Palm Beach County property records are public files that show who owns land, buildings, and homes in Palm Beach County, Florida. These records include the owner’s name, the property address, the parcel number, the value of the land, the buildings on it, past sales, and any taxes paid.
Anyone can look at these records for free through the county’s official websites. This page shows you how to find these records, what each one means, and which office keeps each type of file.
What Are Palm Beach County Property Records
Property records are official papers that track every piece of real estate in the county. Each parcel of land has a unique ID number called a parcel number or folio number. The county uses this number to keep all the data tied to that piece of land. The records show the legal owner, the size of the lot, the size of any buildings, the year the home was built, and the most recent sale price.
These records help people buy and sell homes, pay the right amount of tax, and check for liens or debts tied to a property. Lenders, lawyers, real estate agents, and home buyers all use these records. The records are kept by three main county offices: the Property Appraiser, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the Tax Collector.
Who Maintains Property Records in Palm Beach County
Three county offices work together to keep property records current. Each office has a different job.
Property Appraiser: This office sets the value of every property each year for tax reasons. It keeps the parcel data, owner names, and maps. Its website lets you search by name, address, or parcel number.
Clerk of the Circuit Court: This office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other legal papers tied to real estate. When someone buys a home or takes out a loan, the deed or mortgage is filed here.
Tax Collector: This office collects property taxes each year. It shows whether taxes have been paid and if any taxes are past due.
Types of Records You Can Search
The county keeps many types of property records. Each one answers a different question about a piece of land or a building.
- Parcel Records: Show the basic facts about a lot, the owner, and the value.
- Deed Records: Show who sold the property, who bought it, and when the sale took place.
- Mortgage Records: Show loans tied to the property and the lender’s name.
- Lien Records: Show debts tied to the property, such as unpaid contractor work or court judgments.
- Tax Records: Show how much tax is owed and the payment history.
- Homestead Exemption Records: Show if the owner applied for a tax break on their main home.
- GIS Maps: Show the shape and location of the parcel on a map.
How to Do a Palm Beach County Property Search Online
The fastest way to find records is through the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s website. The site is open to the public and free to use. You can search three ways: by owner name, by property address, or by parcel number.
To start your search, go to the Property Appraiser site and click on the search box. Type the owner’s last name and first name, then click search. A list will appear with all properties owned by people with that name. Click on a name to see the full record for that property.
If you know the address, type it into the address search box. Use the house number and street name. The system will show the parcel data, the owner’s name, the land size, the building size, the year built, and the most recent assessed value.
If you have a parcel number, type the full number into the parcel search box. The parcel number is a 13-digit code that looks like 00-43-45-27-01-000-1230. Each set of numbers points to a specific area, subdivision, and lot.
Palm Beach County Parcel Search by Number
A parcel number is the most exact way to find a property. Each parcel has one unique number, and no two parcels share the same number. This number is printed on tax bills, deeds, and many other property papers.
To search by parcel number, open the Property Appraiser site and pick the parcel search option. Type the full number in the right format. The site will pull up every record tied to that parcel, including the legal description, the owner, the value, and the sales history.
The parcel number format for Palm Beach County follows this pattern: township-range-section-subdivision-block-lot. Knowing this format can help you read the number and find the property faster.
Palm Beach County Property Owner Lookup
Many people need to find the owner of a property. You might be a neighbor with a question, a buyer checking who owns a lot, or a lawyer doing research. The Property Appraiser’s site lets you search by name to find the current owner.
Type the owner’s full name or last name into the search box. The site will list all properties with a matching owner. You can see the mailing address, the property address, and the assessed value. The site also shows if the owner has filed for a homestead exemption, which means the property is their main home.
Keep in mind that property can be owned by a person, a couple, a trust, a company, or a bank. The search results will show the exact name on the deed. If a company owns the property, the company name will appear as the owner.
Palm Beach County Property Information by Address
If you know the street address, you can pull up the full property record. The address search is helpful when you see a home for sale or want to check the value of your own home. The site returns a full report with photos, the lot size, the building size, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the year built.
The address search also shows the sales history. You can see the date of the last sale, the sale price, and the name on the deed at the time of sale. This data is helpful for tracking how property values have changed in a neighborhood.
Palm Beach County GIS Property Map
A GIS map is a digital map that shows property lines, lot sizes, and parcel data. The Property Appraiser runs a GIS map on its website. You can zoom in to see a single lot or zoom out to see a whole neighborhood. Each parcel on the map is shaded and labeled with the parcel number.
Click on any parcel to open the property record. The map shows roads, water, city limits, and zoning. It also shows flood zones, which can affect insurance costs. The GIS map is helpful for checking property lines before building a fence, adding a pool, or buying land next to your home.
To use the GIS map, open the Property Appraiser site and click the “Map” link. Type an address or parcel number into the search bar to center the map on a specific property. Use the zoom buttons to get a closer look at the lot lines.
Palm Beach County Property Tax Records
Tax records show how much each property owner pays in property tax each year. The tax rate is set by the county, the city, the school board, and other local agencies. The Tax Collector sends the tax bill each year, and the Property Appraiser sets the taxable value.
To check tax records, visit the Tax Collector’s website. You can search by owner name, address, or parcel number. The site shows the current year tax bill, the amount due, the amount paid, and any past-due taxes. It also shows the discount for early payment and the date the discount ends.
Florida law gives a 4% discount for paying in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February. The full amount is due by March 31. After that, the tax becomes delinquent and extra fees are added.
Palm Beach County Property Appraisal and Value Records
The Property Appraiser sets the value of every property each year on January 1. This value is called the assessed value. The assessed value is used to figure out the property tax bill. The Property Appraiser looks at recent sales, the location, the size, the condition, and the features of each property to set the value.
You can see the assessed value on the Property Appraiser’s website. The record shows the land value, the building value, and any extra features like a pool or a shed. It also shows any value caps or exemptions that lower the taxable amount.
Florida has a rule called the Save Our Homes cap. This rule limits how much the assessed value can grow each year. For homes with a homestead exemption, the assessed value cannot go up by more than 3% per year, even if the market value goes up faster.
Palm Beach County Deed Records Search
Deed records show the legal transfer of property from one owner to the next. The Clerk of the Circuit Court records all deeds in Palm Beach County. You can search these records online through the Clerk’s Official Records search.
To search for a deed, go to the Clerk’s website and open the Official Records search. Type the grantor’s name (the seller), the grantee’s name (the buyer), the recording date, or the document number. The site will show a list of matching records. Click on a record to see the document type, the names on the deed, the legal description, and the recording date.
Deed records are helpful for tracking ownership history, checking for forged deeds, and proving ownership during a legal case. The Clerk’s office keeps deeds from the 1800s to the present day.
Palm Beach County Recorded Documents Search
The Clerk of the Circuit Court records many types of legal documents. These include deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, easements, and court orders. All of these are called official records. You can search them online or visit the Clerk’s office in person.
The online search lets you look up records by name, date, or document type. The search results show the book and page number, the date recorded, and the names on the document. You can view a scanned image of the actual document for a small fee, or you can view a basic index record for free.
Common recorded documents include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgage documents, release of mortgage, lis pendens, satisfaction of lien, and tax warrants. Each document type has a two-letter code that makes it easy to filter your search.
Palm Beach County Mortgage Records
When someone takes out a loan to buy a home, the lender files a mortgage document with the Clerk’s office. This document puts a lien on the property until the loan is paid off. When the loan is paid, the lender files a release of mortgage, which removes the lien.
You can search mortgage records through the Clerk’s Official Records search. Type the property owner’s name or the lender’s name to find active mortgages. The search results show the loan amount, the lender’s name, the recording date, and the document number. This data is helpful for buyers who want to know if a property has an existing loan.
Palm Beach County Homestead Exemption Records
A homestead exemption lowers the property tax bill for the owner’s main home. Florida offers this exemption to permanent residents who own the home and live in it on January 1 of the tax year. The exemption can save the owner up to $50,000 in taxable value.
To check if a property has a homestead exemption, search the property on the Property Appraiser’s website. The record will show “Homestead” in the exemption section if the owner has filed. It will also show the year the owner first got the exemption.
You can apply for a homestead exemption at the Property Appraiser’s office. You need to bring a Florida ID, a voter registration card or a declaration of domicile, and the deed to the property. The deadline to file is March 1 of the tax year.
Palm Beach County Property Transfer Records
When a property is sold or transferred, the new owner must record the deed with the Clerk’s office. The Property Appraiser also tracks each transfer in its sales history. The sales history shows the date of each transfer, the sale price, and the document number.
Transfer records are helpful for tracking price changes in a neighborhood, finding comps for a new sale, and checking if a sale was an arms-length deal. The Property Appraiser’s website shows the sales history for the past 20 years or more.
Palm Beach County Land Records and Ownership
Land records include vacant lots, farms, and commercial parcels. The Property Appraiser tracks all land in the county, even if no building sits on it. Each parcel has a record that shows the owner, the lot size, the zoning, and the land value.
Vacant land can be a good investment, but it also comes with tax duties. Land owners must pay property tax each year, even if no one lives on the land. You can check the tax status of a vacant lot through the Tax Collector’s website.
Palm Beach County Property Data Search Tips
Here are some tips to get the best results from your search.
- Use the parcel number for the most exact results.
- Try both first and last name order when searching by name.
- Use a partial address if the full address does not work.
- Check the spelling of street names, as some streets have similar names.
- Use the GIS map if you are not sure of the exact parcel number.
- Call the office if the online record looks wrong or out of date.
Common Reasons People Search Property Records
People search property records for many reasons. Home buyers check the value and ownership of a home before making an offer. Sellers check the value of their own home before listing it. Real estate agents pull records for clients. Lawyers pull records for legal cases. Lenders pull records before approving a loan.
Neighbors may search to find the owner of a nearby lot, to check for code violations, or to learn about a new development. Investors search to find properties for sale, check tax status, and study market trends.
What to Do if a Record Looks Wrong
Sometimes a record has an error. The owner’s name may be misspelled, the address may be wrong, or the value may seem off. If you spot an error, contact the right office. The Property Appraiser handles value, owner name, and parcel data. The Clerk handles deed and mortgage data. The Tax Collector handles tax payment data.
You can file a correction request online or visit the office in person. You may need to bring proof, such as a copy of the deed or a survey. Most corrections take a few business days to process.
Privacy and Public Access Notes
Property records are public under Florida law. This means anyone can look at them, but it also means the records do not include private data like a Social Security number, a phone number, or a date of birth. The records show what is on the public deed, the tax roll, and the official record books.
Florida law also protects the use of these records. You cannot use them to stalk, harass, or harm someone. You cannot use them to make decisions about credit, employment, insurance, or housing, because that would fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Official Office Contact Details
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
301 North Olive Avenue, 5th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2866
Website: www.pbcgov.org/papa
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court
205 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2996
Website: www.mypalmbeachclerk.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Palm Beach County Tax Collector
301 North Olive Avenue, 1st Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2264
Website: www.pbctax.com
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Beach County Property Records
Here are answers to the most common questions about Palm Beach County property records. Each answer is based on current county rules and Florida state law.
How do I find out who owns a property in Palm Beach County?
You can find the owner of a property by searching the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s website. Type the owner’s last name, the address, or the parcel number into the search box. The site will show the current owner’s name, the mailing address, and the property details. The records are updated as soon as a new deed is recorded with the Clerk’s office. You do not need to create an account or pay a fee to view the basic owner data. The search works for homes, vacant lots, and commercial buildings in all 38 cities and towns in the county.
Are Palm Beach County property records free to view?
Yes, the basic property records on the Property Appraiser’s site are free. You can view owner names, parcel data, assessed values, and sales history without paying. The Clerk of Court also lets you search the official records index for free. You only pay a small fee if you want to download or print a scanned copy of a recorded document like a deed or mortgage. Each scanned page costs a small fee set by Florida law. The fee covers the cost of keeping the records online and paying for the computer system.
How often is the property value updated?
The Property Appraiser updates the assessed value of every property each year on January 1. This date is called the assessment date. The new value is used to figure out the property tax bill for that year. The Property Appraiser mails a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes in August. The owner has 25 days to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board if they think the value is too high. Sales are added to the sales history throughout the year, so the site always shows the most recent sale.
Can I see who bought a property and the sale price?
Yes, the Property Appraiser’s site shows the sales history for each property. You can see the date of the sale, the sale price, and the document number. The Clerk’s site also has the recorded deed, which shows the grantor and grantee. Sales data goes back many years, so you can track the full sales history of a home. The data is helpful for buyers who want to know if the asking price is fair and for owners who want to track their home’s value over time.
What is a parcel number and where do I find it?
A parcel number is a 13-digit code that the county uses to track each piece of land. It is printed on the property tax bill, the deed, and many other property papers. The number follows this format: township-range-section-subdivision-block-lot. Each set of numbers points to a specific area, which makes it easy to find the property on the GIS map. If you do not have the parcel number, you can search by the owner’s name or the address on the Property Appraiser’s site, and the site will show the parcel number for the property.
How do I apply for a homestead exemption in Palm Beach County?
You can apply for a homestead exemption at the Property Appraiser’s office or online through the Property Appraiser’s website. You must own the home and live in it as your main home on January 1 of the tax year. You need a Florida driver’s license or ID, a voter registration card or a declaration of domicile, and the deed to the property. The deadline to file is March 1. The exemption can lower the taxable value of your home by up to $50,000 and may protect you from losing the home to certain creditors.
Can I find out if a property has any liens or legal issues?
Yes, you can search for liens and legal issues through the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Official Records search. Type the owner’s name, the address, or the document type into the search box. The site will show any liens, judgments, lis pendens, or other legal papers tied to the property. You can also check the Tax Collector’s site to see if there are any past-due taxes, since unpaid taxes also create a lien on the property. A title search company can also pull a full title report if you need a complete look at the property’s legal history.