Citrus County Property Records

Citrus County property records cover all real estate transactions, ownership data, and assessed values for parcels throughout the county. The Citrus County Property Appraiser maintains these records and makes them available to the public, whether you are searching for a specific parcel, checking tax status, or reviewing deed history in Inverness and surrounding communities.

Citrus County Property Appraiser

The Citrus County Property Appraiser is the primary office for all property assessment and record-keeping in the county. Located at 210 N Apopka Avenue in Inverness, the office manages parcel data for residential, commercial, agricultural, and vacant land across all of Citrus County. Staff assess each property in line with Florida Statute Chapter 193, which sets the rules for how property is valued for tax purposes each year.

You can reach the office by phone at 352-341-6600. The appraiser's website at citruscopa.org lets you search parcel records online without visiting in person. The site includes ownership data, legal descriptions, assessed values, and sales history for parcels throughout the county. Most searches take only a few minutes to complete.

Florida law requires that all property in a county be inspected at least once every five years. This ensures values stay current and that new construction or improvements are captured in the assessment rolls. The appraiser's office coordinates those inspections across Citrus County on a rolling schedule.

How Property Records Are Organized

Property records in Citrus County fall under two main categories: assessment records and deed records. The Property Appraiser handles assessment data, including values, exemptions, and owner information. The Citrus County Clerk of Courts handles recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting title. Both offices are in Inverness and each maintains its own searchable database.

Assessment records are governed by Florida Statute Chapter 192, which covers the general provisions for property taxation throughout the state. This chapter defines key terms such as "just value," "assessed value," and "taxable value," which appear on every property record and tax bill issued in Florida.

Deed records are public documents under Florida Statute Chapter 119, the Public Records Law. This law gives any person the right to inspect or copy public records. It also sets the rules for fees and response times when someone requests records from a government office. Citrus County follows those rules for all property-related document requests.

Clerk records are filed and indexed under Florida Statute Chapter 28, which governs the duties of the Clerk of Courts. This includes recording deeds, plats, and other land-related instruments. When you need a recorded deed or a copy of a mortgage document in Citrus County, the Clerk's office is where to go.

Searching Citrus County Property Records Online

The Citrus County Property Appraiser's online database is free to use. You can search by owner name, parcel ID number, street address, or subdivision name. Results show the current owner of record, the legal description, lot size, building details, year built, and the most recent assessed and just values. Sales history going back several years is also available for most parcels.

The Florida Department of Revenue maintains a statewide data portal with local county data included. The Florida DOR property tax data portal provides access to tax roll information and links to county-level resources. This is a useful starting point if you want context on how Citrus County values compare to state averages.

The Florida DOR website offers guidance for property owners across all 67 counties. Below is a screenshot from the department's data portal, which covers statewide property tax records including Citrus County data.

The portal links out to each county appraiser's site, including Citrus County, making it easy to move between state-level data and local parcel searches.

Note: Online records are updated periodically and may not reflect the most recent deed recordings or pending appeals. For time-sensitive matters, contact the appraiser's office directly at 352-341-6600.

Homestead Exemption and Other Property Exemptions

Florida offers several property tax exemptions that reduce the taxable value of a parcel. The homestead exemption is the most common. It provides up to $50,000 in value reduction for a property that serves as the owner's primary residence. To qualify, you must own the property and live there as of January 1 of the tax year. The filing deadline is March 1.

Citrus County property owners can apply for homestead exemption through the Property Appraiser's office at 210 N Apopka Avenue or online at citruscopa.org. In addition to homestead, other exemptions are available for widows and widowers, persons with disabilities, veterans, and low-income seniors. Each exemption has its own eligibility rules and documentation requirements.

The Florida Department of Revenue provides a full list of available exemptions on its taxpayer information page. That page also covers the Save Our Homes assessment cap, which limits how fast the assessed value of a homesteaded property can increase each year. For Citrus County homeowners who have lived in the same home for several years, this cap can result in significant tax savings.

Note: If you sell your home and buy a new one in Florida, you may be able to transfer your accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to the new property through a process called portability.

Property Tax Bills and the Tax Collector

The Citrus County Tax Collector sends out property tax bills each November. Bills are based on the assessed values set by the Property Appraiser and the millage rates set by taxing authorities such as the county commission, school board, and special districts. Taxes are due by March 31 of the following year, though discounts apply for early payment.

If you have questions about your tax bill or want to look up payment history, contact the Citrus County Tax Collector rather than the Property Appraiser. The two offices work closely together but handle different parts of the property tax process. The appraiser sets values; the collector bills and collects.

The Florida DOR also maintains a directory of county officials, including tax collectors and property appraisers, across all 67 Florida counties. The screenshot below shows that directory page.

This directory is useful if you need contact information for any county-level property office in Florida, including Citrus County.

Tangible Personal Property Records

Businesses operating in Citrus County must file a Tangible Personal Property return with the Property Appraiser each year by April 1. This covers equipment, furniture, fixtures, and other business assets that are not real property. The Citrus County Property Appraiser assesses these items and adds them to the county's taxable roll.

Homeowners are generally not required to file tangible personal property returns. The exemption for tangible personal property is $25,000, meaning businesses with assets valued under that threshold owe no tangible property tax. Filing is still required to claim the exemption. Late filings result in penalties under Florida law.

Requesting Copies of Recorded Documents

If you need a copy of a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, or lien recorded in Citrus County, contact the Citrus County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk maintains Official Records going back many decades. Copies of recorded documents are available in person at the courthouse in Inverness or through the Clerk's online search portal.

Fees for copies vary by document type and page count. Florida law allows the Clerk to charge set fees for certified and non-certified copies. Chapter 28 of Florida law governs these fees and the recording process. If you are buying or selling property in Citrus County, your title company or closing attorney will typically handle document retrieval on your behalf.

The Florida DOR local officials page also provides links to county clerk websites across the state, which is a useful reference if you need to locate the Citrus County Clerk's online records portal.

Cities in Citrus County

Citrus County includes several incorporated cities and communities. Inverness is the county seat. Crystal River, Homosassa Springs, Beverly Hills, and Lecanto are other notable communities. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page, but property records for all of them are maintained through the Citrus County Property Appraiser and Clerk of Courts in Inverness.

Nearby Counties

Citrus County borders several other Florida counties, each with its own property appraiser and public records system. If a property you are researching is near a county line, you may need to check records in more than one county.