Hillsborough County, FL Property Records

    Hillsborough County is the third most populous county in Florida, with a population of nearly 1.6 million residents, according to recent population estimates. This reflects a 7.94% increase from its 2020 census. The county's average home value of $375,465 represents a 4.9% drop from the previous year, despite being slightly higher than the state average of $374,697.

    It takes around 48 days for a property listing in the county to advance to a pending sale. Data on the county's real estate market also indicate significant buyer control over pricing, with over 65% of properties sold under the listed price. However, affordability pressures persist in the county, with an estimated 36% of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing expenses, according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data.

    Real estate across municipalities within Hillsborough County is typically subject to assessment by the county's Property Appraiser's office. In addition to maintaining records of these assessments, the office provides public access to other real estate records, including parcel records, valuation details, and ownership tax maps.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    Official property records across all municipalities in Hillsborough County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats, are maintained by the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court. You can access these records online through the clerk's official records search portal, which also allows users to obtain certified copies of property records for a fee. The clerk's office also provides access to historical property records through its archive website.

    Alternatively, you can obtain Hillsborough County property records by contacting the clerk's office at any of the following locations:

    • Pat Collier Frank Courthouse, 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, Tampa, FL 33602, Phone: (813) 276-8100

    • Plant City Courthouse, 301 North Michigan Ave., Room 1071, Plant City, FL 33563, Phone: (813) 276-8100

    • Brandon Regional Service Center, 311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511, Phone: (813) 276-8100

    • Coverage: All municipalities in Hillsborough County.

    What Hillsborough County, FL, Property Records Include

    Hillsborough County property records are documents and other materials that contain official information on real estate ownership and transactions within the county. They include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, lis pendens, and easements. You can access property records as far back as 1846 through the county's archives website, while post-1957 records are available through the clerk's records search portal.

    How to Access Hillsborough County Property Records

    You can access Hillsborough County property records from the Clerk of the Circuit Court through any of the following channels.

    Online Access (Free)

    Hillsborough County property records are available online through the Clerk of the Circuit Court's record search and archive portals. The regular search portal is a database of property-related records from 1957, while the archives portal contains historical records dating back to 1846.

    You can search records through the regular portal using various criteria, including name, date, book/page, document type, and instrument number. The portal allows users to download or print documents searched for free. However, you will have to pay an additional $6 fee per document to obtain certified copies.

    Similarly, the archives website allows users to find historical records by searching for the document directly or through index books. To search for an index, people need to select the applicable document type, year range, and the first three letters of any of the parties' names. On the other hand, to search a document directly, individuals need to provide the book type, volume, and page.

    In-Person

    The office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court accepts in-person requests for land records from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, at any of its service locations listed below:

    • Pat Collier Frank Courthouse, 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, Tampa, FL 33602, Phone: (813) 276-8100.

    • Plant City Courthouse, 301 North Michigan Ave, Room 1071, Plant City, FL 33563, Phone: (813) 276-8100.

    • Brandon Regional Service Center, 311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110, Brandon, FL 33511, Phone: (813) 276-8100

    To make your request seamless, you can visit the clerk's website to book an appointment or get in line before visiting a service location. Also, requesters are required to pay applicable fees for searches, copies of documents, and certification. This payment can be made using a credit card.

    By Phone or Email

    The office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court provides round-the-clock support for record seekers through its customer service. You can access this service to make general inquiries or submit requests for Hillsborough County property records by calling (813) 276-8100 Ext: 7805 or sending an email to recording@hillsclerk.com. Like other request channels, you would be required to provide information on the requested records and pay the applicable fees.

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can request Hillsborough County property records via mail or fax by submitting information on the required records and the applicable fees to the Clerk of the Circuit Court using the details below.

    • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3249, Tampa, FL 33601; Fax: (813) 276-2114.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    E-recording services in Hillsborough County allow you to record real estate documents online without having to visit the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court. You can access this service by contacting any of the e-recording vendors specified on the clerk's official records webpage.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)

    Although the Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains various documents comprising Hillsborough County property records, including deeds, leases, easements, and mortgages, real estate assessment records are not within the clerk's purview. The county's Property Appraiser office handles property assessments and maintains records of property valuation, ownership tax maps, and exemptions.

    Similarly, the county's Tax Collector's office is responsible for collecting real estate taxes and maintaining records of property tax payments across municipalities in the county. Records maintained by these offices are equally crucial for your research on a property within the county. For information on statewide tax data, contact the Florida Department of Revenue.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    These steps provide a guide on accessing deeds online in Hillsborough County:

    • Visit the Clerk of Circuit Court records search portal.

    • Select the name, instrument number, document type, legal search, book/page, or date option and enter the required details.

    • Select the record you need from the list of search results.

    • Proceed to view, print, or download the deed for free. However, to obtain a certified copy, click the document certification link and pay the applicable fees.

    You can take the following steps to access deeds created before 1957:

    • Visit the archives website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

    • Enter the required details into the index books or document search.

    • Select the applicable records from the list of suggestions.

    • The portal also allows users to view, download, and print uncertified documents for free.

    • You can download deeds from the portal using the shopping cart and check out features on the portal.

    Cities & Towns in Hillsborough County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Clerk of the Circuit Court serves all three municipalities within Hillsborough County, as listed below.

    • Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    The Property Appraiser's office is responsible for real estate assessment in Hillsborough County. You can access official information on real estate assessment, including ownership tax maps, valuation details, and exemptions, using the office's real estate search and GIS portal. Additionally, the county's Tax Collector's office charges and collects real estate-related taxes in the county.

    You can verify the tax status of any piece of property in the county through the Tax Collector's real property portal. Also, statewide finance and tax data can be accessed through the Florida Department of Revenue.

    Hillsborough County-Specific Nuances

    The following are distinctive features of Hillsborough County's real estate system that you should know when researching property records in the county.

    • Like other counties in Florida, Hillsborough County operates a unified land title system, with rights to real property evidenced by recorded documents.

    • In Hillsborough County, all real estate-related records are maintained at the county level. The County Clerk of Court maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, and related documents, while the county's Tax Appraiser and Tax Collector offices maintain assessment records and tax-related records, respectively.

    • Property records maintained by the county's Clerk of Court date back to 1846. The clerk maintains a separate archives portal for pre-1957 property records. However, users can view, download, and print both recent and archived property records online for free.

    • You can record real estate documents online in Hillsborough County through any of the approved e-recording vendors listed on the Clerk of Court's website.

    Typical Contents of a Hillsborough County Property Record

    Depending on the nature of the document, you can access the following information in a typical Hillsborough County property record:

    • Deeds - They prove ownership and transfer and contain:

      • Names of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer)

      • Legal description of the property

      • Date of conveyance and recording information (book and page or instrument number)

      • Consideration amount (purchase price or nominal value)

      • Prior deed references establishing the chain of title

      • Homestead declaration, if applicable

    • Mortgages - They record debt transactions related to the property and contain:

      • Name of the lender or mortgagee and borrower

      • Principal amount, interest rate, and loan terms

      • Recording details of the mortgage instrument

      • Satisfaction or release documents (discharges) confirming repayment

    • Plans and surveys: They identify property boundaries and layout, and contain:

      • Plan or subdivision name and number

      • Lot dimensions, easements, and adjoining parcel references

    • Encumbrances and restrictions within property records - They contain details such as:

      • Easements and rights-of-way for utilities or access

      • Restrictive covenants governing land use or development

      • Lis Pendens notices indicating pending legal action

      • Liens or judgments recorded against the property

    Some Hillsborough County property records may also contain additional details, such as lis pendens, trusts, foreclosure notices, corrective deeds, contracts for deeds, and power of attorney filings.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    To ensure a valid change of property title in Hillsborough County, you need to record such changes with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. To do this, ensure the document evidencing such a change is in the form required by state laws. Following this, submit the document along with the applicable fees and a completed Recording Transmittal Form or Cover Letter to the clerk's office via mail or in person between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. You can access the Recording Transmittal Form and information on the recording guidelines and e-recording vendors through the Clerk of Court's recording webpage.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    You can take the following steps to conduct a comprehensive property records search in Hillsborough County:

    • Identify the correct registry district or county office - The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains deeds, mortgages, plans, and other real estate records in Hillsborough County.

    • Use the registry's online portal to search for the property records - Depending on the date of the records, individuals can search using the Clerk's office record search portal or its archive website. Both portals allow them to search documents using criteria like parties' names, document type, index, and date.

    • Record reference numbers - Look out for book and page numbers, plat references, instrument numbers, and other indexing information.

    • Trace the Chain of Title - Locate older deeds, transfers, mortgages, releases, and other filings using reference numbers. Review these documents to understand the ownership history of the property.

    • Review plans and encumbrances - Look out for any easement rights, restrictions, and encumbrances that relate to the title or use of the property.

    • Verify parcel data with the Appraiser's and Collector's office - Use the real estate search portals and GIS website provided by the county's Tax Appraiser and Tax Collector to confirm assessment and tax-related details.

    • Confirm registered land status, where applicable - Hillsborough County and other areas in Florida use a centralized land recording system. As such, you can only trace the title to real estate using recorded documents.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Hillsborough County

    Listed below are the three municipalities in Hillsborough County, which are all cities.

    • Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace.

    *The county also has several census-designated and unincorporated communities without a separate municipal government (Wikipedia).

    All municipalities in Hillsborough County fall within the jurisdiction of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for real estate records.

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals