On September 24, 2026, the Southwest Ranches Town Council kept its operating millage at 3.90 for fiscal year 2026–27. Citizen Portal's summary of the final hearing reported a vote that was unanimous and a budget of roughly $24 million. For a buyer comparing towns, that rate is the figure that gets quoted. It is also the part of the town's bill that changed least this year.
Two other charges on a Southwest Ranches tax bill have nothing to do with what the home is worth. They are set by the number of homes on the parcel and the size of the lot, and both went up for 2026–27. If you're looking at large lots or the gap between Southwest Ranches and Davie, these two charges are part of the comparison.
Two charges that ignore the home's value
The town's final fire protection rate schedule for fiscal 2026–27 has three categories.
- Residential: $844.67 per dwelling unit, up from $767.76 last year
- Acreage: $90.77 per acre, up from $79.90
- Combined non-residential: $1.1934 per square foot of building area
The acreage rate applies mainly to undeveloped land, often agricultural, and to vacant residential or commercial parcels. Some of that acreage is exempt when the property appraiser grants an exemption.
The residential solid waste assessment has two parts. Household waste, which covers garbage and recyclables, is $611.39 per dwelling unit no matter the lot size. Bulk waste is charged by the parcel's lot square footage, and that part grows as the lot does. Here are the adopted combined totals for 2026–27, from the town's September 14, 2026 first budget hearing agenda:
| Lot size | FY2025–26 total | FY2026–27 total | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 41,200 sq ft | $1,073.55 | $1,150.97 | $77.42 |
| 41,201 to 46,999 sq ft | $1,077.19 | $1,248.68 | $171.49 |
| 47,000 to 62,999 sq ft | $1,275.15 | $1,424.48 | $149.33 |
| 63,000 to 95,999 sq ft | $1,282.52 | $1,464.95 | $182.43 |
| 96,000 to 106,999 sq ft | $1,394.65 | $1,591.61 | $196.96 |
| 107,000 sq ft and up | $1,596.75 | $1,705.57 | $108.82 |
These amounts are already reduced. The council used $100,000 from reserves to lower each assessment. The town notes it used the same kind of fire subsidy in the FY2026 budget.
Dwelling units and the assessment categories
For fire protection and household waste, the number of dwelling units matters on an estate.
That's why two listings on similar land in Southwest Ranches can carry different fixed costs.
Millage and charges in Southwest Ranches, Davie, and Weston
The fire assessment pays for a rural setup. The town's fire rescue contract is budgeted at $4,719,461 for 2026–27, and the budget also funds changes to the Volunteer Fire program to improve planning for fire wells. Neighboring cities set their charges differently. Here are adopted 2026–27 municipal figures for a single-family home in each town:
| Southwest Ranches | Weston | Davie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating millage | 3.90 | 3.5046 | 5.3392 |
| Residential fire assessment | $844.67 | $839.19 | $296.00 |
| Residential solid waste | $1,150.97 to $1,705.57 | $426.91 | $347.12 |
| Flat charges, one home | $1,995.64 to $2,550.24 | $1,266.10 | $643.12 |
Sources are Weston's FY2027 adopted budget, Davie's September 14 special assessments hearing materials, and Davie's September 16 second budget hearing materials. Davie also levies 0.0541 voted-debt mills and a separate stormwater assessment based on a parcel's impervious area, which aren't included above. County, school, and special district levies also apply to every bill, and they aren't compared here.
Southwest Ranches' operating millage is 1.4392 mills below Davie's.
Weston's operating millage and flat charges are lower than Southwest Ranches'. Its fire assessment is close to Southwest Ranches' per home, $839.19 against $844.67. The gap is mostly solid waste, and it gets bigger as Southwest Ranches lots get larger.
Property tax information
The appraiser's new-homebuyer tax estimator has two limits for Southwest Ranches shoppers. It uses the average Broward municipal millage of 19.8394 mills, not the rate for a specific property. It also leaves out non-ad valorem charges such as fire and garbage.
Bills for the year now starting arrive soon. The Broward County Tax Collector mails annual property tax bills on November 1, and they're payable that day. Paying early earns a discount of 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February.
Quick answers
Were these rates approved or only proposed? They're final. The fire rates were approved at the September 14, 2026 hearing, and the solid waste resolution was adopted that same day. Both cover the fiscal year from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
This is general information, not tax, legal, or financial advice. Please confirm a specific property's parcel and dwelling-unit classification, and how any assessment or exemption applies, with the Broward County Property Appraiser, the town, or your tax professional.
If you're comparing a Southwest Ranches acreage listing with a home in Weston or Davie, Joe Caprio & Co. Real Estate can help. Contact us to get started.
