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- 12K Residents
- $475M County GDP
- $38,030 GDP per Capita
Franklin County
Franklin County
Franklin County is a small Big Bend Gulf-coast county centered on Apalachicola, Carrabelle, and St. George Island. The economy runs on fishing/oystering (in long-term recovery), tourism, and second-home/vacation-rental real estate. Court records run on Civitek OCRS.
Property in Franklin
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Franklin.
Franklin is a small but high-value coastal market with major flood and wind exposure.
- Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes apply.
- Tax bills Nov 1; discounts through February; delinquent April 1.
- Wind, flood, and roof age dominate insurance pricing on St. George Island and the coast.
- Tax deed redemption to day of sale (Ch. 197, F.S.).
- Foreclosure surplus rights under § 45.032, F.S. (60 days).
Investing in Franklin.
Franklin offers premium short-term rental opportunities on St. George Island and lower-priced inland inventory.
- Court records via Civitek OCRS (county/19).
- Property Appraiser via qPublic.
- Watch for coastal building setbacks, septic/well rules, and storm-surge zones.
After a Franklin foreclosure or tax deed sale.
Franklin uses Florida's judicial foreclosure process and Ch. 197 tax deed sales; volume is low but vacation-rental properties can produce meaningful surplus.
- Foreclosures filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
- Surplus claim window: 60 days under § 45.032, F.S.
- Tax certificates sold yearly; tax deed application after 2 years.
Courts and records in Franklin.
- Franklin County Courthouse — 33 Market St, Apalachicola, FL 32320 — 2nd Judicial Circuit
- 2nd Judicial Circuit (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla)
- First District Court of Appeal — Tallahassee
- Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Michele Maxwell — (850) 653-8861 — franklinclerk.com
- Property Appraiser — Rhonda M. Skipper — qPublic Franklin
- Tax Collector — 33 Market St, Apalachicola
- Sheriff — A.J. Smith — 270 State Road 65, Eastpoint