Dixie County Property Records Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Cross City, Florida |
| Property Appraiser Phone | (352) 498-1213 |
| Property Appraiser Address | 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, FL 32628 |
| Florida DOR Oversight | Yes (Chapter 192, Florida Statutes) |
| Homestead Filing Deadline | March 1 |
| Save Our Homes Cap | 3% or CPI, whichever is lower |
| County Land Area | Approximately 705 square miles |
| Parcel Database | Free public search available online |
Dixie County property records are public files kept by the Dixie County Property Appraiser, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the Dixie County Tax Collector. These three offices work together to manage who owns each parcel, how much each property is worth for tax purposes, and how much tax each owner must pay each year. Any person can look up a parcel, see the owner, check the value, and review sale history at no cost.
Dixie County sits along Florida’s Big Bend coast. Cross City is the county seat. The county has a small population, a large land area, and many rural parcels, timber tracts, and riverfront homes. Because of this mix, the property appraiser’s office holds records on homes, vacant land, farms, commercial sites, and government-owned parcels. The records are public under Florida law, and the office offers free online tools so you can pull up any parcel from your phone or computer.
Dixie County Property Appraiser Office
The Dixie County Property Appraiser is the main office for parcel data in the county. The office is located at 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, FL 32628. The phone number is (352) 498-1213. Office hours run Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Staff can answer questions about ownership, parcel IDs, land use codes, assessed values, and exemption status.
The Property Appraiser is an elected office. The person holding this job must be a certified Florida appraiser. They carry out duties set by state law, which include listing every parcel in the county, setting a just value for each, tracking ownership changes, and administering exemptions like homestead. The office updates the tax roll each year and certifies it to the Florida Department of Revenue before tax bills go out.
The Dixie County Property Appraiser does not set tax rates and does not collect tax payments. The Tax Collector sends bills and takes payments. The Property Appraiser only tracks the value side of the tax system. Knowing this split helps you contact the right office when you have a question.
How to Search Dixie County Property Records Online
The Dixie County Property Appraiser’s website has a free public search tool. You can search by owner name, property address, or parcel ID number. The search returns the current owner, the mailing address, the legal description, the land use code, the year the home was built (if there is one), the square footage, and the latest assessed value.
Sales history shows the date of each transfer, the sale price, the deed type, and the official records book and page number. This makes it possible to trace ownership of a parcel back many years. The data is updated after each transfer is recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
For statewide data, the Florida Department of Revenue runs a Property Tax Data Portal. This portal lets you pull county-level data sets, including Dixie County assessment rolls and sales data. The DOR updates the portal once a year after each county certifies its tax roll.
For deed and mortgage records, the Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains an official records database. This is separate from the appraiser’s database. The clerk records warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, and lis pendens. Each recorded document gets an instrument number and is indexed for public search.
What Dixie County Property Records Contain
A standard Dixie County property record shows the owner’s full name, the property’s situs (physical) address, the legal description from the deed or plat, the parcel ID number, and the land and improvement values broken out separately. You will also see the just value (market value), the assessed value (used for taxes), and any exemptions that reduce the taxable value.
Residential parcels show the year built, living area square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, construction type, and roof type. Vacant land records show the acreage, road frontage, and any land use classification. Agricultural parcels show whether the owner has applied for a greenbelt or ag classification, the number of acres in production, and the type of crop or livestock operation.
Commercial parcels show the building class, total area, number of units, and the most recent sale data. The appraiser also tracks tangible personal property for some businesses, which is a separate value listed on the record.
Sale data is a key part of every record. Each time a property changes hands, the appraiser notes the sale date, the sale price, the deed type (warranty, quitclaim, special warranty), the grantor and grantee names, and the clerk’s official records reference. This chain of title data helps buyers, sellers, title companies, and researchers confirm who owned a parcel and when.
Dixie County Parcel Number Lookup
A parcel number, also called a parcel ID or tax ID, is the unique code the appraiser assigns to each piece of land. Dixie County uses a numbering format that includes a township, range, section, and block/lot code. This format is the same across most Florida counties and ties back to the Public Land Survey System.
You can look up a parcel number in three ways. First, search by owner name on the appraiser’s website. The result will show the parcel number for each owned property. Second, search by address if you know where the property sits. Third, use the GIS parcel map, which lets you click on a parcel and see the ID, owner, and value.
Once you have a parcel number, you can pull a full record card, check exemption status, print an ownership report, or request a data file. Title companies and real estate agents use parcel numbers daily to order title work and confirm ownership before closing.
Dixie County GIS Property Map
The Dixie County GIS parcel map is a web-based map tool that shows every parcel in the county. You can zoom in on a neighborhood, click on a parcel, and see the owner’s name, parcel ID, land use, and assessed value. The map shows parcel boundaries over aerial photos, road layers, and water features.
The GIS map is useful for checking whether a property line matches the legal description, looking at flood zones, or seeing what is next door. Surveyors, buyers, and researchers use the map to study land splits, road frontage, and access points. The map data comes from the Dixie County Property Appraiser and is updated as new plats and deeds are recorded.
To use the GIS map, go to the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s website and click the GIS link. The map works on desktop and mobile browsers. No login is needed. You can search by address, owner, or parcel ID, or you can pan and zoom the map to find a parcel by sight.
Homestead Exemption in Dixie County
Florida law gives permanent residents a homestead exemption that lowers the taxable value of a primary home. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes. A second $25,000 applies to non-school levies. The total savings can reach $50,000 off the assessed value, depending on the millage rates in your area.
To get the exemption, you must own the home and live there as your primary residence on January 1 of the tax year. You must file Form DR-501 with the Dixie County Property Appraiser by March 1. If you miss the deadline, the exemption does not apply for that year, except in rare cases where a good cause is shown.
Once you have the homestead exemption, the Save Our Homes cap limits how much your assessed value can go up each year. The cap is 3% or the rate of inflation (CPI), whichever is lower. Over time, this can create a wide gap between market value and assessed value, especially in areas with strong price growth.
If you move to a new home in Florida, you may be able to transfer part of your Save Our Homes benefit. This is called portability. You apply for portability when you file for homestead on the new home. The appraiser calculates how much benefit you can bring based on the difference between the old home’s market value and assessed value.
Other exemptions available in Dixie County include:
- Widow or widower exemption ($500)
- Disability exemption (varies)
- Veteran with service-connected disability exemption (varies)
- Senior low-income exemption (up to $50,000)
- Religious, charitable, or government exemptions for qualifying organizations
Each exemption has its own rules and forms. The Dixie County Property Appraiser’s office can tell you what you need to file.
TRIM Notices and the Dixie County Tax Process
Each August, the Dixie County Property Appraiser mails Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices to property owners. This is not a tax bill. The TRIM notice shows the proposed assessed value, the exemptions on the parcel, and the proposed tax rates from each taxing authority that covers the property. The notice also lists the date, time, and location of the public budget hearings for each taxing authority.
The TRIM notice is the key time of year to check your assessed value. If you think the value is too high, you have the right to challenge it. The first step is to call or visit the Dixie County Property Appraiser and ask for an informal review. Many disputes are resolved at this stage. If you still disagree, you can file a petition with the Dixie County Value Adjustment Board (VAB). The petition deadline is usually 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed.
After the taxing authorities adopt their final millage rates in September or October, the Tax Collector mails actual tax bills in November. The payment deadline is March 31 of the following year. Florida law gives a discount for early payment. Paying in November gets a 4% discount. Paying in December gets 3%. Paying in January gets 2%. Paying in February gets 1%. Paying in March gets 0%. Paying in April adds a 3% penalty, and the rate climbs each month after that.
If you do not pay your bill, the Tax Collector holds a tax certificate sale. After two years of delinquency, the certificate holder can apply for a tax deed. This can result in the loss of the property. Paying on time protects your title.
Dixie County Tax Assessor Records
The term “tax assessor” can cause confusion in Florida. In many other states, the assessor is the office that values property. In Florida, the office that values property is called the Property Appraiser. The Dixie County Property Appraiser handles all assessment functions. The Dixie County Tax Collector handles billing and collection.
When people search for “Dixie County tax assessor records,” they usually want the same data the appraiser’s office holds: parcel ID, owner, value, exemptions, and sales. All of that is available on the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s website. Tax bills, payment history, and delinquent tax lists are on the Dixie County Tax Collector’s website.
For tax certificate searches and tax deed records, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the right office. The clerk records the tax certificates, holds the auction, and issues the tax deed when the redemption period ends.
Dixie County Deed Records at the Clerk of Court
The Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court records and stores all deeds, mortgages, and other instruments that affect real property. The clerk’s office is at the Dixie County Courthouse in Cross City. The phone number is (352) 498-1200.
Deed records include:
- Warranty deeds
- Quitclaim deeds
- Special warranty deeds
- Trustee deeds
- Personal representative deeds (probate)
- Sheriff’s deeds (court-ordered sales)
Mortgage records include mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments, satisfactions, and modifications. Lien records include construction liens, judgment liens, federal tax liens, and child support liens. Lis pendens notices (claims of pending litigation) are also recorded.
Florida law requires that all deeds and mortgages affecting Florida real estate be recorded in the county where the property is located. Under Chapter 28, Florida Statutes, the clerk charges a fee based on the number of pages and indexes each document for public search. Most recorded instruments are available online through the clerk’s official records search.
After a deed is recorded, the clerk sends the document number to the property appraiser. The appraiser then updates the ownership data on the tax roll. This two-step process keeps both databases in sync, but each office keeps its own independent records with its own search tools.
Dixie County Property Tax Records and Payment Status
The Dixie County Tax Collector’s office maintains payment history for each parcel. You can look up a parcel on the Tax Collector’s website to see the current year’s bill, the amount paid, the amount due, and the early payment discount. The site also shows prior year balances and any delinquent taxes.
Tax records include the millage rate for each taxing authority, the combined tax amount, the discount schedule, the penalty schedule, and the payment due date. The Tax Collector collects taxes for the county, the school district, the water management district, and any special districts that levy property tax in Dixie County.
Paying property tax is required to keep a clear title. A break in the chain of tax payment can lead to a tax deed sale and the loss of the property. Buyers should always check the Tax Collector’s site before closing to confirm the parcel is current on taxes.
Florida Department of Revenue Oversight
The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) supervises property assessment across all 67 counties. Chapter 192, Florida Statutes, defines key terms like just value, assessed value, and taxable value. Chapter 193, Florida Statutes, covers how appraisers must value different property types, including homestead, agricultural, and commercial property. Public access to government records, including property records, is governed by Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, also known as the Public Records Law.
Each year, the DOR reviews the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s roll to confirm that assessments meet state standards. If assessments are out of line with market data, the DOR can require the county to adjust its roll. This oversight keeps the system fair across counties.
The DOR also runs the Florida Property Tax Data Portal, which provides county-level data for research and analysis. The portal includes assessment data, sales data, exemption data, and millage data for all counties, including Dixie.
Dixie County Property Valuation and Assessment
The Dixie County Property Appraiser sets the just value of each parcel as of January 1 each year. Just value is the amount a willing buyer would pay a willing seller, neither under pressure, both with full knowledge of the facts. For most residential parcels, the appraiser uses a mass appraisal model based on recent sales of similar homes.
After setting the just value, the appraiser applies the homestead cap (if any), the Save Our Homes cap (if any), and any exemptions. The remaining number is the assessed value. Taxable value is the assessed value minus all exemptions that apply to the parcel.
If a property is sold, the assessed value resets to just value the following January 1. This is called the “recapture” rule. The cap then applies in later years. The Save Our Homes cap means long-term owners can have much lower assessed values than recent buyers of similar homes.
Cities and Communities in Dixie County
Cross City is the county seat and the only incorporated town in Dixie County. Other communities include Old Town, Horseshoe Beach, Suwannee, and Shamrock. The unincorporated areas of the county are covered by the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s office for tax purposes.
Many parcels in Dixie County are rural. Timber land, hunting tracts, riverfront lots, and small farms make up a large share of the parcels. Coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico and the Suwannee River have higher values per acre than inland timber land.
All parcels, whether in Cross City or in unincorporated Dixie County, appear in the same appraiser database. You do not need to search separate systems for different parts of the county.
Nearby Counties
Dixie County borders five other Florida counties. Each has its own property appraiser and public records system.
- Gilchrist County (north)
- Lafayette County (northwest)
- Taylor County (west)
- Levy County (southeast)
- Suwannee County (northeast)
If a record you need sits just across the county line, you will need to contact the appraiser or clerk in the neighboring county. Each county has its own search tools, fees, and recording rules, even though state law applies to all of them.
How to Request a Certified Copy of a Dixie County Property Record
You can request a certified copy of a record from the Dixie County Property Appraiser or the Clerk of the Circuit Court, depending on what you need. The appraiser’s office can certify ownership reports, exemption records, and parcel data. The clerk’s office can certify recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens.
Certified copies carry a small fee and the official seal of the issuing office. Banks, title companies, and courts often require certified copies for closings, legal filings, and loan documents. You can request a certified copy in person, by mail, or in some cases online.
Allow time for processing. Mail requests can take several business days. Online requests may be faster for documents already in the digital system. Always include the parcel ID, owner name, or document number so the office can find the right record quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dixie County Property Records
1. How do I look up who owns a property in Dixie County?
Go to the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s website and use the free public search. Enter the owner name, address, or parcel ID. The result will show the current owner of record, the mailing address, and the parcel details. The appraiser updates the owner data after the clerk records the deed. This usually happens within a few weeks of closing. If the sale just closed, the new owner may not yet show on the appraiser’s site. For the most up-to-date owner, check the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s official records, which show the recorded deed.
2. Are Dixie County property records free to search?
Yes, the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s online search is free. You can pull ownership data, values, exemptions, and sales history at no cost. The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s official records search is also free for basic lookups. Certified copies and printed documents may carry a small fee. There is no fee to view public records, but there may be a fee for paper copies, certified copies, or bulk data exports.
3. How do I find the parcel number for a Dixie County property?
Search by owner name or address on the Dixie County Property Appraiser’s website. The parcel ID will appear in the result. You can also use the GIS parcel map. Click on a parcel to see its ID. Parcel numbers in Dixie County follow a township, range, section, and block/lot format, which is standard across Florida. Once you have the parcel ID, you can pull a full record card, request certified copies, or order title work.
4. When is the homestead exemption filing deadline in Dixie County?
March 1 is the deadline to file for homestead exemption in Dixie County. You must own the home and occupy it as your primary residence on January 1 of the tax year. Late filings are not accepted except in rare cases where a good cause is shown, such as a medical emergency. The Dixie County Property Appraiser’s office can tell you what forms you need and what documents to bring. Common documents include a Florida driver’s license, a voter registration card, and a recorded deed.
5. What is the difference between the Property Appraiser and the Tax Collector in Dixie County?
The Property Appraiser values property and tracks ownership. The Tax Collector sends bills and collects payments. The Property Appraiser sets the assessed value based on the market and applies exemptions. The Tax Collector applies the millage rates set by each taxing authority, prepares the bill, and handles payments. The Property Appraiser does not set tax rates. The Tax Collector does not set property values. Each office has its own website, phone number, and search tools. For ownership or value questions, contact the Property Appraiser. For bills or payment questions, contact the Tax Collector.
6. How do I challenge my property value in Dixie County?
File a petition with the Dixie County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) within 25 days of the TRIM notice mailing date. The TRIM notice is sent in August. Before filing, you can ask the Dixie County Property Appraiser for an informal review. Many value disputes are settled at the informal stage. If you still disagree, file the DR-486 form with the VAB and pay the filing fee. A special magistrate will hold a hearing and issue a recommendation. The VAB makes the final decision. If you do not agree with the VAB decision, you can file a lawsuit in circuit court within 60 days.
7. Can I see the sale price of a home in Dixie County?
Yes, sale prices are public record in Florida. The Dixie County Property Appraiser’s website shows the sale date, sale price, and deed type for most recorded transfers. The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s official records show the same data plus the grantor and grantee names. Some sales are not arms-length transactions, such as foreclosure sales, family transfers, or government sales. These may not reflect market value. The appraiser notes qualified and unqualified sales and uses only qualified sales for valuation purposes.
Office Contact and Location
Dixie County Property Appraiser
214 NE Highway 351
Cross City, FL 32628
Phone: (352) 498-1213
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court
214 NE Highway 351
Cross City, FL 32628
Phone: (352) 498-1200
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dixie County Tax Collector
214 NE Highway 351
Cross City, FL 32628
Phone: (352) 498-1216
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Florida Department of Revenue
5050 West Tennessee Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 488-6800
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Authority and Entity Expansion List
- Add a step-by-step screenshot walkthrough of the Dixie County Property Appraiser search tool with annotated images
- Add a printable table of all Dixie County millage rates by taxing authority for the current year
- Add a page covering the Dixie County Value Adjustment Board process, including the DR-486 form and filing fees
- Add a guide on how to read a TRIM notice line by line
- Add a tax certificate sale schedule and redemption rules for Dixie County
- Add a page covering building permits and code enforcement records in Dixie County
- Add a flood zone and insurance page using Dixie County GIS layers
- Add a plat map history for Dixie County from the 1800s to today
- Add a comparison of Dixie County millage rates with nearby counties
- Add a page on how to appeal a denied homestead exemption in Dixie County
- Add a guide on how title companies pull and use Dixie County property records
- Add a page on subdividing land in Dixie County, including the plat approval process
- Add a section on FEMA flood maps for Dixie County coastal parcels
- Add a video tutorial showing how to use the Dixie County GIS parcel map
- Add a downloadable PDF checklist for buying rural land in Dixie County