Duval County Property Search
A Duval County property search is helpful when seeking to determine property ownership, obtain tax information, estimate property value, and understand the property's condition. Courts typically conduct a property search to retrieve a property's recording to determine the priority for liens payment. Researchers can conduct property searches to determine a property's historical value. Property searches are possible in Duval County, Florida, because most property documents are recorded with the appropriate custodian following their generation.
The Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for recording all property documents or instruments in Duval County. These instruments include leases, mortgages, claims of lien, bills of sale, tax executions, satisfactions, agreements, deeds, notices of levy, tax warrants, and other instruments relating to property ownership or transfer. The Clerk records all these instruments in one general series of books called the Official Records. They also maintain a registry that contains the names of document owners, the document filing number, the type of document, and the filing date and time. The requirements for recording property documents in Duval County are as follows:
- The property document's first page must have a 3x3 blank space in the upper-right corner.
- The following pages must have a 1x3 blank space
- The body of the document must be dated
- Only original documents are recorded
- Use legible, black print or typing for best reproduction.
- Signatories to a document must print their names under the signature.
- On the front of the instrument, please affix the name and address of the person to whom the instrument is to be returned.
- Write the name and address of the person to whom the document should be returned on the front of the document
- If the transfer of interest is real estate, the grantee's mailing address must be included in the document.
- The property description should be included if possible
- The name in the property document must agree with the signatures and must be legible and correctly spelled.
- At least two witnesses must attest to the signature(s)
- A notary public seal and expiration date should be included in the property document
The Clerk charges some fees for recording documents. Property owners are expected to pay $10 for the first page of the document, $8.50 for each additional page per document: $8.50, and $1 for each name after the fourth for the indexing fee.
Are Duval County Property Records Public?
Yes. The Florida Public Records Act allows record custodians to make property records publicly available to anyone who desires to inspect or obtain copies. Hence, property records are part of Duval County Public Records. However, some information is exempt from public disclosure and not available to members of the public. Record custodians usually remove the name of a person with exempt status and the instrument or book and page number identifying the property with the exempt status from public records. The record custodian may keep the street address, legal description, or other information identifying the property from public records.
What Do Duval County Property Records Contain?
The content of Duval County property records varies per document type. However, requesters should be able to retrieve the following information from property records:
- Book/page number
- Title number
- Tax district
- Property use
- Number of buildings
- Instrument number
- Record date
- Book type
- Number of pages
- Document type
- Real estate account number
- Name of property owners
- Situs address
- Property record card (PRC)
- Parcel details (location, legal description, exemptions, tax amounts, and assessed value)
- Amount due
- Account history (bill, amount due, status, and action)
- Value description (value method, total building value, extra feature value, land value (market), taxable value, and cap diff/portability amt)
- Sales History (sale date and price, deed instrument type code, vacant/improved, and qualified/unqualified)
- Extra features (features code and description, building, length, width, total units, and value)
- Land details (code, use description, zoning assessment, front, depth, category, and land units, type, and value)
- Building details (building type and value, year built, building site address, element, code, detail, gross area, heated area, and effective area)
Where to Perform a Duval County Property Lookup
A requester can perform a property lookup at the Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Uncertified copies of property records can be retrieved via the Court's Official Records Online Portal. The portal allows requesters to view property records kept in the office since 1988. Requesters can print or download uncertified copies of property records for free. They can also obtain copies from the Clerk's office for $1 per page.
Request for certified copies of property records can be made by mail or in person at the Duval County Courthouse. Individuals can also request property records that pre-date 1988 from the Official Records staff. Sufficient information about the desired records must be provided to facilitate the search. Mail requests should be forwarded to:
Duval County Clerk of Courts
Attn: Official Records and Research
501 West Adams Street, Room 1253
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 255-2000
Mail applicants must include self-addressed stamped envelopes for the return of their requested documents. In-person requests can be made in room 1253 of the Duval County Courthouse during office hours, Monday through Friday (except holidays), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Certified copies of property records cost $1 per page with a $2 certification fee per instrument. Mail applicants can pay for property records by sending money orders, cashier's checks, or certified checks alongside their written requests. In-person applicants can pay record fees in cash, certified checks, money orders, cashier's checks, or credit cards. A non-refundable 3.5% service fee applies on all credit card payments. The Courthouse does not accept personal checks and mail-in cash.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Duval County
Duval County residents can perform a property owner lookup online, by mail, or in person at record custodian offices. Online requests can be made via the online tool available on the Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, or Tax Collector websites. The search criteria are by address, account number, real estate number, document type, document number, record date, or book/page number, depending on the specific online tool used. Upon submitting a search, the requester could retrieve property details, including property ownership information.
The Offices also accept mail and in-person requests. However, the requester must be able to provide basic information about the property or the document to facilitate the search. For example, the property's address, document number, and book/page number may be required. The requester would also have to pay the necessary fees before they can get the desired document. The property document will include the property owner's name.
How to Find Duval County Property Records Online
There are several options for finding Duval County property records online. For example, here is how to find property records online at the Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court:
- Go to the Court's website.
- Click on the "Online Options" menu at the top bar and select "Offical Records" from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down and click on the "Official Records online portal" link
- Search by name, instrument number, doc type, record date, consideration, or book/page
Alternatively, requesters can find public records on third-party aggregate databases. The property owners' names or addresses will be required to complete the search. Basic information about the property will be provided for free, but a fee will be charged for a full property report.
How to Find Property Owner by Address Free
The Duval County Property Appraiser has an online tool that can be used to find a property owner by address for free. The requester can conduct a basic search, advanced search, or tangible search. An address search requires providing a street number, street name, street type, street direction, unit number, city, or zip. The search result will reveal the property's details, including the owner's information.
Duval County Property Tax Lookup
Most Duval County residents enter the housing market to purchase a home with a set budget in mind without considering the amount they are willing to spend on property taxes. This often leads to financial stress down the road, as their monthly mortgage bill may get bumped up if they purchase a home with higher taxes than anticipated. Therefore, conducting a property tax lookup before buying a property is necessary. Here is how to perform a property tax lookup online in Duval County:
- Go to the Tax Collector's website.
- Click on the "Taxes" menu at the top bar
- Select "Property Taxes" from the dropdown menu
- Scroll down and click on the "Find and pay your taxes online" link
- Click the "Property Tax" box
- Conduct a search by name, address, or account number
A Duval County property tax lookup can also be done by phone, email, mail, or in person at the Tax Collector's Office. In-person requests should be made during office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at any branch location. Ensure to book an appointment before the visit.
Email requests can be sent to sjames@coj.net (kindly include "Public Records Request" in the subject line). Phone requests can be made by calling (904) 255-5798. Mail requests can be sent to:
Duval County Tax Collectors' Office
Attn: Brad Simmons
Public Records Request
231 E. Forsyth Street, Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
How to Find Duval County Property Appraiser
The Florida Bureau of Appraisal has an Approved Appraisers List where individuals can find property Duval County property appraisers. The list contains information about the appraiser's name, company name, address, state certification number, business and fax phone number, and specialties. These appraisers are responsible for obtaining unbiased opinions of the overall values of easements, leases, conservation easements, the value of the purchased property, or special purpose properties.
Duval County Property Assessor
Section 193.023(2) of Florida Statutes requires the Property Appraiser's Office to physically inspect all property in Duval County at least once every 5 years. Note that the office does not inspect the interior of residential properties. Individuals can contact the Duval County Property Appraiser at:
Duval County Property Appraiser
231 E. Forsyth St., Ste. 270
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Administration Division (Room 270)
Phone: (904) 255-7998
Fax: (904) 255-5997
Commercial Appraisal Division (Room 350)
Phone: (904) 255-5901
Fax: (904) 255-5998
Customer Service/Exemptions Division (Room 260)
Phone: (904) 255-5900
Fax: (904) 255-7963
Email: pacustserv@coj.net
Land Records Division (Room 230)
Phone: (904) 255-5904
Fax: (904) 255-5999
Email: paolrec@coj.net
Residential Appraisal Division (Room 360)
Phone: (904) 255-5902
Fax: (904) 255-7991
Tangible Personal Property Division (Room 330)
Phone: (904) 255-5903
Fax: (904) 255-7992
Email: patpp@coj.net
