garbage	Waste Connections of Florida; $26.47 a month for one 95-gallon can
City impact fees, new single-family home	Water $4,067; wastewater $10,714; parks $1,650.76; law enforcement $616.24; fire $541.30; administrative $127.50Schedule effective October 1, 2026
Villages district inside the city	None listed

From the City of Groveland’s history, utility, billing, garbage, fire assessment, impact fee and flooding pages, the Lake County Property Appraiser’s 2026 final millage sheet, the Florida Department of Revenue’s 2025 Lake County table, Lake County’s floodplain page and the District Government’s district pages. Checked October 10, 2026.

Two fire lines to compare, not one

The Property Appraiser’s final sheet dated October 9, 2026 shows Groveland at 5.7000 mills in 2025 and 5.5000 adopted for 2026, 3.51% lower, while taxable value in the city rose 8.34%. The state’s 2025 Lake County table put a Groveland parcel’s 2025 total at 17.7866 mills. That total leaves out the county fire rescue/EMS levy and the county stormwater levy, which unincorporated land pays (0.4800 and 0.4957 mills for 2026).

Groveland pays for its fire department another way. Its fire assessment is a dedicated charge collected each year on the property tax bill: residential property by square-footage tier per dwelling unit, other buildings by square footage, vacant land at a flat rate. The City says the money supports staffing, training and response, and helps keep its ISO ratings strong. In Resolution 2025-42, based on a July 15, 2025 study, the Council preliminarily approved residential rates from $259.50 for a unit under 500 square feet to $532.78 for 5,000 square feet or more. A house of 1,500 to 1,999 square feet was set at $326.06.

So when you compare a Groveland house with one just outside the city, add both pieces. By my arithmetic, the 2026 city rate is about 4.52 mills more than the two county levies it replaces, roughly $1,131 a year on $250,000 of taxable value, and the fire assessment comes on top. The bill for the parcel shows the actual amounts.

City water and sewer: what the account takes

The City’s Public Utilities Division produces and distributes drinking water and reclaimed water for irrigation, and collects and treats wastewater. Its utility billing page sets the terms a buyer or landlord runs into:

A $200 deposit plus a $50 service charge, the same for owners and renters.
Owners bring the warranty deed or closing disclosure and a driver’s license; service cannot start before the effective date on those documents.
Between tenants, the property owner must register the home before the new tenant can open an account.
Bills are due on the 1st, and a 10% penalty applies after 5 p.m. on the 10th.

The City’s customer responsibility page makes the owner responsible for water lost on the house side of the meter, including over-irrigation. Residential garbage is collected by Waste Connections of Florida: one 95-gallon can for $26.47 a month, with an extra can at $19.33.

Building new: the fees behind the price

Groveland posts its impact fee schedule. For permits from October 1, 2026, a single-family home pays $4,067 in water and $10,714 in wastewater impact fees, plus $1,650.76 for parks, $616.24 for law enforcement, $541.30 for fire and $127.50 in administrative fees. That is about $17,717 before any county fees. On the same page the City posts Lake County’s residential schedule, which for permits from October 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027 lists roads, schools, fire, parks, library and an administrative fee, $17,564 in all for a 1,500 to 2,499 square foot house in the south and northeast/Wekiva transportation district. Which county lines apply to a particular Groveland permit is a question for the building division.

For a new home bought from a builder, these fees are the builder’s cost and sit inside the price. For someone buying a lot to build on, they are part of the permit cost, so they belong in the land budget. A resale home does not pay them again.

Flood: the City’s view and the parcel’s map

The City’s flooding page says Groveland is not considered a flood hazard area, sits on relatively high ground in places and has an engineered drainage system, but warns that hard enough rain can still cause localized flooding. It links a map of areas with flooding potential. The FEMA map for the parcel is what a lender reads, so check it on any lot near Lake David, Cherry Lake or the Palatlakaha River.

Lake County’s floodplain section keeps an elevation certificate finder and lists Groveland-area basin studies, including a 1991 Groveland basin study, a 1994 southeastern Groveland study and a 1992 Palatlakaha River basin study. Its 15% Community Rating System discount is earned for unincorporated homeowners, so ask the insurance agent what applies inside the city. Sellers owe the written flood disclosure at or before contract.

How I’d price and sell a Groveland home

Read both fire lines on the bill.
The city millage and the fire assessment, from the Lake County Tax Collector, so a buyer sees the full yearly cost.
Confirm the utility setup.
City water and sewer, reclaimed irrigation or well and septic, with recent bills.
Separate new construction from resale.
Builder pricing carries impact fees and incentives; I compare resale with resale first.
Check the parcel’s flood map.
Especially near the lakes and the river, before the insurance quote surprises anyone.
Price from your net.
The seller net sheet comes first; the list price follows.

A Lake County sale

40140 Palm St, Lady Lake: listed $299,999, sold $307,000.

It closed on July 22, 2026 for a seller who lived out of state. Different town, same Lake County records and tax collector a Groveland sale runs through. Read how it sold.

Questions people ask about Groveland, FL

What is the Groveland city millage for 2026?

The City of Groveland adopted 5.5000 mills for 2026, down from 5.7000 in 2025, according to the Lake County Property Appraiser’s final millage sheet dated October 9, 2026. The rolled-back rate was 5.6040.

What is the Groveland fire assessment?

It is a non-ad valorem charge collected each year on the property tax bill to fund Groveland’s fire protection and rescue services. Homes are assessed by square-footage tier per dwelling unit. The rates the City Council preliminarily approved in Resolution 2025-42 ranged from $259.50 to $532.78 per unit.

What impact fees does a new home pay in Groveland?

For permits from October 1, 2026, the City lists $4,067 for water, $10,714 for wastewater, $1,650.76 for parks, $616.24 for law enforcement, $541.30 for fire and $127.50 in administrative fees for a single-family home, about $17,717 in total. The City also posts Lake County’s residential impact fee schedule; confirm which county fees apply with the building division.

What do I need to start water service in Groveland?

A $200 deposit and a $50 service charge, a driver’s license, and a warranty deed or closing disclosure for an owner or a signed lease for a renter. Between tenants, the owner must register the home before a new tenant can start service.

Is Groveland part of The Villages?

No. None of The Villages’ residential district pages lists Groveland. The District Government places The Villages’ Lake County areas in Fruitland Park, Leesburg and the Town of Lady Lake plus part of unincorporated Lake County.

Sources

Checked October 10, 2026. The fire assessment figures are the preliminary rates in the City’s 2025 resolution; I confirm the parcel’s actual 2026 bill, utility accounts and permits before anything goes in a listing or an offer.

Next step

Selling or buying in Groveland?

Send the address. I’ll read both fire lines on the bill, confirm the utilities and the flood map, and tell you what I’d list it at or offer.

Get my home’s value → Book a 15-min call

Mo Mufti, REALTOR® · LPT Realty, LLC · 352-298-8602 · [email protected]

Groveland, FL: add the fire assessment to the tax line.