(1) Any person wishing to ensure that the person's residential land and improvements are appraised as residential may file a signed application with the department.
(2) In the application, the owner shall:
(a) assert that the property is used only for human habitation and is the principal residence of the owner;
(b) sign a statement pledging that the property will continue to be used as residential property; and
(c) show that the statement has been filed with the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the property is located.
(3) When the department has approved an application for residential use, the department and its agents shall consider only those indicia of value that the property has for residential use.
(4) Failure to file an application under this section may not result in reclassification on real property unless there has been an actual change in use.