Highlands County, FL Property Records
Property records in Highlands, Florida, document ownership and legal details for real estate throughout Highlands County. These records may include parcel identification numbers, owner names, property addresses, legal descriptions, land and building characteristics, assessed and taxable values, exemptions, sales history, deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. They are useful for verifying ownership, researching property values, preparing real estate transactions, checking tax or assessment information, and reviewing recorded documents that may affect title.
Official records are maintained by local government offices: the Highlands County Property Appraiser provides parcel and assessment information, while the Highlands County Clerk of Courts records deeds and other legal instruments. Users can access official Highlands property records through county online tools, including the Clerk’s official property records search, or by contacting the appropriate county office for certified copies or assistance.
Highlands County, FL Property Records & Statistics
Highlands County offers housing costs below Florida's averages while matching the state on property taxes. The median rent is $902, well below the state median of $1,114 but above the national $840.25. The median home value is $159,150, under Florida's $213,800 and the national $173,750.
The median property tax rate is 0.75%, the same as the state rate of 0.75% and slightly above the national 0.74%. With modest home values, the dollar amount of tax owed tends to be lower than in higher-priced parts of the state.
Median household income is $49,702.50, below the state's $63,213 and the national $65,108, so typical earnings trail the benchmarks. The unemployment rate is 2.35%, lower than Florida's 2.61% and the nation's 2.87%, pointing to steady employment.
Renter-occupied housing is just 16.01% of homes, well below the state's 21.62% and the national 21.81%. This indicates a market where most residents own their homes. Overall, Highlands County combines affordable home prices, average tax rates, lower incomes, low unemployment, and a strongly owner-occupied housing base.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Highlands
Highlands County property records include tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, valuation data, and foreclosure filings. The county has 112,656 total parcels, including 98,662 residential and 2,529 commercial parcels, and tax records cover 94.53% of the population for the 2024 assessment year. Recorded documents include 290,326 deeds and 79,192 mortgages, and valuation data covers 38,085 properties.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 112,656 |
| Residential Parcels | 98,662 |
| Commercial Parcels | 2,529 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 94.53% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 290,326 |
| Mortgage Records | 79,192 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 38,085 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Lis Pendens Records | 10,005 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records follow a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment shows a loan being transferred to a new lender or holder, and a release shows that it was paid off and the lien removed.
Highlands County has 96,516 assignment and release records on file. They include 20,335 assignment documents recorded from January 3, 2005, through August 29, 2025, and 76,044 release documents recorded from January 3, 2005, through August 29, 2025, along with 137 other documents.
Buyers, owners, and researchers can use these records to trace who held a mortgage and confirm earlier loans were satisfied. Checking them ahead of a sale or refinance helps reveal liens that remain open and clarifies a property's loan history over the past two decades.
How to Search Highlands County, FL Property Records
In Highlands County, the Clerk's Records Division maintains official property records such as deeds and mortgages. The records relate to the county's 112,656 parcels and include 290,326 deed records and 79,192 mortgage records, which can show ownership transfers, loans, and related filings.
The Highlands County Clerk official records page provides an overview of services. To find specific documents, use the Highlands County official records search, where you can search by name, date, or document type. Documents can be submitted electronically through the Highlands County electronic recording page.
The Records Division is at 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 863-402-6590 with questions.
Gather the owner name, property address, or document details before you start. Enter them, review the results, and open the matching document. If a record does not appear, contact the division for help.
Highlands Registrar of Deeds
The Highlands County Probate Office is located at 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL, 33870 and can be reached at 863-402-6590. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Records can be accessed through highlandsclerkfl.gov or the official website highlandsclerkfl.gov.
Highlands County Records Division
Highlands County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Highlands County property records by address?
The Highlands County official records search centers on names and document details. For an address-based parcel lookup, contact the county's property appraisal office, then use the owner name to find recorded documents. The Records Division at 863-402-6590 can also guide you.
How can I find property owners in Highlands County?
Owners appear on recorded deeds. Search the official records under a buyer or seller name; the county holds 290,326 deed records. You can also visit the Records Division at 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Highlands County?
Assessed values are set by the county's property appraisal office, and current records reflect the 2024 assessment year. Contact that office with an address or parcel number. Sale prices and mortgages in the official records add helpful context.
Where can I find Highlands County property tax bills and payment records?
Tax bills and payments are handled by the county's tax collection office, not the Clerk. Contact that office with a parcel number for a bill or payment history. The Records Division at 863-402-6590 can point you to the right office.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Highlands County?
Search deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents through the official records search. The Clerk's official records page explains services. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Where can I access Highlands County parcel maps and GIS information?
Parcel maps and GIS layers are typically offered by the county's property appraisal office. Ask that office about boundaries for the county's 112,656 parcels. Plats and legal descriptions in the official records can also help locate a property.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Highlands County?
Permits and zoning are handled by the county's planning and building departments, not the Clerk. Contact them before you build or change a property's use. If you are unsure, the Records Division at 863-402-6590 can tell you where to call.
How can I create a list of property owners in Highlands County?
Online searches are meant for individual properties. To compile a list, search deeds in the official records by date range or document type and note the parties named. For bulk requests, call 863-402-6590 and ask what is available.