Hurricane Tax-Free Holiday: Price Caps, Pet Supplies, Exclusions

Florida’s hurricane tax-free holiday suspends the state’s 6% sales tax and all local discretionary surtaxes on a defined list of emergency supplies for about two weeks each year, usually timed to the start of Atlantic hurricane season. For 2025, the window ran from June 2 through June 15. The 2026 dates have not yet been enacted; the Florida Department of Revenue posts confirmed dates once the governor signs each year’s tax package.1Florida Dept. of Revenue. Sales Tax Holidays and Exemption Periods

The exemption applies automatically at checkout. No coupon, form, or membership is required, and every retailer in the state that collects sales tax has to honor it.2Florida Department of Revenue. Florida Sales and Use Tax

What Qualifies and the Price Caps

Only items on the state’s list qualify, and each carries a maximum price. If a single item’s retail price exceeds its cap, tax applies to the full price, not just the amount over the limit. The following caps are based on the most recent confirmed schedule from the Department of Revenue.3Florida Department of Revenue. 2024 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday FAQs for Sales and Use Tax Dealers

  • Portable generators: $3,000 or less per unit. A $2,500 generator in a county with a 7.5% combined tax rate saves you $187.50.
  • Tarps, ground anchor systems, and tie-down kits: $100 or less per item.
  • Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors: $70 or less per item.
  • Non-electric food storage coolers: $60 or less.
  • Portable power banks: $60 or less. These are battery-pack chargers for phones and small devices, not full-size power stations.
  • Self-powered radios: $50 or less. Battery, solar, or hand-crank models qualify even if they include an electrical cord.
  • Batteries in AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt, and 9-volt sizes: $50 or less per package. Automobile and boat batteries are excluded.
  • Gas or diesel fuel tanks: $50 or less.
  • Flashlights, lanterns, and candles: $40 or less. The light source must be self-powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas.
  • Reusable ice packs: $20 or less.
  • Manual can openers: $15 or less.

One point of frequent confusion: the $60 cap for portable power banks does not extend to large portable power stations that compete with gas generators. The Department of Revenue does not list power stations as a separate qualifying category. If you want battery-based backup power beyond a phone charger, a portable generator under $3,000 is the qualifying path.

Pet Evacuation Supplies

Pet gear is specifically included, and it is the category most shoppers miss. These items qualify only for personal, noncommercial use.3Florida Department of Revenue. 2024 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday FAQs for Sales and Use Tax Dealers

  • Dry dog or cat food: $100 or less per bag, and the bag must weigh 50 pounds or less.
  • Portable kennels and pet carriers: $100 or less.
  • Leashes, collars, and muzzles: $20 or less per item.
  • Collapsible or travel-sized food and water bowls: $15 or less per item.

Wet pet food, pet medications, and veterinary supplies are not on the list. Buy the qualifying dry food and carriers during the holiday, then handle the rest separately.

What the Holiday Does Not Cover

The exemption is for personal, noncommercial purchases. Businesses and contractors buying supplies for professional use do not qualify. Renting a generator or paying for repairs during the window also does not count; the holiday covers new retail purchases, not services.

Some locations are carved out entirely. Purchases made inside a theme park or entertainment complex, a public lodging establishment, or an airport are taxed at the standard rate even during the holiday.4Florida Department of Revenue. Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday A hotel gift shop selling flashlights, for example, still charges tax because the hotel is a public lodging establishment.

Online and Phone Orders

The exemption applies to online orders from retailers that collect Florida sales tax, as long as the sale takes place during the holiday. The date your payment processes is what controls. If your card is charged during the window, the exemption applies even if the item ships or arrives later. If payment does not clear until after the window closes, standard tax applies. Save order confirmations showing the transaction date in case a dispute comes up.

Other States With Hurricane Preparedness Holidays

Florida runs the best-known disaster prep holiday, but several other severe-weather states offer similar windows. Dates shift each year, so check the relevant department of revenue site for current schedules.

  • Texas: a weekend-length holiday, usually in late April, covering generators up to $3,000, storm-protection devices up to $300, and smaller preparedness items up to $75.
  • Alabama: a late-February weekend holiday covering generators and power cords up to $1,000 and other severe-weather supplies up to $60.
  • Virginia: a three-day holiday in early August covering hurricane and emergency preparedness items alongside school supplies and energy-efficient products.

States without a sales tax, such as New Hampshire and Delaware, effectively offer year-round savings on these items.