Lake County Property Records Search

Lake County property records are managed by the Property Appraiser's office in Tavares and cover every parcel across this fast-growing Central Florida county. You can search ownership data, assessed values, sales history, and exemption status online through the official portal at lakecopropappr.com, or visit the office in person at 320 W Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778 to get detailed help from staff.

Lake County Property Appraiser

The Lake County Property Appraiser's office sits at 320 W Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778. Call them at 352-253-2150. The office is tasked with placing a fair market value on every parcel in Lake County as of January 1 each year. That includes residential homes, commercial buildings, vacant land, mobile homes, and tangible personal property used by businesses. The appraiser's team also reviews and processes exemption applications, including homestead, senior, disability, and veteran-related exemptions.

Lake County has grown fast. The county added tens of thousands of new residents over the past decade, and that growth shows in the property tax roll. More parcels, more new construction, and more exemption applications all add to the workload the appraiser's office handles each year. Florida law under Chapter 192 sets out the basic framework that every county appraiser must follow.

The Property Appraiser does not set the tax rate. That job belongs to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and other local taxing authorities. The appraiser's job is to set the value. Taxing authorities apply the millage rate to that value to calculate the tax bill.

How to Search Lake County Property Records

The Lake County Property Appraiser runs an online search portal at lakecopropappr.com. The portal lets you look up any parcel by owner name, street address, or parcel identification number. Search results show assessed value, taxable value, market value, exemptions, property description, and ownership history. It is free to use and available around the clock.

The official Property Appraiser website, shown below, is where most online property record searches for Lake County begin.

From the homepage you can access the parcel search, GIS map viewer, exemption information, and links to the tax collector for payment details.

If you need help or want to review physical records, go to 320 W Main Street in Tavares. Staff can assist with complex searches and explain assessment details. If you need recorded documents like deeds or mortgages, those are at the Lake County Clerk of Court, also in Tavares.

Note: The Florida DOR's taxpayer information page at floridarevenue.com has guides that can help you understand what you find when you search property records.

What Lake County Property Records Show

A Lake County property record gives you a detailed snapshot of a parcel. You will see the parcel ID, the legal description (lot, block, subdivision, or metes and bounds), the current owner of record, the mailing address, and the date the current owner took title. The record also shows the just value assigned by the appraiser, the assessed value (which may be lower than just value due to the Save Our Homes cap), and the taxable value after exemptions are subtracted.

For residential properties, you will also see details about the structure: year built, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage of living area, garage or carport type, and any outbuildings. The record notes the construction type and roof type as well, since these affect replacement cost estimates used in valuation.

Sales history is visible too. Each recorded transfer shows the grantee, grantor, sale price, and date. This data is public under Chapter 119, Florida's public records law. The appraiser uses recent comparable sales when setting values under Chapter 193.

Homestead Exemption in Lake County

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 reduces the value only for non-school levies. If you own and occupy your Lake County home as your permanent residence on January 1, you may qualify. The deadline to apply is March 1.

Apply through the Lake County Property Appraiser's office at 320 W Main Street in Tavares. You will need a Florida driver's license or ID with the property address, proof of ownership, and a Social Security number. First-time filers may also need a recorded deed. The office processes applications and will let you know if anything is missing.

The Save Our Homes cap, established under Section 193.155 of Florida law, limits annual increases to your assessed value at the lower of 3% or the Consumer Price Index. This cap only applies to homestead properties. Over time it can result in your assessed value being well below market value, especially in a growing market like Lake County.

If you sell your Lake County home and buy a new one in Florida, you can transfer the accumulated benefit through portability. You must apply for portability when you apply for the Homestead Exemption at your new home. The appraiser can calculate what your portability amount will be based on the difference between your prior home's market value and its capped assessed value.

The Florida DOR taxpayer resource page provides guides on all available exemptions and how to apply.

The taxpayer page covers exemptions, appeals, and how the assessment process works under Florida law.

The Property Tax Process in Lake County

Every August, the appraiser mails TRIM Notices to all Lake County property owners. TRIM stands for Truth in Millage. It shows your proposed taxes for the year based on the appraiser's value and the millage rates proposed by each taxing authority. You can see how much each entity, the county, the school board, fire districts, and others, is proposing to collect.

If your assessed value looks wrong, the TRIM Notice is your cue to act. You can call or visit the appraiser's office to discuss the issue. If you are not satisfied, file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board before the deadline printed on the notice. The VAB will schedule a hearing where you can present evidence that your value should be lower.

Tax bills go out around November 1 from the Lake County Tax Collector. Pay in November and get 4% off. December brings 3%, January 2%, and February 1%. After March 31, taxes become delinquent and the county can begin the tax certificate sale process on unpaid balances.

Official Records at the Lake County Clerk

The Lake County Clerk of Court records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments that affect real property. When you buy a home in Lake County, the warranty deed gets recorded here and that recording gives public notice of the change in ownership. Anyone can search these recorded documents to verify who holds title or whether a lien is attached to a property.

Chapter 28 of Florida law governs how the Clerk records instruments. Documents must meet specific formatting requirements and recording fees apply. The Clerk's office is in Tavares and may have an online search portal for recorded documents. Call the Clerk directly to find out what is searchable online and what requires a walk-in request.

Note: Recorded documents at the Clerk are separate from the Property Appraiser's assessment database. You may need to check both offices to get a complete picture of a property's history.

Florida Department of Revenue Oversight

The Florida Department of Revenue's Property Tax Oversight division monitors Lake County and all other counties to ensure assessments are equitable and meet state standards. The DOR reviews assessment ratios every year and publishes data showing how each county performs. Lake County's rapid growth means assessment practices must keep pace with a changing market.

The DOR data portal gives public access to statewide property tax data, including Lake County's total assessed value, number of parcels, and exemption totals. Researchers, investors, and property owners can use this data to understand trends. Access it at floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/DataPortal.aspx.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County includes cities such as Clermont, Leesburg, and Eustis. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city property records page on this site. Property records for all communities in Lake County are available through the county-level Property Appraiser and Clerk offices in Tavares.

Nearby Counties

Lake County borders several Central Florida counties with their own property records offices.