Leon County Property Records Search

Leon County property records are managed by the Property Appraiser's office in Tallahassee and cover every parcel in this North Florida county, home to Florida's state capital. You can search ownership data, assessed values, exemption status, and sales history online at leonpa.org, or visit the office at 315 S Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301 for in-person assistance with your search.

Leon County Property Appraiser

The Leon County Property Appraiser's office is located at 315 S Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Reach them at 850-606-6200. The office is responsible for assessing all real property and tangible personal property in Leon County for tax purposes. Every parcel gets a value set as of January 1 each year. The appraiser's team also processes homestead and other exemption applications, maintains parcel maps, and manages the county's official property database.

As Florida's capital county, Leon County has a mix of state government facilities, university properties, and private residential and commercial parcels. Some government-owned land is exempt from property taxes. The appraiser's office tracks these exempt parcels just as it tracks taxable ones, keeping a complete inventory of all real property in the county.

The appraiser operates under Chapter 192 of Florida law, which sets out the core rules for property assessment statewide. Leon County's office follows these rules and is subject to oversight by the Florida Department of Revenue.

How to Search Leon County Property Records

The Leon County Property Appraiser operates an online search portal at leonpa.org. You can look up any parcel by owner name, property address, or parcel identification number. The search returns the property's assessed value, taxable value, exemptions on file, ownership history, and a description of the property's physical characteristics. The site also includes a GIS map viewer and access to sales data.

The official Property Appraiser website for Leon County, shown below, is the primary tool for online property record searches in Tallahassee and surrounding areas.

From the homepage you can access the parcel search, exemption information, and links to other county offices. The site is free to use and available at all hours.

For in-person service, visit 315 S Calhoun Street in Tallahassee. Staff are available to help with record lookups, exemption questions, and assessment reviews. If you need recorded deeds or mortgages, those are at the Leon County Clerk of Court, which also maintains offices in Tallahassee. Call 850-606-6200 before visiting to confirm current office hours.

What Leon County Property Records Show

A Leon County property record includes the parcel identification number, the legal description of the land, the current owner's name and mailing address, and the date the current owner acquired the property. The record shows the just value determined by the appraiser, the assessed value (which may differ due to exemptions or caps), and the taxable value used to calculate the actual tax bill.

Residential records include physical details: year built, square footage of heated living area, number of rooms, construction type, and roof type. These details help the appraiser compare properties when setting values. Commercial and industrial records may include additional data like building class, lot size, and improvements. Agricultural or conservation parcels will show any special classifications that affect their assessed value.

Sales history is part of the public record under Chapter 119. You can see every recorded transfer for a parcel, the sale price, and the type of deed used. This data is commonly used by buyers, appraisers, and attorneys when reviewing a property's history. The methodology for setting values based on market data is governed by Chapter 193.

Homestead Exemption in Leon County

Leon County homeowners who use their property as a permanent Florida residence can apply for the Homestead Exemption. The exemption reduces the taxable value of the home by up to $50,000. You must apply by March 1 to receive the exemption for that tax year. Applications go to the Leon County Property Appraiser's office at 315 S Calhoun Street in Tallahassee.

You will need a Florida driver's license or ID with the property address, proof of ownership such as a recorded deed, and your Social Security number. First-time applicants may need to show additional documentation to confirm Florida domicile. The office will review your application and notify you if anything is missing or if the application is approved or denied.

Once you have the exemption, the Save Our Homes cap under Section 193.155 limits annual increases in your assessed value to the lower of 3% or the Consumer Price Index rate. This cap applies only to homestead properties and continues as long as the property remains your primary residence. It does not apply to non-homestead properties like rentals, vacation homes, or commercial parcels.

If you sell your Leon County home and buy another in Florida, you can transfer your Save Our Homes benefit to the new property through portability. Apply for portability when you apply for the Homestead Exemption at your new home. The amount you can transfer depends on the gap between your prior home's market value and its capped assessed value.

Note: The Florida DOR's public records page has additional information on state oversight of property tax administration.

The Florida DOR public records page shows how state oversight of property data works and how you can request information from the DOR directly.

The Property Tax Process in Leon County

In August, Leon County property owners receive TRIM Notices. TRIM stands for Truth in Millage. This is not a bill. It is a statement showing your proposed taxes based on current values and the millage rates proposed by each taxing authority. For Leon County, the taxing authorities include the county commission, the school board, fire districts, and other special districts.

Review your TRIM Notice carefully. If your assessed value seems too high, call or visit the Property Appraiser's office. An informal review often resolves disputes. If not, you can file a petition with the Leon County Value Adjustment Board before the deadline shown on the notice. The VAB is an independent hearing body. It reviews appeals of assessed values and denied exemptions.

Tax bills from the Leon County Tax Collector come out in November. Pay in November for a 4% discount. The discount drops to 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February. Taxes not paid by March 31 become delinquent and are subject to interest charges and, eventually, a tax certificate sale.

Official Records at the Leon County Clerk

Deeds, mortgages, lis pendens, liens, and other documents affecting real property in Leon County are recorded with the Clerk of Court. When you buy a home, the deed gets recorded here and becomes part of the permanent public record. The recording gives constructive notice to anyone who searches the record. You can search recorded documents to confirm ownership, check for liens, or review a chain of title.

Chapter 28 of Florida law covers the Clerk's duties in recording official instruments. Recording fees apply based on the number of pages and the consideration amount stated in the deed. The Leon County Clerk's office is in Tallahassee. Many documents are searchable through the Clerk's official records portal online.

Note: Searching Clerk records is separate from searching the Property Appraiser's assessment database. For a full picture of a property, check both sources.

Florida Department of Revenue Oversight

The Florida Department of Revenue monitors all 67 county property appraisers, including Leon County, through its Property Tax Oversight program. The DOR reviews each county's assessment practices to make sure values are set equitably and that the correct methodology is used for each property type. If a county's assessment ratios fall outside acceptable ranges, the DOR can order adjustments.

The DOR also provides public resources including a statewide data portal, taxpayer guides, and a directory of local officials. These tools are free to use at floridarevenue.com/property. For Leon County property owners who want to compare their assessments against county-wide trends, the DOR data portal is a practical resource.

Cities in Leon County

Leon County is home to Tallahassee, Florida's capital city, which has a dedicated property records page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Leon County borders these North Florida counties, each with their own property records offices.