01
One town name, two counties
The City of Dunnellon is in Marion County and had 1,928 residents in the 2020 census, on about 9.1 square miles. The Dunnellon mailing address reaches much further. Its five ZIP codes, 34430 to 34434, cover roughly 39,000 people in both Marion and Citrus counties. Citrus Springs, three miles south on US 41 in Citrus County, uses 34433 and 34434. Rainbow Lakes Estates, six miles north, sits in Marion and Levy counties. Your tax bill or deed shows which county's offices will handle your sale.
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02
River homes on the Rainbow and Withlacoochee
The Rainbow River runs 5.7 miles from Rainbow Springs, which pushes out 400 to 600 million gallons of water a day, to its meeting point with the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon. The state named it an Aquatic Preserve in 1986 and an Outstanding Florida Water in 1987. That clear, spring-fed water is why river lots draw buyers. It also means those buyers, their lenders and their insurers will look closely at flood history, elevation and the condition of anything built near the water.
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03
Selling a flood-damaged house in Dunnellon after Milton
In October 2024, the Southwest Florida Water Management District reported the Withlacoochee at Dunnellon (US 41) still slowly rising as it reached minor flood stage, with levels expected to stay high for weeks. Downstream, Lake Rousseau, a reservoir of about 3,700 acres formed by the Inglis Dam in 1909, touches Citrus, Levy and Marion counties. The district noted that lowering the lake cannot prevent flooding upriver. First Street data on Redfin puts only 3% of Dunnellon properties at severe flood risk over 30 years, so it depends on the lot.
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04
Big subdivisions, wind and wildfire
Much of the Dunnellon area was laid out as large planned subdivisions. Citrus Springs was built by the Mackle Brothers under The Deltona Corporation with more than 34,000 homesites, and Rainbow Lakes Estates covers about 16.37 square miles. That means a lot of single homes on wooded lots and a lot of vacant land. First Street data on Redfin rates 99% of Dunnellon properties as facing some wildfire risk over the next 30 years and 100% as facing extreme wind risk, which affects insurance quotes.
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05
Property taxes on both sides of the line
Marion and Citrus counties follow the same calendar. Bills go out by November 1, early payment earns 4% off in November down to 1% in February, and unpaid taxes become delinquent on April 1. In Marion County, delinquent real estate taxes add 3% interest plus advertising costs, and tax certificates are sold on unpaid parcels on or before June 1. Citrus County offers a quarterly installment plan. A homestead can take up to $50,000 off taxable value if you file Form DR-501 by March 1.
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