At the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard data when you visit our website or interact with our services. Understanding your privacy rights and our data practices is important to us and to you as a user.
Information We Collect
When you visit or use our website and services, we may collect the following types of information:
Personal Information
- Name
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Phone number
- Property Control Number (PCN) or parcel information
- Other information you voluntarily provide when submitting forms or contacting us
Non-Personal Information
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Referring website URLs
- Pages viewed and time spent on our site
- Clickstream data and navigation patterns
This non-personal information helps us improve website functionality and user experience.
How We Use Your Information
Your information is used for purposes including but not limited to:
- Responding to your inquiries and providing customer service
- Processing exemption applications, property assessments, or ownership updates
- Maintaining and improving our website and services
- Analyzing usage patterns to enhance website design and content
- Complying with legal requirements and public records laws
- Sending important updates, notices, or service-related communications
Information Sharing and Disclosure
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office does not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. However, some information may be shared under the following conditions:
- Public Records: Florida law requires certain information collected in the course of property appraisal and taxation to be made available as public records. This means your property data, including ownership and assessed value, may be accessible to the public.
- Government Agencies: We may share information with other governmental entities or agencies for lawful purposes related to property taxation, assessments, and exemptions.
- Service Providers: We may engage trusted third-party vendors to assist with website hosting, data management, or communication services. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and may only use data as instructed.
- Legal Compliance: Information may be disclosed as required by law, court order, or governmental investigation. Need to update your info? Use the change your address form.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze traffic, and customize content. Cookies may be:
- Session cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies: Remain on your device for a set period to remember preferences or login status.
You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but this may affect website functionality.
Data Security
We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security measures include:
- Secure servers and encrypted communications (SSL/TLS)
- Access controls and authentication protocols
- Regular system monitoring and updates
Despite these measures, no internet transmission is completely secure, and users provide information at their own risk.
Your Rights and Choices
You have rights regarding your personal information, including:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: Ask to update or correct inaccurate information.
- Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from non-essential email communications.
- Requests: Contact us to inquire about data retention or deletion, subject to legal requirements.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at the address below.
Children’s Privacy
Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal data, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in laws, technology, or our data practices. We encourage users to review this page regularly. Continued use of our website after any modifications signifies acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:
Privacy Officer
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
301 N Olive Avenue, Suite 2301
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2866
Email: privacy@pbcgov.org
Protecting your privacy is a top priority. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office is dedicated to transparency, security, and responsible data stewardship to maintain your trust as you access our property services and information.