Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Florida · North Central Florida · #241 Most Populous County in the US
Alachua County, Florida
Home of the Florida Gators — from the University of Florida's flagship campus and UF Health academic medical center to Paynes Prairie Preserve's bison herds and sandhill cranes, Gainesville's progressive arts scene, and a north-central Florida college town that draws from both Florida's urban corridors and the rural Suwannee River country. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Alachua County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Alachua County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Alachua County Emergency Management – (352) 264-6500 | alachuacounty.us/em
Alert System: Alert Alachua; Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM); CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; University of Florida O’Connell Center; Alachua County Fairgrounds; alert.alachuacounty.us
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: North-central Florida county; Gainesville is county seat; University of Florida (flagship state university; one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive universities – a defining institution); hurricane risk (Alachua County is inland but still subject to tropical storm impacts; Irma 2017 caused significant wind damage); severe thunderstorms (Florida leads the nation in lightning strikes; Gainesville area has extremely high lightning frequency); sinkholes (north-central Florida’s karst limestone geology creates sinkhole risk); tornadoes; flooding (Prairie Creek, Paynes Prairie); wildfire risk (flatwoods and scrub communities)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Alachua County Public Works – (352) 374-5245
Transit: Regional Transit System (RTS) – (352) 955-0000 | go-rts.com (one of Florida’s finest small-city transit systems; serves Gainesville and the UF campus extensively; free for UF students); Gainesville Regional Airport bus connection; Greyhound
Notes: I-75 (north-south – connects to Tampa south and Lake City/I-10 north; Gainesville exits are heavily used); US-441 (north-south through Gainesville; historic route); SR-26 and other state roads; Gainesville is about 65 miles south of Jacksonville and 115 miles north of Orlando; the UF campus drives enormous bicycle and pedestrian activity; Gainesville’s transit system (RTS) is excellent for a Florida city given the university base
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Alachua County Growth Management – (352) 374-5243 | alachuacounty.us/growth-management
Services: County permits; Gainesville (separate – major university city with active development), Alachua, High Springs, Newberry, Hawthorne, Micanopy, Waldo, Archer separate
Notes: Gainesville’s development is heavily influenced by UF’s presence (student housing, research facilities, medical complex); the UF Health complex is a major development anchor; Archer Road commercial corridor; innovative housing policies in Gainesville (one of Florida’s more progressive cities on housing density); suburban residential development around the urban core
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Alachua County Veterans Services – (352) 264-6900
VA Medical: Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (Gainesville – (352) 376-1611; one of the Southeast’s finest VA hospitals; affiliated with UF College of Medicine; Level I trauma equivalent VA; comprehensive services including spinal cord injury and PTSD programs)
Services: Full range; outstanding VA given the UF affiliation; VA research programs are significant
Notes: Malcom Randall VAMC is one of the finest VA hospitals in the Southeast – its affiliation with UF creates exceptional research and clinical programs; the VA and UF Health are co-located on the medical campus; veteran research programs in PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and rehabilitation are nationally significant; Gainesville’s veteran community is large
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Alachua County Library District – (352) 334-3900 | aclib.us; 6 branches; excellent system
Branches: Headquarters Branch (Gainesville), Tower Road, Millhopper, Hawthorne, High Springs, Newberry
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy (Florida history), maker spaces, recording studios, children’s programs; University of Florida George Smathers Libraries supplement (major research library – public access available)
Notes: Alachua County Library District is one of Florida’s finer county library systems; UF’s George Smathers Libraries (one of the Southeast’s finest research libraries; home to the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History – arguably the finest Florida history archive in existence) provide extraordinary supplemental resources; the library district’s maker spaces and innovative programming reflect the university community’s influence; the county library is a valued community institution in a university town
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
State Parks: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (Gainesville – one of Florida’s finest state parks; a vast freshwater marsh/prairie that supports bison (reintroduced), wild horses (the Paynes Prairie herd – descendants of escaped Spanish colonial horses), alligators, sandhill cranes, and wintering waterfowl; the La Chua Trail is one of Florida’s best wildlife viewing experiences; the prairie is visible from the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail); Ichetucknee Springs State Park (Fort White – one of Florida’s finest spring-fed rivers; crystal-clear 72°F water; tubing; snorkeling; manatees in winter; the Ichetucknee River is one of the purest examples of Florida’s spring systems; kayaking through the spring run is extraordinary)
County Parks: Alachua County Equestrian Center; Dudley Farm Historic State Park (Newberry – an operating 1880s farm); San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park (excellent hiking in one of north Florida’s finest mesic hammock forests); Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail (16-mile rail-trail)
City: University of Florida campus (one of the most beautiful public university campuses in the South; the Century Tower; the Florida Museum of Natural History – the Southeast’s finest natural history museum; the Harn Museum of Art – excellent university art museum; Florida Field/Ben Hill Griffin Stadium “The Swamp” – 90,000-seat legendary football stadium); Depot Park (Gainesville – outstanding urban park; seasonal events; the Natural History Museum is adjacent); Sweetwater Wetlands Park (Gainesville – constructed wetlands and bird sanctuary; outstanding year-round birding; one of the finest urban birding sites in Florida)
Notes: Paynes Prairie is one of Florida’s most remarkable natural areas – the open prairie visible from the Rim Trail lookout tower (with bison grazing below, alligators in the marsh, and hundreds of sandhill cranes) is a genuinely extraordinary Florida experience; the wild horse herd (Spanish mustangs descended from colonial-era horses) adds a unique element; Ichetucknee Springs is simply one of the finest natural experiences in Florida – the crystal-clear spring water, the underwater visibility, the manatees wintering in the spring head, and the tubing culture make it beloved across Florida; Sweetwater Wetlands Park is an unlikely urban gem – a constructed wetland built to treat stormwater has become one of the finest bird watching sites in north Florida
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Alachua County GIS – alachuacounty.us/gis; Florida Department of Environmental Protection GIS; USGS karst/sinkhole mapping; UF GeoPlan Center (one of the Southeast’s finest academic GIS resources – public access to Florida data); paynes prairie hydrology mapping
Notes: Active GIS; UF GeoPlan Center is a nationally significant GIS academic resource with extensive Florida data; sinkhole susceptibility mapping is important given the karst geology; Paynes Prairie water level monitoring; spring system mapping (Ichetucknee and others)
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Alachua County Animal Services – (352) 264-6870 | alachuacounty.us/animal
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, microchipping; wildlife management (Florida black bears – increasingly active in Gainesville suburban neighborhoods; gopher tortoises (state threatened – permits required for relocation); Florida sandhill cranes; alligators; coyotes)
Notes: Gopher tortoise management is a significant Alachua County animal services function – the gopher tortoise is a state-threatened keystone species; burrow surveys are required before development; relocation permits through FWC; Florida black bears are increasingly common in suburban Gainesville as their population recovers; FWC’s bear management program includes hazing, trash management, and occasional relocations; Paynes Prairie wildlife (alligators, bison, wild horses, sandhill cranes) managed by Florida State Parks
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Alachua County Solid Waste – (352) 548-1604 | alachuacounty.us/solid-waste; Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station; comprehensive recycling and waste management
Recycling: Excellent recycling programs; one of Florida’s better county recycling programs; Alachua County Resource Recovery Park
Environmental: Florida DEP; Suwannee River Water Management District (covers the springs north and west); St. Johns River Water Management District (some overlap); UF Water Institute (one of the Southeast’s finest water research institutions); springs protection programs
Key Issues: Springs protection (Alachua County is in the recharge zone for numerous Florida springs – Ichetucknee, Gilchrist Blue, and many others; nitrogen from agricultural and residential fertilizers is the primary impairment; springs that were historically crystal-clear have developed algae from excess nitrogen; the Springs Protection initiative of the water management districts and DEP addresses this; Gainesville’s wastewater treatment and stormwater management directly affect spring water quality); sinkhole management (the karst limestone geology beneath Alachua County creates ongoing sinkhole formation; property insurance challenges; county building codes address sinkhole risk); flatwood wildfire management (natural flatwood and scrub communities require periodic fire; prescribed burning is an important management tool)
Notes: Alachua County’s springs protection challenge reflects a statewide Florida issue – the nitrogen pollution of the Floridan Aquifer (from decades of agricultural fertilizer application, septic systems, and wastewater treatment) is slowly degrading the clarity and ecological health of Florida’s spring systems; this is one of Florida’s most significant long-term environmental challenges; UF’s Water Institute is a national leader in freshwater science and springs research; Gainesville’s progressive environmental policies (one of Florida’s greener cities) have led to significant investments in renewable energy, water conservation, and sustainable development; the city has committed to 100% renewable electricity; Paynes Prairie’s water management (the prairie floods during wet periods and dries during drought, creating dynamic and sometimes dramatic conditions for wildlife) requires careful monitoring and occasional management
About Alachua County
Alachua County is defined by a single overwhelming institutional presence: the University of Florida – and everything that radiates from it. UF (enrollment ~56,000, one of the largest universities in the United States) is by far the county’s largest employer, the dominant force shaping its housing market, its professional class, its cultural life, and its political identity. The Florida Gators – competing in the Southeastern Conference – produce the football Saturdays at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (The Swamp, capacity 88,000) that define Gainesville’s calendar and identity as surely as the academic year.
UF Health Shands (the University of Florida’s academic medical center) is one of the Southeast’s leading academic medical and research hospitals – a Level I trauma center, a major cancer center, and a teaching hospital that trains thousands of physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. The combination of UF and UF Health makes Alachua County the most medically sophisticated community in North Central Florida, drawing patients from a vast rural catchment area.
Beyond the university, Gainesville has developed a genuine technology and innovation ecosystem. UF Innovate and Innovation Square (a research park adjacent to campus) have seeded dozens of biotech, agritech, and health technology startups. Relativity Space (the 3D-printed rocket company, though headquartered in Long Beach, CA) has Gainesville connections through UF aerospace engineering talent pipelines. Gainesville’s claim to have invented Gatorade – developed by UF researchers in 1965 to address heat illness in Gator football players – is both accurate and a source of perpetual local pride. The PepsiCo formula yields Alachua County approximately $20 million annually in royalties through the UF Foundation.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park – a vast flatwoods prairie south of Gainesville – is home to free-ranging bison and horses (descended from Spanish colonial stock), sandhill cranes, and one of Florida’s most spectacular wildlife viewing environments. The Ichetucknee Springs State Park in neighboring Columbia County draws visitors from across the state for tubing in the crystal-clear spring-fed river.
County government is a five-member Board of County Commissioners with separately elected offices for the Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, and Tax Collector.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Florida assesses at just value each January 1. TRIM Notice in August – 25-day petition window to the Alachua County Value Adjustment Board. Homestead exemption: File with the Alachua County Property Appraiser at 12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL 32601, phone 352-374-5230, by March 1. No FL estate or inheritance tax.
Recommended
Alachua County TRIM notice August — 25-day appeal window. UF Health and research enterprise provide stable employment anchor. No FL estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Circuit Court (Probate): The Alachua County Circuit Court – 8th Judicial Circuit at 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601, phone 352-374-3636, handles probate, estate administration, and all civil and criminal matters. Clerk of Courts maintains Official Records at clerk.alachua.fl.us.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF COURTS (Records, Marriage Licenses)
201 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 374-3636
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Alachua County Clerk of the Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Alachua County Library District, headquartered at 401 E. University Avenue, Gainesville – 12 locations across the county, including branches in Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, Micanopy, Newberry, and Waldo.
Local societies
No dedicated Alachua County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories; the county library system and the University of Florida (in Gainesville) are notable general research resources.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Alachua County Clerk of the Court, Probate Division Family and Civil Justice Center, 201 E. University Avenue, Room 202, Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 374-3636 / probate line (352) 548-3775 Hours: Monday–Friday 8:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Alachua County sits in Florida’s 8th Judicial Circuit.
IMPORTANT – a major statewide law change just took effect: Florida’s summary administration threshold DOUBLED from $75,000 to $150,000 effective July 1, 2026, under CS/HB 1337 (Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida). Confirm which threshold applies based on date of death when helping someone (see
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
2621 SE Hawthorne Rd., Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 367-4000
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
515 N. Main St., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 374-5252
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
FL Dept of Health — Alachua
224 SE 24th St., Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 334-7900
FL DCF — Alachua
(352) 955-2000
FL Medicaid
(800) 299-4833
UF Health (Shands)
ufhealth.org (major academic medical center)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida Department of Health in Alachua County – (352) 334-7900 | alachua.floridahealth.gov
Services: Comprehensive county health department; immunizations; WIC; STI/HIV testing (UF campus health); behavioral health; environmental health; restaurant inspections; vital records
Hospital: UF Health Shands Hospital (Gainesville – (352) 265-0111; one of the Southeast’s premier academic medical centers; Level I trauma; nationally ranked in multiple specialties; UF College of Medicine teaching hospital; 850+ beds); North Florida Regional Medical Center (HCA – Gainesville); UF Health Heart and Vascular Hospital
Notes: UF Health Shands is one of the finest academic medical centers in the Southeast – consistently ranked among America’s best hospitals; the Level I trauma center serves a large region; research programs in oncology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular medicine are nationally significant; Gainesville’s healthcare infrastructure is exceptional for a city its size given UF’s presence; student health at UF serves 60,000+ students; behavioral health and substance use challenges in the university community
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Recommended for Florida
Ownwell
Property tax appeal service. Contingency fee - no savings, no charge.
