Palm Beach County Property Records
What Is Palm Beach County Property Records
Palm Beach County property records are official documents maintained by county government agencies that contain detailed information about real estate parcels within Palm Beach County, Florida. These records serve as the authoritative source of information regarding property ownership, valuation, taxation, and legal status.
Property records in Palm Beach County typically include:
- Ownership information (current and historical)
- Legal descriptions of parcels
- Property valuation assessments
- Tax information and payment history
- Recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Building permits and improvements
- Zoning classifications
- Plat maps and surveys
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office is the primary custodian of property assessment records, while the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller maintains the official records of property transactions.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office
301 North Olive Avenue, 5th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-3230
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller
301 North Olive Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-2996
Official Website: www.mypalmbeachclerk.com
Are Property Records Public Information In Palm Beach County?
Property records in Palm Beach County are public information pursuant to Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This law establishes that all records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for inspection, unless specifically exempted by law.
The following aspects of property records accessibility apply:
- Any member of the public may request access to property records without providing identification or stating a reason for the request
- Records must be provided at a reasonable cost, limited to the actual cost of duplication
- Certain personal information may be redacted from public records for protected individuals (such as law enforcement officers, judges, etc.) under §119.071, F.S.
- Property records are accessible both in person at county offices and through online portals
- Commercial use of public records is permitted under Florida law
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser maintains a comprehensive online database known as PAPA (Property Appraiser Public Access) that provides public access to property assessment records. The Palm Beach County Tax Collector also maintains public records related to property taxation and payment status.
How To Search Property Records in Palm Beach County in 2025
Searching property records in Palm Beach County in 2025 can be accomplished through multiple methods established by county agencies. Members of the public may utilize the following approaches to locate specific property information:
By Property Address:
- Enter the complete street address including house number, street name, and city
- Partial address searches are supported with wildcard functionality
- Results can be filtered by property type (residential, commercial, etc.)
By Owner Name:
- Search using last name, first name format
- Corporate ownership searches require exact legal entity names
- Historical ownership searches may require additional parameters
By Parcel Identification Number (PIN):
- The 18-digit PIN format follows the structure: 00-00-00-00-00-000-0000
- PIN searches provide the most precise results
- Legacy PIN formats from before 2023 remain searchable
By Subdivision or Condominium Name:
- Enter development name to view all associated properties
- Filter by unit number for condominiums
- Plat book references are available for subdivisions
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office provides public terminals for in-person searches at their main office and satellite locations. Staff assistance is available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays.
How To Find Property Records in Palm Beach County Online?
Palm Beach County provides comprehensive online access to property records through several official web portals. Members of the public may access these digital resources 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, subject to occasional maintenance periods.
The primary online resources include:
- Property Appraiser's Public Access System - Provides property assessment information, ownership details, and property characteristics
- Palm Beach County Tax Collector - Offers tax payment history, current tax bills, and payment options
- MyPalmBeachClerk.com - Contains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other official records
- Palm Beach County ePZB - Provides building permit history, code enforcement cases, and zoning information
To conduct an online search, users should:
- Select the appropriate database based on the type of information needed
- Enter search criteria (address, owner name, parcel ID, etc.)
- Review search results and select the specific property of interest
- Navigate through available tabs to access different categories of information
- Download or print documents as needed (fees may apply for certain document types)
Mobile-optimized versions of these platforms are available for smartphone and tablet users. The county maintains compatibility with major web browsers and operating systems to ensure public accessibility.
Can You Look Up Palm Beach County Property Records for Free?
Palm Beach County provides free access to basic property record information through several public platforms. Pursuant to Florida Statute §119.07, while agencies may charge reasonable fees for extensive requests or certified copies, fundamental public record access is available without cost.
Free property record services include:
- Basic property searches through the Property Appraiser's Public Access (PAPA) system
- Current property ownership information
- Property assessment values and tax estimates
- Property characteristics (square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.)
- Sales history information
- Aerial photography and property maps
- Tax payment status through the Tax Collector's website
Certain specialized services may incur fees:
- Certified copies of official records ($1.00 per page plus $2.00 for certification)
- Bulk data downloads ($50.00 per data set)
- Research assistance beyond standard public service ($20.00 per hour after first 30 minutes)
- Specialized maps or large-format printing (varies by size)
Public computer terminals offering free access to property records are available at:
Palm Beach County Main Library
3650 Summit Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
561-233-2600
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm
What's Included in a Palm Beach County Property Record?
Palm Beach County property records contain comprehensive information about real estate parcels within county boundaries. These records are maintained pursuant to Florida Statutes Chapter 193 and Chapter 195, which establish requirements for property assessment and record-keeping.
Standard property record content includes:
- Parcel identification number (PIN)
- Legal description of the property
- Current and historical ownership information
- Deed references and transaction history
- Property classification (residential, commercial, agricultural, etc.)
- Land and building valuation assessments
- Homestead exemption status and other applicable exemptions
- Building characteristics (year built, square footage, construction type)
- Site improvements and features
- Recent sales data and qualified sales history
- Tax assessment information (assessed value, taxable value)
- Special assessment districts affecting the property
- Flood zone designation
- Zoning classification
Enhanced property record information may include:
- Digital photographs of the property
- Building sketches and floor plans
- Permit history for improvements
- Census tract and neighborhood codes
- School district boundaries
- Municipal service areas
- Utility service providers
Property records are updated continuously as transactions occur and annually during the assessment cycle as prescribed by §193.023, Florida Statutes.
How Long Does Palm Beach County Keep Property Records?
Palm Beach County maintains property records in perpetuity in accordance with Florida's records retention schedules established under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Rule 1B-24.003, Florida Administrative Code. These regulations mandate the preservation of property records due to their enduring administrative, legal, fiscal, and historical value.
The retention periods for specific property record types are as follows:
- Deeds and property transfers: Permanent retention
- Property assessment rolls: Permanent retention
- Tax rolls and payment records: Permanent retention (summary), 5 years (detailed)
- Building permits: Life of structure plus 10 years
- Property record cards: Permanent retention
- Plat maps and surveys: Permanent retention
- Zoning changes and variances: Permanent retention
- Special assessment records: 3 years after satisfied or 5 years after no activity
Historical property records dating back to the county's formation in 1909 have been preserved and digitized. Records predating electronic systems have been converted to digital format and remain accessible through the county's archives.
The Palm Beach County Historical Resources Department maintains additional historical property information of significant cultural or architectural importance at:
Palm Beach County Historical Resources Department
300 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-832-4164
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
How To Find Liens on Property In Palm Beach County?
Liens on property in Palm Beach County are recorded in the Official Records maintained by the Clerk & Comptroller's Office pursuant to Chapter 695, Florida Statutes. Members of the public seeking lien information may access these records through established channels.
To locate liens on a specific property:
- Search the Official Records database using the property owner's name or property address
- Filter search results by document type (select "Lien" or specific lien categories)
- Review judgment liens, tax liens, construction liens, and other encumbrances
- Note the recording date, book and page number, and satisfaction status
- Verify if liens have been satisfied or released through subsequent filings
Common types of liens found in Palm Beach County records include:
- Tax liens (county, municipal, or federal)
- Mortgage liens
- Mechanic's and construction liens
- Homeowners' association liens
- Code enforcement liens
- Judgment liens from court cases
- Child support liens
- Utility liens
A comprehensive lien search may require checking multiple sources, as certain liens may be recorded with different agencies. For example, federal tax liens are recorded with the Clerk's Office, while local tax liens appear in Tax Collector records.
Professional title companies and attorneys often perform thorough lien searches as part of real estate transactions. Members of the public conducting their own research should be aware that some liens may not be immediately apparent without comprehensive examination of all relevant records.
What Is Property Owner Rule In Palm Beach County?
The Property Owner Rule in Palm Beach County refers to the legal principles established under Florida law that govern property ownership rights, responsibilities, and limitations. This framework is derived from multiple sources including Florida Statutes, case law, and local ordinances.
Key components of the Property Owner Rule include:
- Fee simple ownership rights as defined in §689.01, Florida Statutes
- Homestead protections under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution
- Property tax assessment limitations under the Save Our Homes amendment
- Disclosure requirements during property transfers pursuant to §689.261
- Riparian and littoral rights for waterfront properties under §253.141
- Adverse possession provisions outlined in §95.16 and §95.18
- Easement and encroachment regulations
- Restrictive covenant enforcement mechanisms
Property owners in Palm Beach County must adhere to:
- Local zoning regulations and land development codes
- Building code requirements for improvements and modifications
- Historic preservation restrictions in designated districts
- Environmental protection ordinances, particularly in coastal and wetland areas
- Homeowners' association rules where applicable
- Special district assessments and requirements
The Palm Beach County Property Rights Protection Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2021-015) provides additional safeguards for property owners against certain governmental actions that may infringe upon established property rights without due process or just compensation.