Pinellas County, Florida • Deeds & Official Records • Updated October 2026
Pinellas County Recorder: Deeds, Official Records, Search, Fees & Office
The Pinellas County Recorder is part of the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. It records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, judgments and other documents affecting property in Pinellas County, Florida.
You can search many recorded documents online without visiting the courthouse. The county’s Official Records system includes searches by name, instrument number, book and page, document type and legal description.
If you need to record a deed, request a certified copy or check a suspicious property filing, this guide explains which service to use, what it costs and what to do next.
Quick overview
Pinellas County Recorder: Essential Information
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller serves as the county’s official recorder. Recording Services handles the recording process and maintenance of Official Records.
What can you find?
The county’s Official Records include deeds, mortgages, lien documents, judgments, certificates of title, recorded plats, lis pendens and mortgage satisfactions.
Marriage licenses, certain court-related instruments and other documents authorized by Florida law can also appear in the Official Records system.
Some images are restricted by law. A searchable index entry does not always mean the full document image is publicly available online.
Primary task
How to Search Pinellas County Deeds and Official Records
The official search portal provides several ways to locate recorded documents. Unlike an ordinary property appraisal search, it focuses on instruments filed with the Clerk.
Open Pinellas County Official Records Search- Review and accept the public-records disclaimer if prompted.
- Choose the search method that matches the information you have.
- Enter the party name, instrument number, book/page or other available information.
- Open the matching result and review its document type, recording date and parties.
- Select the result to view the document image where public access is permitted.
- If the PDF viewer fails to display an image, switch to the TIFF viewer as the portal recommends.
Which search option should you choose?
Start here for common tasks such as locating your deed or researching recorded liens.
Search a grantor, grantee, business or other party appearing in the recorded document.
Use this when you already know the recording instrument number.
Enter the recording book type, book number and page number from a document reference.
Filter records by type, such as deeds, mortgages or other recorded instruments.
Search documents recorded on a specific day.
Search conveyance documents within a recorded consideration range.
Use the legal description from an existing deed or other property document.
The Clerk’s portal recommends trying possible spellings of proper names. This is particularly useful when searching older deeds, trusts, businesses or records involving a change of name.
What do the results tell you?
Grantor: The person or entity transferring an interest in a deed or appearing as a grantor on another instrument.
Grantee: The receiving party identified in the recorded document.
Instrument number: A reference used to locate that specific recorded instrument.
Recording date: The date the Clerk accepted and recorded the document, not necessarily the signing date.
Book/page: An Official Records reference useful for retrieving and cross-checking documents.
Document image: The recorded instrument as maintained by the Clerk, subject to applicable access restrictions.
When you only know the address
Find a Pinellas County Deed by Property Address
A homeowner often knows the street address but not the recording book or instrument number. In that situation, begin with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser.
The Property Appraiser maintains parcel information and links to recorded deeds. The Clerk remains the authority for the actual Official Records document.
Open Pinellas Property Appraiser Quick Search- Select the Address search option.
- Enter the street number and street name.
- Choose the correct property from the results.
- Open the parcel detail page.
- Find Miscellaneous Parcel Info and look for Last Recorded Deed.
- Use the linked deed reference to open the Clerk’s document.
- For older transactions, check Sales History and the available book/page links.
What if an address search returns nothing?
The Property Appraiser advises using fewer words. Try the house number and street name first, without unnecessary address details.
Its database abbreviates common suffixes, such as St, Ave, Blvd, Pkwy and Ln. Try those forms when the full street name does not work.
The Property Appraiser explains that newly recorded deeds can take several weeks to appear in its own database. Search the Clerk’s Official Records directly when checking a recent recording.
Parcel number, STRAP and deed reference are different
The Property Appraiser uses a parcel number and an 18-digit STRAP identifier to identify property. The Clerk’s Official Records use recorded-document references such as instrument number or book/page.
Keep both identifiers when researching a transaction. The parcel number helps locate the property, while the recording reference locates the actual document.
Open Pinellas Property Appraiser HomepageGovernment office and local assistance
Pinellas County Recorder Office Address, Phone and Hours
Pinellas County Clerk — Recording Services
Clerk: Ken Burke, CPA
Street address: 315 Court Street, Room 150, Clearwater, FL 33756
Recording Services phone: 727-464-4876
General Clerk phone: 727-464-7000
General office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, excluding holidays.
Recording correspondence: recording@pinellascounty.org
Official website: mypinellasclerk.gov
For public-records correspondence, the Clerk also publishes a Public Records Liaison address at 315 Court Street, Room 400, Clearwater, FL 33756.
Use Room 150 for Recording Services questions. Do not confuse it with the Property Appraiser’s office, which is located on another floor of the courthouse.
Check building access, parking and holiday closures before visiting. Call ahead if you have a large recording submission or unusual document.
Other Clerk locations
The Clerk’s published fee schedule also identifies these service locations. Verify which recording services are available before traveling to a branch.
545 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Fessler Center, 3165 McMullen Booth Road, Building B, Clearwater, FL 33761
The fee schedule identifies this as a temporary location during renovation of the former north county location.Accessibility: the Clerk’s published materials provide 727-464-4062 for reasonable-accommodation assistance. Contact the office in advance of your visit.
Recording a new document
How to Record a Deed in Pinellas County
Recording a deed makes the instrument part of the county’s public land records. It does not mean the Clerk has investigated the property or guaranteed that the deed establishes valid title.
Most real estate transactions are handled by a title company or attorney. If you are submitting a deed yourself, verify the document’s legal requirements before paying the recording charges.
-
Prepare the deed correctly.
Identify the parties, property and legal description. Use an appropriate deed form and execution requirements under Florida law.
-
Check signatures and acknowledgment.
For a typical conveyance deed, Florida law imposes witnessing and acknowledgment requirements. A legal professional can confirm the rules for your specific instrument.
-
Review formatting and recording information.
Check the document’s page count, names, return information and other details needed by the Recording Department.
-
Calculate recording charges and taxes.
Recording fees and Florida documentary stamp taxes are separate. Consideration, mortgage debt and other facts can affect the tax.
-
Submit the document.
Use the Clearwater Recording Services office or an accepted electronic-recording provider when eligible.
-
Verify the completed recording.
Keep the instrument number or book/page reference and search the Official Records portal for the final recorded document.
A recorded document may still contain legal defects. For ownership transfers involving probate, divorce, trusts, survivorship or an incorrect legal description, obtain qualified legal or title assistance.
Does Pinellas County accept eRecording?
Yes. The Clerk’s recording information describes electronic submission of documents through recording-service providers, including use by title companies.
Provider participation, document eligibility and service charges can vary. Confirm current electronic-submission options with Recording Services before relying on them.
Open Pinellas Clerk WebsiteOfficial charges
Pinellas County Deed Recording Fees and Documentary Stamp Tax
The Clerk’s published October 2025 fee schedule lists the following common Official Records charges. Verify the current schedule before sending payment.
Recording-fee examples
A two-page deed has a basic recording charge of $18.50 before applicable documentary stamp taxes, additional names and other fees.
A three-page deed has a basic recording charge of $27.00 before additional charges.
Under Florida Statute 201.02, the deed tax in Pinellas County is generally $0.70 per $100, or fraction thereof, of taxable consideration. Certain transfers and transactions require more careful analysis.
Illustrative deed tax calculation
For a deed with $300,000 of taxable consideration, the basic Florida deed documentary stamp tax would be $2,100.
This is an illustration, not a determination of the tax due on your deed. Mortgages, assumed debt, transfers without ordinary sale proceeds and exemptions can change the calculation.
Open simple recording-fee calculator
Use this for a preliminary estimate of ordinary page-based recording charges only.
Retrieving documents
How to Get a Copy or Certified Copy of a Pinellas County Deed
For ordinary research, you may only need to view the recorded image online. A certified copy is different because the Clerk formally certifies the public-record document.
Regular deed copy
Find the deed in Official Records and view the available image.
The Clerk’s published fee schedule lists $1 per page for standard copies prepared by the office.
Certified deed copy
Request certification when required by a court, lender or other receiving institution.
The published schedule lists an additional $2 certification charge for a public-record instrument.
For an official certified copy, contact Recording Services at 727-464-4876 to confirm the current request method and total cost.
Private companies sometimes charge substantial amounts to obtain public deed copies. Before paying a mailed offer, compare the charge with the Clerk’s own fee schedule.
Free monitoring service
Pinellas County Property Fraud Alert
The Pinellas County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert service. It can notify subscribers when a document is recorded under a name they have registered.
You can monitor variations such as a personal name, previous name or business name. The service checks names, not whether a particular document is legally valid.
The Clerk’s program describes alerts containing the document number, document type, recording date and name. Use those details to inspect the recording in Official Records.
How to register
- Open the Clerk’s official website.
- Find the Property Fraud Alert service.
- Register the name or names you want monitored.
- Follow the enrollment and notification instructions.
- Review future alerts against the actual recorded instrument.
The Clerk’s published Property Fraud Alert hotline is 1-800-728-3858.
Read the Official Property Fraud Alert GuideImportant: the alert does not prevent a fraudulent instrument from being recorded, remove an existing document or replace a title examination.
Related local services
Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Tax Deeds and Plats: Who Handles What?
Several Pinellas County offices work with property information, but they do not all maintain the same records.
Clerk — Official Records
Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, plats and recording references.
Use when you need the recorded instrument.Property Appraiser
Parcel number, owner reference, property address, assessed value, exemptions and sales history.
Use when you only know the address.Tax Collector
Property tax bills, payments and collection questions.
Use when your question is about paying taxes.Clerk — Tax Deeds
Tax deed proceedings and records involving property sold following delinquent tax procedures.
Use for tax deed case and sale records.Useful official property resources
After opening: select Address, Owner or Parcel ID. Open the matching property to review ownership references, values and deed links.
After opening: go to Property Taxes and choose the payment or bill-related service. Use the account details from your tax bill.
After opening: search by owner, address or parcel ID to locate the property geographically. Do not substitute an appraisal map for a boundary survey.
Does recording a deed update property taxes automatically?
A recorded deed provides information used by other county systems, but the Property Appraiser’s ownership and assessment records may update later.
Buying a home can also affect homestead eligibility and assessed values. Contact the Property Appraiser about exemptions rather than assuming that recording a deed completes the exemption process.
Practical troubleshooting
Common Pinellas County Recorder Search and Filing Problems
I know the address but cannot find the deed.
Search the Property Appraiser first. Open the parcel and look for Last Recorded Deed or Sales History. Use the book/page reference to search the Clerk’s records.
The deed was recorded recently but the owner has not changed.
Check the Clerk’s Official Records first. The Property Appraiser warns that its data can lag behind recording. Contact the respective office if the update remains missing.
The document image will not open.
The Clerk’s Official Records search recommends switching from the PDF image viewer to TIFF if an image error occurs. Also check whether the document is restricted from online access.
A recorded lien appears under my name.
Verify the parties, date and instrument number. A matching name alone does not establish that the lien relates to your property. Obtain legal advice if the filing appears incorrect.
My deed has an incorrect name or legal description.
Contact the document preparer, title company or attorney. A recorded instrument usually cannot simply be edited in the Clerk’s index as if it were a property account.
I received an unexpected deed-copy invoice.
Compare the request with the Clerk’s fee schedule. Check whether the sender is a private company rather than the government before paying.
I need records older than those shown online.
The Clerk’s recording materials describe Pinellas Official Records dating to 1912, with older records not necessarily available as web images. Contact Recording Services for historical access.
Choose your next action
What Should You Do Next?
Need to find your deed? Start with the Clerk’s Official Records search.
Only have a street address? Locate the parcel with the Property Appraiser, then follow the recorded deed reference.
Need a certified deed copy? Find the instrument and contact Recording Services to request certification.
Recording a new deed? Verify execution requirements, documentary stamp tax and recording charges first.
Concerned about fraudulent filings? Enroll in the Clerk’s free Property Fraud Alert service.
Need to pay property taxes? Use the Tax Collector, not the Recorder.
Trying to resolve a title dispute? Consult a qualified Florida real-estate attorney or title professional.
Frequently asked questions
Pinellas County Recorder FAQs
Who is the Pinellas County Recorder?
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller serves as the official recorder of deeds. Ken Burke, CPA, is the Clerk identified in the county’s published recording materials.
How do I search Pinellas County deeds online?
Use the official Official Records portal at officialrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov. You can search by name, instrument number, book/page, document type, recording date and other supported criteria.
Where is the Pinellas County Recording Office?
Recording Services is at 315 Court Street, Room 150, Clearwater, Florida 33756. The published Recording Services phone number is 727-464-4876.
How much does it cost to record a deed?
The Clerk’s published fee schedule lists $10 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page of an ordinary recorded instrument. Documentary stamp taxes and other applicable charges are separate.
Can I search Pinellas deeds by property address?
Start with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s address search. The parcel detail page provides links to the last recorded deed and historical deed references.
How do I get a certified copy of a deed?
Find the instrument through the Clerk’s Official Records and contact Recording Services about certification. The published schedule lists standard copy and certification charges separately.
Does Pinellas County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. The Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert service that monitors selected names and sends notifications when matching recorded documents appear.
Are Pinellas County Official Records free to search?
The county provides an online public Official Records search. Charges can apply when requesting Clerk-prepared copies, certifications or other services.
What if my recently recorded deed does not appear on the Property Appraiser’s website?
Check the Clerk’s Official Records directly first. The Property Appraiser advises that recently recorded deeds can take several weeks to appear in its own system.
Can the Recorder correct a deed after recording?
A legal correction may require a new document rather than changing the original recording. Contact the document preparer, a title professional or a Florida real-estate attorney.
Important information
Official Records, Legal Caution and Independent Website Notice
This article is independent informational content published by county-appraisal-district.org. It is not an official website of Pinellas County, the Clerk, the Property Appraiser or the Tax Collector.
This guide is not legal advice, tax advice, a title opinion or an official public-record certification. Recording charges, access rules, office arrangements and government procedures can change.
Recording or finding a deed does not by itself establish that the property has clear title. Legal ownership, liens, inheritance and deed corrections may require professional review.
FCRA notice: do not use public property or recorder records for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting decisions. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.
Florida public-records caution: emails sent to Florida government agencies may themselves be public records. Consider using phone or postal correspondence when you do not want an email address disclosed.
Primary government references
Official Pinellas County and Florida Resources
The links below support the procedures, services and statutory rules explained in this guide.