Boca Raton Property Records Lookup

Boca Raton property records are maintained by the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser and the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. This guide explains how to search ownership data, assessed values, sales history, homestead exemptions, and recorded documents for any parcel in Boca Raton, one of the most prominent cities in Palm Beach County.

How Boca Raton Property Records Are Managed

Boca Raton sits in the southern part of Palm Beach County, and all property records for the city are managed at the county level. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser is Dorothy Jacks. The main office is at 301 N Olive Avenue, Suite 2301, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The phone is (561) 355-2866 and the email is PACustomerService@pbcgov.org. The main website is pbcpao.gov.

For Boca Raton residents who prefer in-person service, the closest regional service center is the South County Service Center at 14925 Cumberland Drive, Suite 101, Delray Beach, FL 33446. The phone at that location is (561) 276-1250. This center serves the southern portion of Palm Beach County and is significantly closer to Boca Raton than the main office in West Palm Beach.

Palm Beach County as a whole manages 659,119 real property parcels with a total market value exceeding $513 billion. Boca Raton is one of the higher-value markets within the county, with a mix of luxury single-family homes, gated communities, high-rise condominiums along the coast, and significant commercial and office development. All parcels in the city fall under the county Property Appraiser's jurisdiction.

Florida law under Chapter 193 requires the Property Appraiser to assess all real property at just value each year. Recorded instruments are filed separately with the Palm Beach County Clerk under Chapter 28.

How to Search Boca Raton Property Records

The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's search tool at pbcpao.gov is free and publicly available at any time. To find a Boca Raton parcel, search by:

• Owner name
• Property address
• Parcel Control Number (PCN)
• Subdivision name
• Condo building name and unit

The PCN is the unique parcel identifier used throughout Palm Beach County. Results show the current owner of record, mailing address, legal description, property use code, land area, building data, year built, just value, assessed value, taxable value, active exemptions, and full sales history. The site also includes a tax estimator at pbcpao.gov/calc-property-tax.htm that lets you model what taxes would look like for a property with different ownership or exemption status. This tool is especially useful in Boca Raton where values are high and exemptions make a meaningful difference in the tax bill.

The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's homepage is the main search portal for all Boca Raton parcel data, assessments, and exemption information.

The site gives access to the parcel search, interactive maps, exemption filing, and the sales comparison data. For Boca Raton condo searches, the site lets you search by building name or complex name, which simplifies finding the right unit among the large number of multi-unit buildings in the city.

For recorded instruments in Palm Beach County, the Clerk's online portal provides a public search of the Official Records index. Many documents can be viewed for free. Certified copies carry fees.

What Boca Raton Property Records Show

A parcel record from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser for a Boca Raton address typically includes the following:

• Owner of record - current legal owner and mailing address
• Parcel Control Number (PCN) - Palm Beach County's unique parcel identifier
• Legal description - from the most recent recorded deed
• Property use code - single family, condo, commercial, vacant, etc.
• Land area and building square footage
• Year built and construction class
• Just value - the annual market value set by the Property Appraiser
• Assessed value - may be below just value if Save Our Homes cap applies
• Taxable value - just value minus all exemptions
• Active exemptions - homestead, senior, disability, veteran
• Sales history - all past transfers with dates and prices

Boca Raton has a large luxury and high-value market. Many properties have just values well above the $75,000 threshold where the homestead exemption fully applies. For homes with just values in the millions, the $50,000 exemption represents a smaller percentage of the taxable value. Still, the Save Our Homes cap is what drives the real tax benefit for long-term owners. A Boca Raton homeowner who purchased 15 or 20 years ago may have an assessed value that is a fraction of the current just value, producing a very favorable tax rate on an otherwise high-value property.

Homestead Exemption for Boca Raton Homeowners

Florida's homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a primary residence by up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities. The second $25,000 applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and is exempt from all levies except the school board millage. Both must be applied for separately when you first qualify.

To qualify, you must own the property and occupy it as your permanent primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year. You must be a Florida resident. The deadline is March 1 each year. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser offers an online e-file system for homestead applications at secure.co.palm-beach.fl.us. You can also apply in person at the main office in West Palm Beach or at the South County Service Center in Delray Beach at 14925 Cumberland Drive, Suite 101, phone (561) 276-1250. For Boca Raton residents, the Delray Beach center is considerably closer.

The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's phone directory page lists contact numbers for all departments and regional service centers, including the South County center that serves Boca Raton.

Use the phone directory to reach the right department quickly. Exemption questions, parcel data corrections, and portability applications each go to different staff. The directory page helps you avoid waiting in the wrong phone queue.

The Save Our Homes cap under Section 193.155 limits annual assessed value increases for homesteaded properties to 3% or the CPI rate, whichever is lower. In Boca Raton's rising market, this cap has created significant gaps between just value and assessed value for long-term owners. When you move, portability allows you to transfer that benefit to a new Florida home. Apply for portability by March 1 of the year after your move. Other available exemptions include low-income senior, disability, widow or widower, and veterans exemptions. Contact the Property Appraiser at (561) 355-2866 for eligibility information.

City of Boca Raton Government Resources

Boca Raton City Hall is at 201 W Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432. The general city phone is 561-393-7700. The city website is myboca.us. City departments handle zoning, code compliance, permits, and other municipal services for properties within city limits.

The Development Services Department oversees building permits and zoning. The Building Division is at 200 NW Boca Raton Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL 33432, phone 561-393-7980. The website is myboca.us/building-department. Permit records show what construction and renovation work has been done on a property and whether required inspections were completed. Checking permit history before a purchase is important in any market, but especially in Boca Raton where older homes and condos may have had renovations, additions, or system upgrades over the years.

The City of Boca Raton also maintains a GIS mapping portal that provides parcel data, zoning maps, and flood zone information. This tool can complement the county Property Appraiser's data and is useful for understanding the full regulatory context of a property. Access GIS through the city website at myboca.us.

Official Records at the County Clerk

Recorded property documents for Boca Raton parcels are held by the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Under Chapter 28 of Florida Statutes, the Clerk maintains the Official Records index. For Boca Raton properties, this includes:

• Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions
• Mechanic's liens and releases
• Lis pendens filings
• Judgment liens
• Easements and plats
• HOA documents and declarations of condominium

The Clerk's online portal lets you search the Official Records index by party name, document type, and recording date range. Many documents can be viewed at no cost. Certified copies carry fees set under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes. Boca Raton has a large number of planned communities and HOA-governed properties. Declarations of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) are recorded with the Clerk and can be found through the Official Records search. Reviewing these documents before buying in a community with an HOA is always a good idea.

TRIM Notice and Tax Calendar

Each August, Palm Beach County mails a TRIM notice to every property owner of record. TRIM stands for Truth in Millage. The notice shows your proposed assessed value for the next tax year, the exemptions the Property Appraiser has on file, and proposed millage rates from each taxing authority that covers your property. For Boca Raton owners, this includes the county, the city, the school board, and any applicable special districts.

If you believe your proposed assessed value is too high, you have approximately 25 days from the notice date to file a petition with the Palm Beach County Value Adjustment Board. The VAB process is independent of the Property Appraiser and gives property owners a formal hearing to present evidence for a lower value or a denied exemption. Many petitions are resolved by the property owner directly, without needing to hire an agent or attorney.

Final millage rates are set at public budget hearings in September. Tax bills are sent out in November. Early payment discounts reward prompt payment: 4% if paid in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February. Taxes must be paid by March 31 to stay current. After April 1, taxes become delinquent and the county begins the tax certificate sale process under Chapter 192 of Florida Statutes.

Nearby Cities

Boca Raton is in the southern part of Palm Beach County, close to the Broward County line. Several qualifying cities are in the same county or just south in Broward.