Frequently Asked Questions

Our E-file system offers a convenient way to file; however, an application may also be downloaded from our Forms tab and submitted in the following ways:

• Email: exemptions@leonpa.gov 
• Mail: Leon County Property Appraiser, P.O. Box 1750, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
• Visit: 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor, behind the Leon County Courthouse, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Fax: (850) 606-6201

We offer additional filing opportunities during the month of February.

To make application, the following is needed for all applicants:

• Social Security Number
• Florida driver license number or Florida ID number
• Florida vehicle tag number and/or voter registration card

Yes, both spouses must apply.

No, once you make application you will begin to receive an annual automatic renewal card. As long as you continue to own and occupy the residence, the homestead exemption will automatically renew each year.

The Leon County Commission and the City Commission have adopted ordinances providing an additional $25,000 homestead exemption for limited-income homeowners. In order to qualify, you must be 65 or older as of January 1 and meet the total household adjusted gross income requirement provided by the Florida Department of Revenue. This exemption does not apply to the school millage rate and saved taxpayers approximately $300 last year.

You must file an application for this additional exemption. An application may be downloaded from our Forms tab and submitted in the following ways:

• Email: exemptions@leonpa.gov 
• Mail: Leon County Property Appraiser, P.O. Box 1750, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
• Visit: 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor, behind the Leon County Courthouse, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Fax: (850) 606-6201

There is an additional exemption available for limited-income homeowners who meet the requirements above and have resided in their homes for 25 years or more.

Yes, there are other exemptions available for those who qualify. A list of these additional benefits along with their requirements may be found on the Exemptions tab. Additionally, a handout titled 'Eligibility and Discount Requirements' may be found on the Forms tab.

March 1 is the annual filing deadline for ALL exemptions. If you missed the deadline, please contact our office.

No, exemptions are NOT automatically transferred. For you to receive any exemptions on your new home you must apply on or before March 1.

When you apply for a new homestead exemption, you may be entitled to transfer accumulated savings from your previous homestead. This must be done within three years of the abandonment of your previous homestead.

You may file for portability along with your homestead exemption application via our E-file system; however an application may also be downloaded from our Forms tab and submitted in the following ways:

• Email: exemptions@leonpa.gov 
• Mail: Leon County Property Appraiser, P.O. Box 1750, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
• Visit: 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor, behind the Leon County Courthouse, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Fax: (850) 606-6201

The Leon County Property Appraiser's Ownership Records Department tracks ownership information for property tax assessment purposes only. Our primary statutory duty under Florida law is to determine the value of all property within Leon County and maintain current ownership information to ensure accurate tax assessments.

Important Distinction: We do not maintain official ownership records – those are held by the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

We are authorized to:

• Track property ownership for tax assessment purposes
• Process ownership changes from recorded documents
• Coordinate with other departments on exemptions and valuations
• Provide basic ownership information as it appears in our records

We are NOT authorized to:

• Provide legal opinions on property ownership
• Conduct comprehensive title searches
• Verify legal title to property
• Resolve boundary or ownership disputes
• Prepare legal documents

For questions about: Property values, tax assessments, and exemption eligibility → Contact our office by email or by phone at (850) 606-6200.

For questions about: Title research, legal ownership issues, or document preparation → Contact a licensed title company or real estate attorney.

No. When you record a deed with the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court, our office automatically receives daily notification through the official records system. However, you should contact our office directly if you want to:

• Apply for homestead or other exemptions
• Port existing exemptions
• Understand how the ownership change affects your taxes

Important Note: Recording your deed with the Leon County Clerk of Court establishes ownership. Our processing is solely for property assessment purposes and does not affect the validity of your ownership.

To check if our records have been updated:

• Online: Search your property on our website at search.leonpa.gov using your name, address, or parcel ID
• Phone: Call (850) 606-6200, Option 2, and speak with our Ownership Records Department
• In Person: Visit our office at the Leon County Government Annex, 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor

Timeline: It typically takes 2-4 weeks after recording for our records to reflect ownership changes.

All recorded documents are maintained by the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court, not our office.

Contact Information:

• Phone: (850) 606-4030 (Recording Division)
• Online: Search and print documents directly from the Leon County Clerk website
• Cost: Most documents can be accessed and printed at no cost online

We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified real estate attorney or title professional. Deed preparation is a legal process with significant implications.

Important Considerations:

• Improperly prepared deeds can create title problems requiring costly legal action to correct
• Changes in ownership may trigger reassessment of property taxes or loss of exemptions
• Timing of recordings can affect homestead eligibility and Save Our Homes benefits

Typical Timeline: 2-4 weeks after closing or final payment

If you cannot locate your deed:

• Contact your closing agent/attorney
• Contact your lender (for mortgage payoffs)
• Contact the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court for copies

All mailing address changes must be in writing.

Submit requests via:

• Online: Use Change My Mailing Address form on leonpa.gov
• Mail: Leon County Property Appraiser, P.O. Box 1750 Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
• Visit: 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor, behind the Leon County Courthouse, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Fax: (850) 606-6201

Important Notes:

• Include your parcel ID number
• If you own multiple properties, specify which properties need address updates

Physical addresses (also referred to as "situs addresses") in our database are associated with the parcel, rather than with a specific building or business location.

These addresses are maintained by City and County Growth Management and uploaded to our database nightly. They are linked to the parcel they fall within. A single parcel may have multiple addresses. When you search by any associated address, you'll find the same parcel.

The Summary page on our website search displays one of the location addresses. Click "View All Addresses" to see all addresses associated with the parcel.

For situs address concerns or changes:

• City Growth Management: (850) 891-7001 (option 4) or addressing@talgov.com
• County Growth Management: (850) 606-1300

Changes made by Growth Management automatically update in our database within two business days.

Contact our office with the property's parcel ID number, specific description of the error, and a reference to recorded documents supporting the correction.

This requires legal action – you may wish to contact a real estate attorney to determine the appropriate corrective instrument:

• Corrective deed
• Affidavit of correction
• Scrivener's affidavit
• New deed (in some cases)

We cannot correct errors in recorded documents.

The Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court offers a free Property Fraud Alert System to help protect against real estate fraud.

How It Works:

1. Register your name with the Clerk's system
2. System monitors Official Records for documents with your name
3. You receive email/phone alerts when documents are recorded
4. Contact law enforcement if fraud is suspected

To Register: Visit the Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court or see more information on our website here: https://www.leonpa.gov/Fraud-Alert.

Tax shock! Anytime there is a change in ownership per F.S. 193.155 , the assessed value of the property must be reset to the current market value in the year following the sale. This could lead to substantial changes in the tax amount. For example, the previous owner(s) may have qualified for property tax exemptions and assessment limitations; however, these benefits do not transfer upon the sale of the property and the property taxes may go up as a result.

All properties are reassessed annually as of January 1.

The Property Appraiser considers cost, market and income information to determine the value of real property. We analyze income and expense information from income-producing properties. We review construction costs, particularly for properties that do not sell often like hospitals, schools, and malls. Residential properties are typically valued using the Market Approach (Sales). All this information is used in our Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system which helps our highly-skilled residential and commercial appraisers value your property.

In most cases, a simple conversation with a member of our staff will clear up any questions or concerns. In addition, the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes is sent on or about the 3rd week in August and contains information pertaining to your property value and taxes. Taxpayers have 25 days to informally confer with our staff regarding the valuation. Following a discussion with our office, if you still have concerns, you have the right to appear before the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) .

By law, buildings that are deemed “substantially complete” as of January 1 will be added to the tax roll for that year.

To obtain a property tax estimate, you may contact our office and one of our appraisers will gladly provide an estimate in writing or, you may conduct a search for your property and click the ‘Tax Estimator’ button in the Summary section.

Our office is tasked with locating, identifying and appraising property in Leon County and ultimately producing a fair and equitable tax roll. This process begins with good data. Therefore, on any given day you may see our Field Appraisers in your neighborhood collecting information, measuring houses and updating photos. These field inspections provide the most current physical characteristics on each property which produces more accurate appraisals. In addition, section 193.023(2), Florida Statutes  requires a physical inspection of each property in the county once every five years.

You can identify our Field Appraisers in the following ways:

1. Our field staff wear shirts engraved with the “Leon County Property Appraiser” logo.
2. Our field staff wear identification badges attached to a lanyard around their neck.
3. Our trucks are clearly marked as government vehicles with the Leon County logo on the side doors and the typical “yellow” county license plate on the back.

Yes, mobile homes are subject to tax. For information regarding the registration requirements, click here.

Yes, non-homestead property assessment increases will be capped at 10%. This cap applies to the assessed value for non-school taxes only.

Non-ad valorem assessments are special assessments or service charges levied by local governments in Florida to fund specific improvements or services that benefit certain properties, rather than all properties in a general taxing district. Unlike ad valorem taxes, which are based on the value of a property, non-ad valorem assessments are not directly tied to property value.

These assessments and fees may also appear on your Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM Notice), mailed each August by the Property Appraiser’s Office. Please note that the amounts displayed on your TRIM notice may be proposed. The actual assessment amounts will be reflected on your tax bill, mailed by the Tax Collector in November.

Non-ad valorem assessments can fund a variety of services and infrastructure projects, including:

• Waste collection and disposal
• Fire services
• Stormwater management
• Sewer services
• Landscaping and security
• Street lighting
• Roads and other infrastructure

Ad valorem taxes are property taxes based on the assessed value of a property, factoring in exemptions and millage rates set by taxing authorities. Non-ad valorem assessments, on the other hand, are not based on the property's value but rather on the cost of the project or service and the benefit it provides to the property.

Non-ad valorem assessments are levied by various local government entities including counties, municipalities, and special districts such as Community Development Districts (CDDs). They are not assessed by the Property Appraiser’s Office.

The property owner can contact the levying authority, such as the local government or special district, to discuss the assessment.  Their telephone numbers will appear on the TRIM Notice.

Non-ad valorem assessments are collected on the property owner’s annual tax bill, mailed by the Tax Collector in November.

Tangible personal property (TPP) are items that are not permanently attached to real estate and can be moved. This includes items such as computers, furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements, supplies, machinery and equipment, etc.

Anyone in business as of January 1 must file a TPP return (Form DR-405). Property owners, who lease, lend or rent TPP should also file.

April 1 is the annual filing deadline.

Our office mails a TPP return to business owners at the beginning of each year; however, a return may also be downloaded from our Forms tab and submitted along with any supporting documentation in the following ways:

• Email: TPP@leonpa.gov
• Mail: Leon County Property Appraiser, P.O. Box 1750, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
• Visit: 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor, behind the Leon County Courthouse, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Fax: (850) 606-6201

No, all property must be reported on your TPP return even if the property is no longer in use or is considered no longer valuable.

Yes, the Property Appraiser shall grant an extension for 30 days and may, at their discretion, grant an additional extension for up to 15 days. To request an extension, complete the online TPP Extension Request Form which can be found on our Forms tab. This form is available on our website until April 30th each year.

Returns filed after April 1 or after an approved extension period would not be considered timely and may be subject to penalties.

Yes, each return is eligible for an exemption up to $25,000. By filing a TPP return on time, you automatically qualify for the exemption. According to section 196.183(5) Florida Statutes , if you do not file timely, this benefit may not be granted.

Yes, your initial return serves as an application for the TPP exemption regardless of the value of your personal property.

Yes, everyone must file annually unless you have received a filing waiver from our office. The waiver applies in all subsequent years that the total property value does not exceed $25,000. However, if you acquired additional assets which increase the total value above $25,000, you must file a TPP Return .

Yes, if you went out of business before January 1 a final return is required.

If you closed your business indicate:

• The date you ceased operations
• The manner in which the assets were disposed

If you sold your business indicate:

• The date the business was sold
• The name and address of the buyer
• How the assets were disposed of
• List any assets not included in the sale

Yes, our office can split or combine your existing parcels to accommodate the organization of your tax bill. If you are splitting or combining as part of the permitting process through City Growth Management or Leon County DSEM no request is required. We will process the approved changes as they are recorded with the Leon County Clerk of Court.

1. To split your parcel go to the Forms tab and open the Parcel Cutout request form. Please review the form carefully. Submit the completed form to our office and we will complete your request when all requirements are met. 
    
   • Property taxes must be paid
   • Boundaries are recorded with the Leon County Clerk of Court
      
2. To combine your parcels go to the Forms tab and open the Parcel Combination request form.  Please review the form carefully. Submit the completed form to our office and we will complete your request when all requirements are met. 
    
   • Property taxes must be paid
   • Parcels must be adjoining
   • Interest held by property owners must be identical
   • Parcels must be in the same taxing jurisdiction

Our office maintains a cadastral map of Leon County which includes townships, sections, subdivisions, parcels, lots, dimensions, street names, and aerial imagery.  The maps are a graphical representation of recordings in the public record and should be used for reference purposes only.

While some easements are represented on our maps, the Leon County Property Appraiser has no statutory responsibility to maintain all easements for parcels.  Further, we cannot provide legal advice as to the rights granted in the easement.  To understand how an easement affects your property rights, please contact a real estate attorney and/or professionally licensed surveyor. 

If you are having a boundary dispute or need to locate your parcel boundaries, please contact a real estate attorney and/or professionally licensed surveyor.

To obtain the area of your parcel that our office is using for assessment, conduct a search and from the summary results look for the acreage under the Summary section.

Property Appraiser records are available to inspect and/or copy unless they are exempt under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

• Website: Many of the property appraiser records are found on our website under our Search tab. This is free to the public.
• Downloads Page: Our most requested bulk data files are available for free on our Downloads page.
• Custom Data Request: You are welcome to submit a Custom Data Request to our office. Please be aware, any request that requires extensive use of information technology, clerical or supervisory resources and copying may incur a fee in accordance with section 119.07, Florida Statutes. An estimate of this fee will be provided before we begin processing your request.
  
  PUBLIC RECORDS CUSTODIAN CONTACT INFORMATION
  • Online: The easiest way to submit a data request is by using our online form.  Be sure to choose "Bulk Data Request" from the Category menu.
  • Visit: 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor, behind the Leon County Courthouse, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Mail: Leon County Property Appraiser, Attn: Data Request, P.O. Box 1750, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
  • Phone: (850) 606-6200
  • Fax: (850) 606-6201

• Online: Use our online form and choose Technical Support in the category field.
• Phone: (850) 606-6200

Only lands which are used primarily for bona fide (good faith commercial) agricultural purposes shall be classified as agricultural. To qualify, an Agricultural Classification Supplement and Application for Agricultural Classification (Form DR-482) must be completed.

Legal Resources

For Informational Purposes Only

The Leon County Property Appraiser's Office does not provide legal advice or endorse specific legal services. This list is provided as a public service to help residents locate potential resources.

FREE LEGAL INFORMATION & ADVICE

Florida Free Legal Answers – Online resource where income-eligible users can ask up to 3 legal questions per year, answered by volunteer attorneys. Sponsored by the American Bar Association. florida.freelegalanswers.org

FloridaLawHelp.org – Online resource that matches users with legal assistance based on their specific situation. Sponsored by The Florida Bar Foundation. http://floridalawhelp.org

FREE LEGAL CLINICS & SERVICES

Leon County Clerk of Court Law Information Clinics – Educational clinics on family law, probate, and other topics held throughout the year. http://leonclerk.com

Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee – Free legal representation for eligible low-income residents. http://legalaidtallahassee.org

Legal Services of North Florida – Free legal representation for eligible low-income families, including heir property and estate planning assistance in Leon County. http://lsnf.org

ATTORNEY REFERRAL

The Florida Bar Referral Service – Official service to connect users with licensed Florida attorneys. If your situation qualifies, you may receive a free initial consultation. http://floridabar.org/public/lrs/