Access Madison County Property Records

Madison County property records are managed by the Property Appraiser's office in the City of Madison and cover all parcels in this North Florida county, including residential homes, farmland, timberland, and commercial properties. You can search ownership data, assessed values, exemptions, and parcel details through the county's Property Appraiser page at madisoncountyfl.com, or reach the office by phone at 850-973-6702.

Madison County Property Appraiser

The Madison County Property Appraiser's office is at 229 SW Pinckney Street, Madison, FL 32340. Call the office at 850-973-6702. The office handles the assessment of all real property and tangible personal property in Madison County for tax purposes. Each year, as of January 1, the appraiser's team values every parcel in the county, whether it is a home, a farm, a timber tract, a commercial building, or vacant land. The appraiser also processes exemption applications and maintains the county's official parcel database.

Madison County is a rural North Florida county with a mix of residential parcels and a significant amount of agricultural and forestry land. Many properties receive an agricultural classification, which can result in a lower assessed value than the parcel's true market value. The appraiser's office applies the rules under Florida law consistently to all property types, regardless of size or use.

You can visit the Property Appraiser's section of the county website at madisoncountyfl.com/property-appraiser. The site provides contact information, office hours, and links to relevant resources. Florida law under Chapter 192 sets the framework that the Madison County appraiser must follow in all assessment work.

How to Search Madison County Property Records

For online searches, start at the Property Appraiser's page at madisoncountyfl.com/property-appraiser. The site should have links to the parcel search database. You can typically look up a property by owner name, street address, or parcel identification number. Search results show the assessed value, taxable value, exemptions, and a description of the parcel.

For in-person help, go to 229 SW Pinckney Street in Madison. Staff can pull up records, explain the data, and assist with exemption applications. Call 850-973-6702 first to confirm hours and what documents to bring. If you need recorded deeds, mortgages, or other official instruments, those are maintained by the Madison County Clerk of Court, also located in Madison.

The Florida Department of State's website at dos.fl.gov may also be a useful reference for understanding property-related government records and how various Florida agencies interact.

The Florida Department of State oversees certain state records and can point you toward additional official resources related to property ownership and public records in Madison County.

What Madison County Property Records Show

A Madison County property record lists the parcel identification number, the legal description of the land, the current owner of record, the owner's mailing address, and the date the current owner acquired the property. The record shows the just value, assessed value, and taxable value as separate figures. If a homestead exemption or other exemption is on file, it appears as a deduction from the taxable value.

For residential homes, the record typically includes the year built, the size of the living area, and the type of construction. For agricultural or timber parcels, the land classification and any applicable assessment reduction are shown. These land classifications follow the rules in Chapter 193 of Florida law, which governs how all property types must be valued.

Sales history is part of the public record under Chapter 119. You can see prior sales, the dates of each transfer, and the prices paid. The appraiser uses this data when comparing similar properties to arrive at fair assessed values.

Homestead Exemption in Madison County

Florida homeowners who own and occupy their home in Madison County as a primary residence on January 1 can apply for the Homestead Exemption. The exemption reduces the taxable value by up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes. The second $25,000 reduces taxable value for non-school levies only. In a rural county like Madison with relatively low property values, the exemption can eliminate a large portion of the tax bill for many homeowners.

The deadline to apply is March 1 each year. Apply at the Madison County Property Appraiser's office at 229 SW Pinckney Street. Bring a Florida driver's license or ID with the property address, proof that you own the property, and your Social Security number. New applicants should also bring a recorded deed if possible. The office will let you know if anything else is needed.

Once approved, the Save Our Homes cap under Section 193.155 limits annual assessed value increases to 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. This cap is valuable in any market where property values are rising. Over several years it can create a significant difference between the assessed value and the current market value of the home.

Portability lets you transfer the accumulated Save Our Homes benefit when you buy a new home in Florida. Apply for portability at the same time you apply for the Homestead Exemption at your new property. The Madison County Property Appraiser can explain how the portability calculation works and what to expect.

Note: Senior, disability, and veteran exemptions may also reduce your tax bill. Contact the office at 850-973-6702 to find out which ones apply to your situation.

The Property Tax Process in Madison County

Each August, Madison County property owners receive TRIM Notices. TRIM stands for Truth in Millage. The notice is not a bill. It shows your proposed tax based on the appraiser's assessed value and the millage rates proposed by each taxing authority. Review it as soon as you get it. If your assessed value looks too high or an exemption is missing, the TRIM Notice shows the deadline for filing a petition.

Start by contacting the Property Appraiser's office. An informal review may fix the issue quickly. If not, file a petition with the Madison County Value Adjustment Board before the deadline. The VAB hears appeals from property owners who disagree with their assessed value or a denied exemption. The process is open to any property owner and does not require an attorney, though you can hire one if you choose.

Tax bills from the Madison County Tax Collector arrive in late October or November. A 4% discount is available for November payment. The discount steps down to 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February. After March 31, taxes become delinquent. The county can then sell tax certificates on unpaid balances, starting a legal process that can eventually result in the forced sale of the property.

The Florida DOR's taxpayer information page has guides on every part of this process, from assessment to payment, that are useful for Madison County property owners.

The taxpayer information page from the Florida DOR covers exemptions, appeals, tax bills, and how the property tax system works in all Florida counties, including Madison.

Official Records at the Madison County Clerk

The Madison County Clerk of Court is the official keeper of recorded documents affecting real property. When a home or land parcel sells in Madison County, the deed gets recorded here. Mortgages, liens, satisfactions of mortgage, easements, and other instruments affecting title are also recorded with the Clerk. These records are public and can be used to verify ownership or check for encumbrances on a property.

Chapter 28 of Florida law governs how the Clerk records official instruments, what fees apply, and how the index is maintained. The Clerk's office is at the Madison County Courthouse. Call ahead to ask about online access to recorded documents and what requires an in-person visit.

Florida Department of Revenue Oversight

The Florida Department of Revenue's Property Tax Oversight program reviews Madison County's assessment practices every year to ensure compliance with state standards. The DOR verifies that the appraiser's values are within acceptable ranges of market value and that the correct methodology is used for each property type. For a rural county like Madison where comparable sales can be scarce, this review process helps maintain fairness in the assessment system.

The DOR also publishes a statewide data portal with assessment totals, exemption summaries, and parcel counts for every Florida county. Access it at floridarevenue.com/property. Madison County property owners can use this data to see how their county's assessment totals compare to historical figures and to other counties across the state.

Cities in Madison County

Madison is the county seat and the largest city in Madison County. No cities in Madison County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city property records page on this site. Property records for all Madison County communities are handled through the county-level offices in the City of Madison.

Nearby Counties

Madison County borders several North Florida counties, each with their own property records offices.