File with your local Registry of Deeds. Additional exemptions are available for veterans.Top Five Things that May Cause You to Lose Your Homestead Exemption. Renting your property for more than 30 days per calendar year, for 2 consecutive years. Check List – Fill out the Homestead Declaration Form completely, sign it and have it notarized. The homestead can't exceed one acre in a city or 160 acres in a rural area. The answer is no for Florida. And that whenever you sign for homestead exempt you're signing that you are a permanent resident of the state of Florida. Each state has its own laws surrounding exemptions. If you're eligible for the homestead exemption, the application process will vary depending on where you live.