About Jefferson County
Jefferson County calls itself the Keystone County. Monticello is the county seat and the only incorporated place, about 23 miles east-northeast of Tallahassee, so most residents live in unincorporated areas such as Lloyd, Lamont, Waukeenah and Wacissa. The county website points visitors to the 1890 Opera House, the Monticello Historic District, canopy roads and the Watermelon Festival in June, and notes that watermelon seed production began in the county in 1882. Part of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, which includes about 43 miles of Gulf coast across Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties, lies in Jefferson County.
The county's preparedness guide says coastal and low-lying areas fall into evacuation zones A through D on storm surge maps. It adds that the county has ordered evacuations for mobile homes, low-lying areas and RVs in past storms. SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) here is run by a private consulting firm, DSR Consulting and Management, under contract to the county. The county's 2026 application says homebuyer purchase help is for first-time buyers, mobile homes are not eligible, and each applicant is limited to one-time help.
Quick facts
- County seat
- Monticello
- Region
- Northwest Florida
- 2026 conforming loan limit
- $832,750
- One-unit home · FHFA
- 2026 FHA loan limit
- $541,287
- One-unit home · HUD
- Geography
- Part of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, with about 43 miles of Gulf coast shared with Wakulla and Taylor counties
- Canopy roads around Monticello
- Coastal and low-lying areas in evacuation zones A through D
- Housing types
- Historic-district homes in Monticello
- Rural homes and acreage in unincorporated communities
- Mobile and manufactured homes, which past evacuation orders have covered
- Low-lying and coastal properties in evacuation zones
Figures show their source and year. Confirm details with the county offices.
Housing in Jefferson County
Monticello supplies the county's historic setting: the 1890 Opera House and the Monticello Historic District anchor the town, and canopy roads are among the sights the county website lists. Beyond the town, most housing is rural, in unincorporated communities such as Lloyd, Lamont, Waukeenah and Wacissa. Mobile homes are part of the stock; past evacuation orders in the county have covered them, and the county's housing program excludes them from homebuyer help.
Buyers should ask the City of Monticello what review applies to exterior changes in the historic district, and ask the county's Building and Planning offices what a rural parcel needs before construction. Check the property's evacuation zone in the state's Know Your Zone tool as well as its FEMA flood zone, since the preparedness guide places coastal and low-lying areas in zones A through D.
Financing in Jefferson County
USDA loans
Rural parts of Jefferson County may include USDA-eligible addresses, but eligibility is decided for each address in USDA's property eligibility map and not for the county. The borrower's household income and other requirements are checked separately. Run the exact address of any rural home before you commit to inspections and appraisal costs.
First-time buyers
Because county homebuyer help is limited to first-time buyers and excludes mobile homes, a repeat buyer or a mobile home buyer should ask early about other options. Florida Housing's statewide programs are separate and define eligibility their own way. Ask your loan officer which programs could apply to the buyer and property, and which clearly do not.
Flood zones and flood insurance
The county's preparedness guide points residents to the state Know Your Zone tool and places coastal and low-lying areas in zones A through D, but an evacuation zone is different from a FEMA flood zone. Check both for any parcel, ask the seller about past high water and ask an agent whether flood coverage would be advisable or required.
Homeowners insurance
Past evacuation orders in Jefferson County covered mobile homes, low-lying areas and RVs, including during Hurricane Helene, which is a reminder that wind and storm planning apply here. For a mobile or manufactured home, ask an insurance agent how coverage is written. Florida policies can carry a separate hurricane deductible, and standard homeowners coverage generally excludes flood.
Homestead exemption
Apply with the Jefferson County Property Appraiser by March 1. The home must be your permanent residence on January 1 of that tax year. Inside Monticello's historic district, ask the City what review applies before you plan exterior changes, because renovation plans and the tax filing are separate conversations with separate offices.
Local homebuyer assistance
SHIP applications go to DSR Consulting and Management under a contract with the county. The county's 2026 application says homebuyer purchase help is for first-time buyers, mobile homes are not eligible, and each applicant is limited to one-time help. Ask the county housing office what is open before building a purchase plan around it.
Cities, towns and communities
- MonticelloCityCounty seatCounty seat and only incorporated place, with the 1890 Opera House and the Monticello Historic District; about 23 miles east-northeast of Tallahassee.
- LloydUnincorporated communityCensus-designated place about 10 miles west-southwest of Monticello.
- LamontUnincorporated communityCensus-designated place about 12 miles south-southeast of Monticello.
- WaukeenahUnincorporated communityCensus-designated place about 12 miles south-southwest of Monticello.
- WacissaUnincorporated communityCensus-designated place about 15 miles south-southwest of Monticello.
Official local resources
- Jefferson County Property Appraiser
- Jefferson County Tax Collector
- Jefferson County Clerk of Court and Comptroller (official records)
- Jefferson County Public Safety and Emergency Management
- Jefferson County Housing Assistance and Grants (SHIP)
Links go to government offices, not to Mortgage by Ruben.
Jefferson County: common questions
5 questions
Does Jefferson County have hurricane evacuation zones?
Yes. The county's preparedness guide says coastal and low-lying areas fall into Zones A through D on storm surge maps. It sends inland residents to the state Know Your Zone tool. It also says past orders covered mobile homes, low-lying areas and RVs, including during Hurricane Helene.
Who runs Jefferson County's SHIP program?
The county uses DSR Consulting and Management, a private firm, to administer SHIP. Its 2026 application says homebuyer purchase help is for first-time buyers, mobile homes are not eligible and each applicant is limited to one-time help. Ask the county housing office what is available now.
Does the Monticello Historic District limit changes to a house?
The City of Monticello can tell you what review applies to exterior changes in the historic district. Ask before you sign a contract, not after you design a project, and ask whether the address lies inside the district boundary. The county website lists the Monticello Historic District among its main attractions.
Can county SHIP help me buy a mobile home in Jefferson County?
The county's 2026 SHIP application says mobile homes are not eligible for homebuyer help. Past evacuation orders in the county have covered mobile homes, so insurance and storm planning matter too. Ask your loan officer about other programs for manufactured housing, since each program sets its own rules on foundation, title and installation.
Where is Jefferson County Emergency Management and how do I get alerts?
Emergency Management is at 169 Industrial Park in Monticello, and the county's emergency alerts page has a sign-up for notices. The preparedness guide places coastal and low-lying areas in evacuation zones A through D and sends inland residents to the state's Know Your Zone tool. Look up both the zone and the alert sign-up for the address you buy.
Loan programs to explore
- Manufactured Home LoansFHA, VA, USDA and conventional options for manufactured homes.
- USDA LoansRural Development loans for eligible areas and incomes.
- First-Time Homebuyer OptionsOptions and assistance programs for your first home.
- Construction-to-Permanent LoansFinance building a home with one closing.
Not sure which program fits? Try the program finder or run your own numbers in the calculators.
Browse all loan programsNeighboring counties
All 67 countiesLocal information on this page is general, comes from public sources and can change. Loan programs and eligibility do not depend on the county alone, and this page does not determine them. For current facts about a property, check official sources such as the county property appraiser or assessor and FEMA flood maps. This is not a commitment to lend, and program availability varies by lender.