Pinellas County Recorder: Search Deeds, Official Records, Copies, Fees & Office Help
In Pinellas County, Florida, the office many people call the “county recorder” is the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The Clerk serves as County Recorder and records recordable documents into Pinellas County Official Records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, judgments, lis pendens, marriage licenses, certificates of title and other instruments authorized by Florida law.
Use this guide to search Pinellas County deeds online, find the Clearwater Recording Services and Official Records rooms, order certified deed copies without falling for deed-copy scams, estimate recording fees and documentary stamps, understand eRecording, request redaction, and know when to use the Property Appraiser or Tax Collector instead.
Where Do You Search or Record Deeds in Pinellas County?
Search deeds and recorded documents through the Pinellas County Official Records Search. For in-person recording or official-record help, use the Clerk’s Clearwater Courthouse offices: Recording Services, Room 150 and Official Records, Room 163, 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. The Clerk Customer Information Center number is 727-464-7000.
Clerk / County Recorder
Use the Clerk for Official Records searches, recording deeds, mortgages, liens, notices, plats, certified deed copies, eRecording, tax deeds, fraud alerts and redaction requests.
Best for: recorded documents and deed images.
Property Appraiser
Use the Property Appraiser to search by address, owner, parcel ID, map, property use, legal description, assessment information, exemptions and sales history.
Best for: parcel context before searching deed records.
Tax Collector
Use the Tax Collector for property-tax bills, online tax payments, installment payment plans, tax certificates, delinquent tax questions and payment records.
Best for: taxes owed or paid, not deed recording.
How to Search Pinellas County Deeds and Official Records Online
Pinellas County Official Records Search offers several search paths, including Simple Search, Name, Instrument Number, Document Type, Record Date, Consideration, Book/Page, Case Number and Legal Description. Choose the search type based on the information you already have.
Open the Official Records Search
Start from the Clerk’s Official Records link or Recording Services page, then accept the search disclaimer. Avoid third-party “instant deed” or people-search pages when you need official Pinellas County recording information.
Use Simple Search for Common Tasks
Simple Search includes plain-language options such as looking up a deed, finding a lien or finding a mortgage. This is helpful when a homeowner knows what they need but does not know the exact document type.
Search by Name for Grantor or Grantee
Use Name search when you know a buyer, seller, spouse, trust, LLC, lender, prior owner or business. The official search disclaimer advises users to search all possible spelling variations of proper names to maximize results.
Use Book/Page or Instrument Number When Known
If the Property Appraiser, a closing statement, a prior deed, mortgage payoff, title policy or court record gives you a book/page or instrument number, use that exact reference for faster results.
Use Property Appraiser First When You Only Have an Address
If you only know the street address, search the Pinellas County Property Appraiser first. The Property Appraiser record can show parcel ID, sales history and last deed links that point back to Clerk Official Records.
Check Restricted Online Categories
Florida law restricts certain documents from general public online display, including military discharges, death certificates and court records in family, juvenile and probate categories. Those records may require public terminal access or a paid subscription where allowed.
Save the Exact Recording Details
Save the instrument number, book/page, record date, document type, names and legal-description clue before ordering a copy, asking for redaction, requesting certified records or contacting a title professional.
What Pinellas County Official Records Can Show
Official Records can include many document types. Use this decoder to understand which record helps with which problem.
| Record Type | What It May Show | Best Use | Do Not Assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deed | Grantor, grantee, legal description, recording date, consideration clue and book/page or instrument reference. | Finding transfer documents and ownership-chain clues. | That it proves marketable title or clears all liens. |
| Mortgage / Satisfaction / Release | Borrower, lender, secured instrument and later release or satisfaction. | Checking whether a recorded mortgage has a matching release. | That a loan is cleared unless a proper release is recorded and indexed. |
| Lien / Judgment / Lis Pendens | Recorded claim, notice, judgment-related record or lawsuit notice that may affect property. | Identifying possible encumbrances before sale, refinance or title review. | That the lien is valid, expired, enforceable or paid without legal review. |
| Plat / Condo Exhibit | Subdivision, condominium, parcel or survey-related recorded map information. | Understanding legal-description and unit/lot references. | That a recorded plat replaces a current boundary survey. |
| Marriage License | Marriage record information recorded through Clerk services. | Name-change, marriage-record or identity-history context. | That it belongs in the same workflow as deed title research. |
| Tax Deed / Certificate of Title | Documents tied to tax-deed sales, foreclosure or court-related property transfer. | Researching nonstandard ownership changes. | That all redemption, surplus, title and possession issues are solved. |
How to Get a Pinellas County Deed Copy Without Overpaying
The Clerk’s website warns about deed-copy solicitation letters that charge much more than the official copy cost. A one-page certified deed from the Pinellas County Clerk is listed as $3.00: $1.00 for the copy and $2.00 for certification. Unofficial deed copies can often be printed for free from the Clerk’s website.
Online Copy Request
Order Official Records copies through the Clerk’s Online Copy Request and Payment Center. Credit-card payments may include a processing fee charged by the card processor.
Best for: ordering without visiting the courthouse.
In-Person Copies
Copies may be purchased at Clerk office locations. The Clearwater Courthouse and St. Petersburg Branch provide public computer terminal access for viewing Official Records.
Best for: certified records and immediate help.
Written Request
Written requests can be sent to the Downtown Clearwater Courthouse. Include the document reference, payment, contact information and a self-addressed envelope.
Best for: mail-based certified-copy requests.
Recording a Deed, Mortgage, Lien or Other Instrument in Pinellas County
The Clerk records only instruments expressly entitled to recordation under Florida law. A deputy clerk reviews documents to determine whether they meet statutory recording requirements. Once a document is recorded, the Clerk states that it cannot be removed without a court order.
Bring a Complete Recordable Document
The person submitting a document is responsible for accuracy and completeness. If you need help preparing a deed, mortgage, release, lien or legal instrument, contact a Florida attorney or title professional.
Include Return Envelope
The Clerk requires a self-addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size and proper postage with documents submitted for recording so recorded originals can be returned.
Use eRecording for Volume Work
eRecording allows approved vendors and customers to scan, index and submit documents electronically. Pinellas lists volume vendors such as EPN, CSC, Hopdox and Simplifile.
Pinellas County Recording Fee and Documentary Stamp Estimator
This tool estimates common recording charges from the Clerk fee schedule. It is not an official quote and does not include every possible court fee, tax deed fee, eRecording vendor charge, mailing cost, exemption, title-company fee, attorney fee or unusual document treatment.
Formula used: standard recording first page $10, each additional page $8.50, extra indexed names over four at $1 each, deed documentary stamps at $0.70 per $100 or fraction, mortgage/promissory-note documentary stamps at $0.35 per $100 or fraction, intangible tax at 2 mills per dollar, copies $1 per page, certification $2 per instrument.
Pinellas County Recorder Office Locations, Hours and Map
Use the Clearwater Courthouse for full Recording Services and Official Records help. St. Petersburg also handles copies and office service. North County is listed for drop-off only for recording documents that are forwarded to Clearwater.
Clearwater Courthouse — Recording and Official Records
Address:
315 Court Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Recording Services: Room 150
Official Records: Room 163
Phone: 727-464-7000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm, excluding holidays.
St. Petersburg Branch
Address:
545 1st Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 727-464-7000
Use for: in-person copy service, public terminal access and Clerk branch services listed by the Clerk.
North County Drop-Off Only
Address:
3165 McMullen Booth Road
Fessler Center, Building B
Clearwater, FL 33761
Phone: 727-464-7000
Important: Recording documents are not recorded at this location; they are sent by courier to 315 Court Street for processing.
Pinellas County Recorder vs Property Appraiser vs Tax Collector vs Court Records
Pinellas County property research often requires more than one office. This table helps you start with the right agency.
| Your Task | Correct Office / Tool | Why | What to Have Ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find a deed, mortgage, lien, release, plat or recorded document. | Pinellas Clerk Official Records | The Clerk is County Recorder and maintains Official Records. | Party name, instrument number, book/page, record date, document type or legal description. |
| Record a deed, mortgage, lien, notice or other recordable instrument. | Recording Services, Room 150 | The Clerk reviews documents for statutory recordability and records approved instruments. | Original document, fees, return envelope, signatures, notary, legal description and tax/documentary stamp details. |
| Search by street address or parcel ID first. | Pinellas County Property Appraiser | The Property Appraiser database is better for address, parcel ID, owner, map and sales-history context. | Address, owner name, parcel ID, condo/subdivision name or map location. |
| Pay property taxes or check tax bill status. | Pinellas County Tax Collector | The Tax Collector collects and processes property-tax payments. | Tax bill, property account, parcel ID, owner name or payment confirmation. |
| View lawsuits, criminal cases, family, probate or civil court documents. | Pinellas Clerk Court Records | Court records are separate from Official Records, although some judgments may also be recorded. | Case number, party name, court division, filing date or judgment details. |
Pinellas Property Fraud Alert, Redaction and Protected Official Records
Pinellas County offers free fraud-alert information and official redaction processes. These tools can help protect privacy and awareness, but they do not block recording, prove fraud, guarantee title or replace legal help.
Property Fraud Alert
The Clerk promotes a free alert service that notifies subscribers when a document is recorded with their name in Official Records. Use exact name variations for individuals, trusts and businesses.
- Helpful for spotting suspicious recordings faster.
- Useful for homeowners, heirs, trustees and business owners.
- Does not stop a document from being recorded.
Official Records Redaction
Redaction may be requested for Social Security, bank account, credit, debit or charge card numbers. Separate protected-address and exempt-personal-information forms may apply under Florida law.
- Use the Clerk’s official redaction forms.
- Requests may need notarization and statutory basis.
- Party names generally cannot be removed from the Official Records index.
Official Pinellas County Deed, Recording and Property Record Links
Use these official resources for live record search, copy requests, recording fees, eRecording, redaction, property appraisal and tax-payment routing. Each link includes what to do after opening it.
Pinellas Clerk — Recording Services & Official Records
Official Clerk page for County Recorder services, recordable documents, office locations, copies, certified deeds, eRecording and Official Records guidance.
- Confirm the page heading says Recording Services & Official Records.
- Read the Recording Services customer notes before mailing or dropping off documents.
- Scroll to Official Records & Land Records for search and copy links.
- Use the office-location section before visiting Clearwater, St. Petersburg or North County.
Pinellas Official Records Search
Official Acclaim search for deeds, liens, mortgages, book/page references, instrument numbers and legal-description searches.
- Enable JavaScript and cookies if prompted.
- Read and accept the county disclaimer.
- Choose Simple Search, Name, Instrument Number, Doc Type, Record Date, Consideration, Book/Page, Case Number or Legal Description.
- Verify the document type, record date, names and book/page before ordering copies.
Pinellas Clerk Fee Schedule
Official fee page for recording fees, documentary stamps, intangible tax, copy fees, certification, plats and other Clerk service charges.
- Scroll to Recording Department Filing Fees.
- Check first-page, additional-page and extra-name recording charges.
- Check documentary stamps and intangible tax when recording deeds or mortgages.
- Verify copy and certification fees before ordering certified documents.
Pinellas Online Copy Request and Payment Center
Official request center for ordering copies of Official Records and other Clerk records online.
- Choose the Clerk copy request option that matches Official Records.
- Enter exact document details, such as book/page, instrument number or party names.
- Review the copy and certification fee before payment.
- Remember that credit-card processor fees are separate from Clerk copy fees.
Pinellas Clerk eRecording
Official eRecording section for electronic recording through approved vendor workflows.
- Review the Clerk’s list of volume eRecording vendors.
- Confirm whether your organization should use EPN, CSC, Hopdox, Simplifile or another listed option.
- Scan the original document, add indexing information and submit through the vendor.
- Save vendor confirmation and final instrument/book-page details after recording.
Pinellas Official Records Redaction
Official redaction guidance for protected information in recorded documents and online Official Records images.
- Use this only for eligible information such as Social Security or financial account numbers.
- For protected-address exemptions, use the specific Clerk form linked from Recording Services.
- Identify exact document references before requesting redaction.
- Do not assume party names can be removed from the Official Records index.
Pinellas County Property Appraiser Quick Search
Official parcel search for address, owner, parcel ID, sales history, last deed links, legal description and map context.
- Search by address, owner name or parcel ID.
- Open the parcel detail page.
- Scroll to Sales History or deed/book-page references.
- Use those references in the Clerk’s Official Records search for the actual recorded document.
Pinellas County Tax Collector — Property Tax
Official tax-payment office for property-tax bills, delinquency, payment deadlines, tax certificates and tax-deed payment context.
- Use this page when the issue is a tax bill or payment, not a recorded deed.
- Choose Pay Your Bill or View an Account when needed.
- Have the parcel/account information ready.
- Return to the Clerk only if you need the recorded tax deed or Official Records document.
Florida Department of Revenue — Documentary Stamp Tax
State source explaining deed documentary stamp tax and mortgage/note documentary stamp rules.
- Use this page to understand state documentary stamp tax rules.
- Confirm deed tax rates outside Miami-Dade County.
- Review mortgage and promissory-note tax rules before recording loan documents.
- Use the Clerk fee schedule for local recording and copy charges.
Why a Pinellas County Deed Search May Show No Results
A no-result search does not always mean the document does not exist. Try these checks before assuming a deed, lien or mortgage was never recorded.
Common Search Mistakes
- Searching by address in Official Records instead of using Property Appraiser first.
- Using only the current owner and ignoring prior owners, trusts, estates, LLCs or lenders.
- Entering punctuation, middle initials, suffixes or business names too narrowly.
- Assuming closing date and recording date are the same day.
- Searching only for deeds when the needed document may be a lien, mortgage, release, lis pendens or tax deed.
- Expecting restricted online categories to appear in general public access.
Better Search Moves
- Try Simple Search first for deed, lien or mortgage tasks.
- Use Name search with several spelling variations.
- Use Property Appraiser Sales History to locate book/page links.
- Search a broader record-date range.
- Use document type filters only after broad search results are too noisy.
- Use public terminals or subscription access for restricted categories when allowed.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need to find a deed. | Search Official Records by Simple Search or Name, then narrow by document type “Deed” and date range. | Pinellas Official Records Search |
| You only know the property address. | Use Property Appraiser Quick Search first, then use the last deed or book/page reference in Official Records. | Property Appraiser + Clerk Official Records |
| You received an $89 deed-copy letter. | Do not assume it is a government bill. Search the Clerk site and order the deed from the official copy process. | Pinellas Clerk Certified Deeds / Copy Request |
| You need to record a time-sensitive deed or lien. | Bring the complete document in person to Clearwater Recording Services during normal hours. | Recording Services, Room 150 |
| You need a property-tax bill or payment record. | Use the Tax Collector instead of the Clerk’s Official Records search. | Pinellas County Tax Collector |
| You need legal advice about ownership or title. | Contact a Florida attorney or title professional. The Clerk records documents but does not give title opinions. | Attorney / title company |
Pinellas County Recorder FAQs
Who is the Pinellas County Recorder?
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller serves as the County Recorder. The Clerk records recordable documents into Pinellas County Official Records.
Where is the Pinellas County Recorder office?
The main recording location is the Clearwater Courthouse at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Recording Services is listed in Room 150, and Official Records is listed in Room 163.
What is the phone number for Pinellas County recording and official records?
The Clerk Customer Information Center phone number is 727-464-7000. Use this number for Recording Services, Official Records and general Clerk service routing.
How do I search Pinellas County deeds online?
Open the Pinellas Official Records Search, accept the disclaimer, then search by Simple Search, Name, Instrument Number, Document Type, Record Date, Consideration, Book/Page, Case Number or Legal Description. For deeds, start with the homeowner, grantor or grantee name and narrow by deed document type if needed.
Can I search by property address?
For address-based searching, start with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. The Property Appraiser record may show sales history and book/page references that can link back to Clerk Official Records for the recorded deed image.
How far back do Pinellas County deed images go online?
The Clerk’s Recording Services page states that deed images are available online from 1957 through the present date. Older or restricted records may require other access methods, public terminals or staff guidance.
How much is a certified copy of a Pinellas County deed?
The Clerk’s deed-scam warning states that a one-page certified deed costs $3.00 from the Clerk: $1.00 for the copy and $2.00 for the certification. Longer documents or other copy types may cost more.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Pinellas County?
The fee schedule lists standard recording at $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page, with $1.00 for each indexed name over four. Deeds may also require documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 or fraction of consideration, unless an exemption applies.
Does Pinellas County offer eRecording?
Yes. Pinellas Clerk eRecording allows customers to submit recordable documents through listed eRecording vendors. The Clerk names vendors such as EPN, CSC, Hopdox and Simplifile for volume eRecording workflows.
Is County-Appraisal-District.org the official Pinellas County Recorder website?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent educational resource. It is not the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, the Property Appraiser, the Tax Collector, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Pinellas County Government, the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, the Pinellas County Tax Collector, Florida Department of Revenue, any title company or any law firm.
Recorded documents, recording fees, copy rules, certification charges, documentary stamps, intangible tax, eRecording, redaction, court-record access, tax bills and legal title questions are controlled by official government offices, statutes, courts and qualified professionals. Always verify current requirements with the responsible office before filing, paying or relying on a record.
Property-owner records and recorded-document information should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.