Owning a home doesn’t mean you can afford every repair it needs. A leaking roof, faulty electrical system, or serious plumbing problem can quickly become overwhelming, especially when you’re already living on a tight budget.
If you live in certain parts of Hillsborough County, Florida, there’s a local program that may help you make necessary repairs without requiring monthly loan payments.
The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation (OOR) Program provides interest-free, deferred loans to eligible homeowners. These loans may be forgiven over time if you continue living in your home and meet the program’s requirements.
Here’s how the program works, who qualifies, and how to apply.
What Is the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program?
Hillsborough County’s Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program helps income-eligible homeowners pay for repairs needed to make their homes safer and bring them into compliance with Florida Building Code requirements.
The program focuses on essential repairs rather than cosmetic improvements or remodeling.
Instead of giving homeowners a traditional grant, the county provides a 0% interest loan with deferred payments.
That means you won’t have monthly loan payments while you’re meeting the program’s requirements. The loan principal is forgiven gradually over a period of 5 to 15 years, depending on the amount of assistance.
However, the loan comes with conditions, including a mortgage lien recorded against your property.
What Home Repairs Are Covered?
The program prioritizes repairs that address health, safety, accessibility, and serious problems with a home’s condition.
Eligible repairs may include:
- Roof repairs or replacement: Fixing leaking, damaged, or failing roofs.
- Plumbing repairs: Addressing broken plumbing, sewer, or septic systems.
- Electrical repairs: Correcting unsafe wiring or other hazardous electrical problems.
- Heating and cooling: Repairing or replacing essential HVAC systems.
- Structural repairs: Fixing damaged floors, walls, foundations, porches, or siding.
- Water heater replacement: Replacing a failing water heater.
- Accessibility improvements: Installing ramps, widening doorways, or modifying bathrooms and kitchens for people with disabilities.
- Environmental safety: Addressing lead-based paint hazards or other approved environmental problems.
- Weatherization: Improving insulation, doors, windows, roofing, and other features that affect energy efficiency.
The county determines which repairs qualify after reviewing the property’s condition.
What Repairs Aren’t Covered?
This is not a general home improvement or remodeling program.
Landscaping and irrigation systems are not eligible.
Homeowners also won’t have complete control over the materials used. The county generally requires contractor-grade materials and offers limited customization, such as neutral paint colors selected according to contractor guidance.
If necessary repairs exceed 50% of the home’s appraised value, the county may recommend demolition and reconstruction instead, depending on available funding.
Who Is Eligible?
The program has several requirements that homeowners must meet together.
According to Hillsborough County, applicants generally must:
- Own and occupy an eligible home in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Plant City, or Temple Terrace.
- Have a total household income below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
- Have maintained a homestead exemption on the property for at least two years.
- Be current on property taxes or on an acceptable current-year payment plan.
- Own no other real estate.
- Have no more than one mortgage on the property.
- Be in good standing with Hillsborough County utilities.
- Have all previously opened permits and notices of commencement closed.
- Agree to the county’s deferred, interest-free mortgage lien and promissory note.
The property deed cannot be held in a trust. The county generally permits ownership in fee simple or through a life estate.
If multiple people own the property, all owners must consent to the repairs, even if some live elsewhere.
The county also generally limits eligibility to homes with an appraised value of $300,000 or less and a size of 2,000 square feet or less.
What Types of Homes Qualify?
Eligible properties may include:
- Single-family homes
- Villas
- Condominiums
Mobile homes generally do not qualify unless the homeowner also owns the land and the home meets applicable HUD and county building standards.
Does the Program Cover Tampa?
No. This particular program serves homeowners in:
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County
- Plant City
- Temple Terrace
Homes within the City of Tampa are not covered by this program.
Tampa operates its own housing rehabilitation assistance program.
If you’re unsure whether your property is in an eligible area, use the property locator linked on the county’s official OOR page or contact Affordable Housing Services.
What Are the Income Limits?
Your total household income must be less than 80% of the Area Median Income for your household size.
Hillsborough County publishes the following 2026 income figures:
| Household Size | 80% AMI |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $64,250 |
| 2 people | $73,400 |
| 3 people | $82,600 |
| 4 people | $91,750 |
| 5 people | $99,100 |
| 6 people | $106,450 |
| 7 people | $113,800 |
| 8 people | $121,150 |
These figures may change when updated income limits are released.
You can also read our Area Median Income guide to better understand how AMI affects eligibility for housing assistance.
Can You Apply If You’ve Received Housing Assistance Before?
Possibly, but there are restrictions.
The county’s main program page says homeowners generally cannot have received certain county housing assistance within the previous five years.
This includes assistance through the OOR Program or certain nonprofit, CDBG, HOME, and SHIP-funded housing programs.
Emergency and disaster assistance does not count toward this restriction.
However, a county application document references a different three-year period.
Because these documents do not agree, homeowners who received assistance within the past five years should contact the county rather than assuming they’re ineligible.
How Much Assistance Can You Receive?
Hillsborough County does not publish a clear maximum award amount on its current OOR program page.
The amount of assistance depends on the repairs your home needs and the costs established through the county’s inspection, bidding, and rehabilitation process.
You won’t simply receive a check to spend on repairs yourself.
Instead, the county and its partners determine the necessary work, establish the project cost, and arrange the rehabilitation process.
The amount approved for your home may vary, and funding is not guaranteed.
If you want to know whether the program has a current maximum loan amount, contact Affordable Housing Services directly.
How Does Loan Forgiveness Work?
One of the most important features of this program is that the loan has 0% interest and no required monthly payments.
Instead, the county gradually forgives the loan principal over a period of 5 to 15 years, depending on the amount borrowed.
For example, a homeowner who receives assistance may have part of the loan forgiven each year while continuing to meet the program’s requirements.
However, this is not an unrestricted grant.
Before repairs begin, homeowners must sign loan documents, including a promissory note and mortgage lien recorded against the property.
What Happens If You Sell or Move?
The program is designed for homeowners who plan to remain in their homes.
If you sell the property, stop occupying it as your primary residence, or otherwise violate the loan agreement before the required period ends, you may have to repay money.
Depending on the loan documents and the circumstances, repayment could involve more than just the remaining unforgiven balance.
Before signing, ask the county exactly what would happen if you needed to sell, move, or transfer ownership.
Understanding these conditions is especially important for homeowners who may need to relocate for health, family, or financial reasons.
How Do You Apply?
Hillsborough County provides an application through its official website.
Step 1: Review the Requirements
Visit the official Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program page.
Read the eligibility requirements and download the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Application.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
The county may request documentation showing that you meet the program’s requirements.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include:
- Proof of household income
- Identification and proof of residency
- Property ownership documents
- Homestead exemption information
- Property tax records
- Mortgage information
- Other documents requested in the application
Review the application checklist carefully before submitting.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
You can submit your completed application and supporting documents by email or mail.
Email: AffordableHousingServices@HCFL.gov
Mailing Address:
Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services
Attn: OOR
601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 24th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
Step 4: Wait for the County’s Review
The county will review your application and notify you of the results.
If your application moves forward, the county and its partners may assess your home’s condition, establish the necessary repairs, and obtain bids.
The repair costs and loan terms must be established before the rehabilitation work proceeds.
Don’t assume that repairs you arrange or pay for independently will be covered by the program.
Is the Program Accepting Applications in 2026?
The program appears active.
On September 15, 2026, Hillsborough County published an announcement encouraging eligible homeowners to apply for rehabilitation assistance.
The county also continues to provide application instructions on its official website.
However, no specific application closing date is published, and the county does not guarantee that funding will remain available.
Before submitting your application, contact Affordable Housing Services to confirm that applications are currently being processed and that funding is available.
You can reach the office at:
Phone: 813-635-1610
Email: AffordableHousingServices@HCFL.gov
Relief Recap
If you own a home in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Plant City, or Temple Terrace and can’t afford necessary repairs, the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program may be worth exploring.
It may help eligible homeowners address serious roofing, plumbing, electrical, structural, and accessibility problems through an interest-free loan that can be forgiven over time.
You’ll need to meet the income, property ownership, homestead, and other eligibility requirements. You’ll also need to understand the loan conditions before agreeing to the repairs.
The county has encouraged homeowners to apply in 2026, but funding availability should be confirmed directly.
Visit the official Hillsborough County OOR Program page to review the requirements and download the application.
If you’re trying to determine whether your household income qualifies, our Area Median Income guide can help you understand the income limits.
