Nassau County

This County is in the northeast part of Florida, bordering the counties of Duval, Baker, Charlton, and Camden County in Georgia. Nassau County was founded in 1824 and was named after the Duchy of Nassau in Germany. Currently, the County has 90,352 people per the 2020 census results, a 31`% increase from 2010.  

The current county seat is in Fernandina Beach, the largest city in the County, and is also part of the Jacksonville metropolitan area. Moreover, the County is home to various racial groups, including whites, Asians, pacific islanders, Latinos, and African Americans. 

The census bureau indicates that the County covers an area of 762 square miles (1880 square kilometers), with 649 square miles (1680 square kilometers) being land and 77 square miles (200 square kilometers) covered by water. In addition, the county seat lies on Amelia Island, which is the County’s only occupied island.  

Economically, the County of Nassau now includes a wide range of activities, from agricultural practices like pulp production on the west and central sides. As a result, tree farming is the main activity in the County, an activity overseen by the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation Agency. Additionally, Fernandina Beach has different professional companies like real estate and medical care, influencing the County’s economy. 

Nassau County Offices 

County Commissioners’ Office 

Citizens of Nassau County elect a commissioner from various districts to represent them on the County Board of Commissioners. This board is the County’s governing authority and serves for a four-year term. Moreover, it acts under regulations given to it by the Florida state administration and elects a chairperson and a vice-chairperson annually. Some of the duties that the board has include: 

• Delivering services that ensure the well-being of the citizens  
• Levying taxes needed for the operation of the County 
• Coming up with resolutions that will lead to good health, safety, and general welfare of the residents 
• Appointing a county manager 

The current Board of Commissioners has the following members: 

• John F Martin-Ferdinand beach 
• Aaron C Bell-South Amelia Island 
• Jeff Gray- Yulee Chester district 
• Thomas R Ford- Hilliard, Nassau oaks  
• Klynt A Farmer- Callahan west Yulee 

County Manager’s Office 

Taco pope holds the office of Nassau County Manager, which ensures that services are delivered to the County in a highly specialized and polite manner to enhance the County’s image. Moreover, the county manager oversees all departments under the County Board of Commissioners and mediates between the community members and the administration. However, Pope is assisted by Marshall Eyermann, the county assistant administrator. Other functions of the County Manager’s Office include; 

• Development and presentation of a yearly budget 
• Provision of administrative leadership to all agencies of county government 
• Ensuring the county commissioner’s policies are put into action 
• Assisting county commissioners in the development of strategies 
• Ensuring efficiency in the funding of services 

County Appraisers’ Office 

The Appraiser’s Office is responsible for the appraisal of all property in the County after every year. It files deadline exemptions for homestead and other personal property, as well as filing tangible real estate demands for all businesses in the County. Additionally, the office is open to discussing or taking appeals on the information given on appraisal. Michael Hickox, who has personally appraised over 10,000 properties in the County, is in charge of the office and is committed to delivering effective and highly professional services.  

Interested parties can make inquiries from the Office’s official website.  

Tax Collector’s Office 

John M Drew holds the office of the tax collector in Nassau County. This office collects all levies listed in the tax roll by the deadline dates while processing renewals and new Florida agriculture and consumer services department applications. Moreover, the tax collector is a mediator of Highway Security and Motor Vehicles in licensing motorists and registering vehicles and vessels. The office is also a Florida fish and wildlife conservation agency branch.  

Other functions of the Tax Collector’s Office are listed below. 

• Storage of certified birth and death certificates 
• Collection of tourist development revenue 
• Registration and renewal of mobile phone numbers 

Sheriff’s Office 

The Sheriff’s Department patrols the 649 square miles of the County, including the city limits of Fernandina Beach, Callahan, Yulee billiard, and Bryceville. This is necessary to provide law enhancement services per the Florida state constitution. Additionally, the sheriff’s office is the executive officer of the court. As such, it is in charge of county detention facilities and the provision of court security. To achieve this, the sheriff has 238 deputies and several staff members divided into four squads. The squads have ten deputies, each assigned to different areas in the County. The current Sheriff is Bill Leeper, who has the following roles per Chapter 30 of Florida Statutes: 

• Executing all orders from the Board of Commissioners. 
• Implementing all rules from the Supreme Court and other court systems. 
• Suppressing unlawful meetings within the County. 
• Being a custodian of peace in the County. 
• Authority to raise the power of the County and command anyone to assist in it 

Supervisor of Elections Office 

Janet H Adkins is the current Supervisor of Elections in Nassau County. This Department is responsible for all the voting processes of the County, including signing in registered voters and educating the citizens about the process of election. Basically, the entire process comprises how to use the various equipment and how to vote.  

It is the responsibility of this office to ensure the citizens turn up and vote. As such, it conducts community sensitization on voting importance and provides all the necessary equipment like the ballot papers and polling stations. Furthermore, the statutes require the office to provide staff members to monitor the conduct of these elections. Other responsibilities include organizing with the Sheriff’s Department to provide security personnel during election periods.  

Nassau County Public Records 

County Property Records 

Property records are real estate files containing information about the County’s personal property, including land or other commercial properties such as title deeds and mortgages. The County has several government offices like the Nassau Clerk of Courts Office, which maintain these documents. Interested parties, including businesses or individuals, can access these records through an online portal which is under the management of the Clerk’s Office, or by calling the Department’s offices at.(904) 491-6430. 

Tax Records 

These are files associated with resource taxes, engagement taxes, taxes on merchandise, and other forms of revenue to be collected by the government. The documents also contain appraisals, property assessments, assessment taxes, and income tax. However, some of these records are available as public information, while other forms require one to make a special request to access them. Notably, a taxpayer must know how long to keep tax records and how to challenge property tax assessments.  

Contractor License Records 

A contractor license search allows the community to look for information about a tradesman’s business skills, lawful protections, and areas of expertise. This data is under the management of the Florida Secretary of State, who keeps these documents and makes them accessible to the public. In addition, the secretary sets the necessities one must meet to qualify for a contractor’s license. Vital information about the contractors’ license includes verifying one’s license, applying for a county contractor’s license, and checking if one’s license has been issued.  

You can access details about a contractor by calling 850-487-1395 or visiting this website.  

Criminal Records  

These records contain official reports that reflect the criminal history and convictions of persons in Nassau County after participation in crimes, misdemeanors, and other violations within the jurisdiction. The collection of these records is necessary to provide an in-depth understanding of a person’s criminal past. 

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office is largely responsible for generating and maintaining Nassau criminal records. It’s also the same office that handles requests for access to these records and background checks. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office keeps track of criminal activity in the County and compiles reports. 

Access to the Criminal Records 

The Sheriff’s Office accepts in-person requests for criminal records and background checks. You can also send an email with the following details:  

• Case number  
• Date of the particular incident  
• Incident location 
• The perpetrator  

The Sheriff’s Office usually charges a processing fee for access to these records, which you can pay in cash, money order, or VISA credit card. You’ll incur $0.15 per page for incident/case reports in addition to $0.15 per page for arrest reports. Additionally, each report comes with a $1.00 certification fee. Background check requests cost a $5 standard fee. 

Court Records 

The Nassau County Court Clerk maintains Nassau County court records. In addition, the Clerk’s Office maintains an internet portal where individuals can access these public court documents. These records may be obtained by paying $1 per page for copies of public record papers less than 14″ x 8.5.” Public record papers larger than this size cost $5 per page. Additionally, you’ll also incur a $2 certification fee per document.  

Note that mail requests require you to write a written query identifying the record and its case file number. Additionally, ensure your request is in a sealed envelope with the payable fees. Use the following mailing address: 

• Nassau County Clerk of Courts, 
• 76347 Veterans Way Yulee, 
• FL, 32097. 

Nassau County Offices by Type