(a) There is levied on the owner of each dwelling and commercial building located in those portions of Houston County located outside the corporate boundaries of the City of Dothan a fire protection service fee of thirty dollars ($30) per year.
(b) For the purposes of this article a dwelling shall be defined as any building, structure, or other improvement to real property used or expected to be used as a dwelling or residence for one or more human beings, including, but not limited to, (1) such a building, structure, or improvement assessed for purposes of state and county ad valorem taxation, as Class III single-family owner-occupied residential property, (2) a duplex or an apartment building, (3) residential property used to generate rental income, and (4) any mobile home or house trailer used or expected to be used as a dwelling or residence for one or more human beings.
(c) Any such building, structure, or other improvement shall be classified as a dwelling for purposes of this article notwithstanding:
(1) That it is wholly or partially vacant or uninhabited at any time during the year for which a fire protection service fee with respect thereto is or is to be levied; or
(2) That it is also used or expected to be used simultaneously for a purpose, whether or not commercial in nature, other than as a dwelling or residence as aforesaid.
(d) For the purposes of this article, a commercial building shall be defined as any building, structure, or other improvement to real property used or expected to be used for commercial or business purposes including rental property. The term commercial building shall not apply to any school, church, senior citizen facility, or any building used primarily for volunteer fire or emergency services, and shall not apply to any building or structure used primarily for agricultural purposes by the owner or an employee of an agricultural business or concern.
(e) The fee shall in no manner be construed as a tax on property. The fee shall be levied for the purpose of funding fire protection services to dwellings and businesses under this article.
(f) Any person age 65 or over exempted from paying property tax in Houston County in partial or in whole shall also be exempted from paying the fee levied by this article. Any person less than the age of 65 and having an annual adjusted gross income of twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) or less, as shown on such person’s and spouse’s latest United States income tax return may apply for an exemption annually and shall be exempted from paying the fee levied by this article for the principal residence of the household provided the person seeking to claim the exemption shall present proof of income to the county administrator no later than July 1 of any year in which the exemption is desired. In the event that such person and spouse are not required to file a United States income tax return, then an affidavit indicating that the annual gross income of such person and spouse for the preceding taxable year was twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) or less shall be sufficient proof. The exemption shall apply only so long as the person’s annual gross income shall be twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) or less and shall be requested each year in which the exemption is desired. The fee levied by this article shall be assessed unless application for exemption is submitted to the Houston County Commission, or its designee, and approved. Any person who knowingly provides false or misleading information in order to obtain an exemption shall lose his or her household exemption and shall be subject to Section 45-35-140.09.
Last modified: May 3, 2021