Square footage (also called living area, heated square feet, or gross living area) is the measured size of your home's interior living space. It's one of the most important factors in determining your property's assessed value—larger homes are worth more, all else being equal.
Appraisal districts use square footage from building permits, prior records, or aerial measurements. Errors are common: wrong measurements from original construction, additions not properly recorded, or differences in how space is counted (finished vs. unfinished, garage vs. living area).
Incorrect square footage directly affects your assessment. If the county thinks your home is 2,400 square feet when it's actually 2,100, you're being overassessed by 300 square feet—potentially thousands of dollars in extra taxes.
Square footage errors are one of the easiest protest wins—if your records are wrong, the fix is straightforward.
How to check your square footage:
1. Find your property record card (appraisal district website)
2. Note the living area square footage
3. Compare to your home's actual size
4. Sources: closing documents, appraisal, or measure yourself
If there's a discrepancy:
• Gather documentation (survey, appraisal, floor plans)
• Calculate the value impact ($/sq ft × error)
• Present evidence at your protest
• Request correction in property records
A 200 sq ft error at $150/sq ft = $30,000 in overstated value. That's real money.
Square footage definitions:
What's typically included:
• Heated/cooled living space
• Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens
• Finished areas above grade
• Enclosed porches (if heated/cooled)
What's typically excluded:
• Garages (counted separately)
• Unfinished basements
• Unheated porches or patios
• Attic storage areas
Common measurement issues:
• Built records show permitted plans, not as-built
• Additions measured incorrectly
• Finished areas counted as unfinished (or vice versa)
• Garage conversion counted wrong
• Measurement methodology differences
Look up your property on your appraisal district's website and find your property record card or property details. Living area square footage is listed there. Compare it to your closing documents, prior appraisal, or measure your home yourself.
File a protest and present evidence of the correct square footage. Acceptable documentation includes professional appraisals, surveys, builder plans, or your own measurements with supporting photos. The district should correct their records and adjust your value.
Typically no—garages are counted and valued separately from living area. However, if a garage has been converted to living space, it should be reclassified. Conversely, if the district counts your garage as living area, that's an error worth correcting.