Find Property Tax Records in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale property tax records are administered by Broward County, which operates some of the most accessible online property search tools in Florida. The Broward County Property Appraiser, led by Marty Kiar, CFA, maintains assessment records for all Fort Lauderdale parcels. The Broward County Tax Collector handles billing and payment. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County and is home to roughly 190,000 residents. This page explains how to search those records, what you will find, and how to use the system effectively.

Broward County Tax Administration

Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County. All property tax functions, assessment, billing, and collection, are handled at the county level. Fort Lauderdale has no separate city property tax office. The Broward County Property Appraiser and the Broward County Tax Collector are both elected officials who operate independently from each other and from city government.

Broward County is densely developed. Fort Lauderdale itself contains a wide range of property types: single-family homes, condominiums, commercial buildings, marinas, and mixed-use parcels. The appraiser values all of them using mass appraisal techniques based on comparable sales and property-specific data. Values are set as of January 1 each year under Chapter 192, Florida Statutes.

For a full overview of how Broward County handles property taxes, see the Broward County property tax records page.

Broward County Property Appraiser

The Broward County Property Appraiser is located at 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 111, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Phone: (954) 357-6830. Fax: (954) 357-6188. Email: bcpamail@bcpa.net. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The appraiser values every parcel in Broward County, including all Fort Lauderdale properties, as of January 1 each year.

The appraiser's office maintains the official property roll for Broward County. This roll contains each parcel's legal description, owner of record, just value, assessed value, taxable value, and active exemptions. Records are updated throughout the year as sales close, permits are pulled, and deeds record. The appraiser does not set millage rates and does not collect taxes. Those are separate functions.

The Broward County Property Appraiser website is one of the more feature-rich county appraiser sites in Florida. The online property search portal lets you look up any Fort Lauderdale parcel by owner name, address, or parcel ID. Results include current values, prior-year comparisons, building data, land data, exemptions, and sales history. Aerial and map views are also available.

The appraiser also offers an Owner Alert service through the site. If you own Fort Lauderdale property, you can sign up at the Owner Alert page to get notified if any documents affecting your parcel are recorded. This is a free fraud protection tool.

Homestead exemption applications can be filed online at the homestead e-file portal. This saves a trip to the office.

DOR oversight ensures Broward County follows uniform standards when assessing Fort Lauderdale parcels.

Broward County Tax Collector

The Broward County Tax Collector's main office is at 1800 NW 66th Avenue, Suite 100, Plantation, FL 33313-4535. Phone: (954) 765-4697. Fax: (954) 321-1109. Email: revenue@browardtax.org. The collector handles billing and payment of property taxes for all Fort Lauderdale parcels.

Tax bills are mailed in November each year. The bill for a Fort Lauderdale property reflects the taxable value from the appraiser, multiplied by millage rates set by Broward County, the school board, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and various special districts. Each taxing authority sets its own rate separately. The total bill combines all of them.

Florida's early payment discount applies. Pay in November for 4% off. December earns 3%, January 2%, February 1%. After March 31, taxes become delinquent. The collector then holds a tax certificate sale where investors bid on certificates for the unpaid taxes. That process is governed by Chapter 197, Florida Statutes.

You can pay Fort Lauderdale property taxes online at the Broward Tax Collector's payment portal. Mail and in-person payments at branch locations are also accepted. The collector's site at browardtax.org has a parcel lookup showing current balances and payment history.

How to Search Fort Lauderdale Property Tax Records

The fastest way to look up a Fort Lauderdale parcel is through the Broward County Property Appraiser's online search tool. Enter an owner name, property address, or parcel ID. The results show current assessed values, just value, taxable value, exemptions, and recent sales. No account is needed and the search is free.

For tax bill information, go to the Broward Tax Collector's property tax page. Enter the parcel ID to see what is owed, whether prior bills were paid, and if any certificates are outstanding. These two databases together give a complete picture of any Fort Lauderdale property.

The Florida Department of Revenue has a statewide data portal for researchers who want aggregate or bulk data. See the DOR Property Tax Data Portal for downloadable county-level files.

The DOR data portal is useful for investors or researchers who need broad Broward County property data.

All Fort Lauderdale property tax records are open to the public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. No ID or reason is needed to access the records. Online portals are available 24 hours a day. For records not online, submit a written request directly to the appraiser or collector.

Exemptions for Fort Lauderdale Property Owners

Fort Lauderdale property owners who live in their home as a primary residence can apply for the homestead exemption. This removes up to $50,000 from assessed value. The first $25,000 reduces value for all taxing authorities. The second $25,000 reduces value for the portion between $50,000 and $75,000 but does not apply to school taxes.

Homestead also triggers the Save Our Homes cap. Annual assessed value increases are limited to 3% or the inflation rate, whichever is lower. In Fort Lauderdale, where market values have risen sharply in recent years, long-term homestead holders may have a significant gap between their just value and their assessed value. That gap reduces the tax bill considerably.

Other exemptions in Broward County include the senior exemption for low-income residents 65 and older, veteran and disability exemptions, and widower exemptions. All exemption applications go to the Broward County Property Appraiser's office. The deadline to file is March 1. Details are in Chapter 196, Florida Statutes.

Businesses with tangible personal property in Fort Lauderdale must file a TPP return with the appraiser by April 1 each year. The first $25,000 of TPP value is exempt. Filing on time captures that exemption automatically. Late filers lose the exemption and may face a penalty.

Value Adjustment Board Appeals

Property owners in Fort Lauderdale who believe their assessed value is too high can petition the Broward County Value Adjustment Board. Each summer, the TRIM notice arrives showing the proposed assessed value and what taxes will be at that value. You have 25 days from the TRIM mailing date to file a VAB petition.

VAB proceedings are governed by Chapter 194, Florida Statutes. After filing, you will receive a hearing date before a special magistrate. Bring evidence: comparable sales in your neighborhood, photos of any defects, and an independent appraisal if available. The burden is on you to show the appraiser's value is incorrect.

The VAB filing fee is modest. Most Fort Lauderdale residential owners handle the process themselves. Commercial property owners often use a real estate attorney or tax consultant given the larger values involved. If the VAB rules against you, you can still file a lawsuit in circuit court.

While an appeal is pending, continue to pay your tax bill, at least the non-disputed portion. Failure to pay can result in additional penalties even if your appeal eventually succeeds. The early payment discounts still apply during the appeal period.

Payment and Delinquency

Broward County mails Fort Lauderdale tax bills in November. Pay by November 30 for the 4% discount. Each subsequent month cuts the discount by 1%. After March 31, taxes are delinquent and a 3% penalty applies. The collector then holds a tax certificate sale.

Investors purchase certificates for delinquent accounts. The certificate earns interest and must be redeemed, paid off, by the property owner before the investor can apply for a tax deed. After two years of non-redemption, a tax deed application can be filed. A tax deed sale at auction could result in loss of the Fort Lauderdale property.

The Broward Tax Collector accepts online payment at browardtax.org, by mail, and in person at branch offices throughout the county. A quarterly installment plan is available. Sign up in the spring to split the annual bill into four payments spread through the year.

Public Records

All Fort Lauderdale property tax records are public. Florida's open records law, Chapter 119, requires government agencies to provide records to anyone who asks. You do not need to own property in Fort Lauderdale or be a Florida resident. The Broward County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector must respond to records requests in a reasonable time.

Online portals at bcpa.net and browardtax.org are free and available around the clock. For records not available online, contact either office directly. Fees may apply for copies or large data requests, but access to the records themselves is a legal right. Core data, owner names, assessed values, tax amounts, and sales history, is fully open for all Fort Lauderdale parcels.

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