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- 25K Residents
- $663M County GDP
- $26,028 GDP per Capita
Washington County
Washington County
Washington County is in Florida's Panhandle, anchored by Chipley (county seat). The economy mixes agriculture (peanuts, cotton, timber), small-business retail, corrections (Northwest Florida Reception Center), and trucking along I-10. The Clerk (Lora C. Bell) runs Civitek records and a clerk-operated tax deed system.
Property in Washington
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Washington.
Washington is a low-cost rural Panhandle market.
- Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes apply.
- Tax bills Nov 1; discounts through February; delinquent April 1.
- Inland exposure keeps wind insurance moderate; significant tornado and Hurricane Michael (2018) recovery exposure.
- Tax deed redemption to day of sale (Ch. 197, F.S.).
- Foreclosure surplus rights under § 45.032, F.S. (60 days).
Investing in Washington.
Washington offers cheap rural and timber land with low-volume foreclosure activity.
- Court records via Civitek OCRS (county/67).
- Property Appraiser at washingtonflpa.com.
- Watch for agricultural exemptions, mobile-home park zoning, and post-Michael rebuilding.
After a Washington foreclosure or tax deed sale.
Washington uses Florida's judicial foreclosure process and runs Ch. 197 tax deed sales.
- Foreclosures filed in the 14th Judicial Circuit.
- Surplus claim window: 60 days under § 45.032, F.S.
- Tax certificates sold yearly; tax deed application after 2 years.
- Notices published in the Washington County News.
Courts and records in Washington.
- Washington County Courthouse — 1293 Jackson Ave, Chipley, FL 32428 — 14th Judicial Circuit
- 14th Judicial Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington)
- First District Court of Appeal — Tallahassee
- Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Lora C. Bell — (850) 638-6289 — washingtonclerk.com
- Property Appraiser — Gil Carter — 1331 South Blvd — washingtonflpa.com
- Tax Collector — Hugh "Buddy" Nesmith — 1331 South Blvd — washingtontaxcollector.com
- Sheriff — Kevin Crews — 1293 Jackson Ave, Chipley