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Florida County
Highlands County, Florida
Sebring's 12-hour race and Florida's lake country interior - from the Sebring International Raceway (one of America's most celebrated sports car racing venues, hosting the 12 Hours of Sebring since 1950 - the oldest road race in America) to the extraordinary concentration of natural lakes on the Lake Wales Ridge, the Archbold Biological Station's rare scrub habitat research, and a South-Central Florida interior county where motorsports legend and Florida's most diverse natural ecosystems share the same landscape.
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Office: Highlands County Emergency Management – (863) 402-6858 | highlandsfl.gov/emergency
Alert System: Highlands County Alert; Florida FDEM; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Highlands County Fairgrounds; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: South-central Florida Lake Placid and Sebring county; Sebring is county seat; hurricane risk (Ian 2022 caused damage to Highlands County; Donna 1960 and Charley 2004 impacted the county; the county’s elevation (one of Florida’s higher inland counties) provides some protection but tropical storms still cause significant damage); flooding (Lake Istokpoga; Lake Okeechobee watershed; Kissimmee River tributary drainage); severe thunderstorms; wildfire risk (scrub habitat); Lake Placid (a charming inland lake community); Sebring International Raceway (one of the world’s most famous endurance racing venues)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Highlands County Road Department – (863) 402-6500
Notes: US-27 (north-south through Sebring – the primary Highlands County route; connects to Tampa north and Lake Okeechobee/Clewiston south); SR-70 (east-west through Sebring connecting the east and west coasts of Florida – an important agricultural freight corridor); Sebring is about 80 miles from Tampa and about 90 miles from Fort Pierce; the county is in the heart of the Florida Highlands – relatively high elevation for Florida (50-100 feet above sea level in places), creating a distinctive landscape of scrub, lakes, and rolling citrus groves
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Highlands County Building and Planning – (863) 402-6600
Services: County permits; Sebring (separate), Avon Park, Lake Placid, Lorida, Lorida separate
Notes: Moderate development; retirement community housing is significant; citrus packing facility construction; Lake Placid resort development; limited commercial activity; Sebring Raceway-related development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Highlands County Veterans Services – (863) 402-6553
VA Medical: Bay Pines VAMC (about 100 miles west); West Palm Beach VA accessible east; Sebring VA CBOC (limited)
Services: Benefits claims; multiple VA options accessible via US-27 and SR-70; large veteran retirement community; active VSO chapters
Notes: Highlands County has a significant veteran retiree population; Bay Pines and West Palm Beach VA accessible; telehealth for routine care
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Highlands County Libraries – (863) 402-6564 | mylibrary.org
Branches: Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, children’s programs; Lake Placid community heritage; Sebring 12-hour race history; Florida scrub and lake heritage; citrus farming history
Notes: Three-branch library; the Lake Placid branch reflects the charming community’s heritage (Lake Placid, FL was named in honor of the famous NY lake community; it is known as the “Caladium Capital of the World” – the town grows and ships millions of caladium bulbs; also famous for its murals); Sebring Raceway heritage in the Sebring branch
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
State Parks: Highlands Hammock State Park (Sebring – one of Florida’s oldest (1931) and finest state parks; ancient oaks, cypress swamps, and hammock forests; Florida black bears; white-tailed deer; alligators; wood storks; excellent birding; the old-growth cypress and hardwood hammock is magnificent – trees hundreds of years old; one of the best examples of original Florida hammock forest); Lake Istokpoga (one of Florida’s largest natural lakes; excellent bass fishing – trophy largemouth bass; bird watching)
Regional: Sebring International Raceway (Sebring – one of the world’s most prestigious endurance racing venues; the 12 Hours of Sebring (March – one of the three American legs of the World Endurance Championship; runs since 1952; the oldest sports car race in North America; drivers from around the world compete on the challenging circuit that uses the old Hendricks Army Airfield runways; one of racing’s most storied events; the community of Sebring transforms for 12-Hour weekend); Lake Placid (charming inland lake community; the Caladium Capital of the World – the fields around Lake Placid are filled with caladiums; the Mural Town (dozens of painted murals cover buildings throughout town depicting Florida and local history scenes); lovely small-town downtown)
Notes: Sebring International Raceway is one of the world’s legendary racing venues – the 12 Hours of Sebring has run since 1952 on the challenging circuit that uses the concrete runways of the wartime Hendricks Army Airfield; the circuit’s bumpy, demanding surface is famous among racing enthusiasts; the race attracts Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and Corvette factory teams competing for the overall win; Highlands Hammock State Park’s ancient hammock (some oaks are centuries old) is one of the finest examples of old-growth Florida forest remaining; Lake Placid’s “Mural Town” identity (dozens of murals painted by the Highwaymen artist tradition and others) makes it a charming cultural destination; the Caladium Capital designation is genuine – the farms around Lake Placid produce the majority of caladium bulbs sold in the US
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Highlands County GIS – highlandsfl.gov; SFWMD lake system maps; Lake Istokpoga monitoring; Sebring Raceway area maps; scrub habitat mapping
Notes: County GIS; Lake Istokpoga water quality and level monitoring; scrub and lake habitat mapping; citrus grove land use mapping; Raceway operations maps
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Highlands County Animal Services – (863) 402-6600; Highlands County Humane Society
Services: Stray intake, adoptions; wildlife management (Florida black bears – Highlands County is an important black bear habitat; Lake Istokpoga birds (snail kites – federally endangered; Lake Istokpoga is one of the most important snail kite habitats in Florida); gopher tortoises; alligators; white-tailed deer; wild turkey)
Notes: Florida black bear management is significant in Highlands County – the county’s scrub and hammock habitats support a significant bear population; Lake Istokpoga’s snail kite population (the snail kite is a federally endangered hawk that feeds exclusively on apple snails in Florida’s freshwater wetlands; Lake Istokpoga and the surrounding marsh is one of the species’ most important habitats); FWC manages all wildlife; gopher tortoise management in development areas
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Highlands County Solid Waste – (863) 402-6500; transfer stations; recycling
Environmental: Florida DEP; South Florida Water Management District; Lake Istokpoga protection (SFWMD – the lake is a critical component of the Kissimmee-Lake Okeechobee-Everglades water system; its water quality and level are managed by SFWMD); Florida scrub habitat protection; Florida black bear corridor management
Key Issues: Lake Istokpoga water quality (the lake is a significant bass fishing lake and snail kite habitat; agricultural runoff (primarily from citrus groves) contributes nutrients; SFWMD manages water levels and monitors water quality); Florida scrub habitat (Highlands County’s scrub habitats are among the most significant remaining in Florida – the Florida scrub is one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems; it hosts dozens of endemic species including the Florida scrub jay, Florida scrub lizard, and rare endemic plants; development pressure on scrub lands is significant; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and The Nature Conservancy work to protect remaining scrub); agricultural chemical management (citrus grove pesticide and fertilizer management affects groundwater and lake water quality; integrated pest management is promoted); citrus greening disease (citrus production in Highlands County has been severely affected by citrus greening disease (huanglongbing) – a bacterial disease spread by a tiny insect (citrus psyllid) that is incurable and kills citrus trees over several years; the disease has devastated Florida’s citrus industry; Highlands County’s citrus acreage has declined significantly; alternative crops are being tested)
Notes: Citrus greening disease has been one of the most significant agricultural and economic crises in Florida history; the disease (first detected in Florida in 2005) has reduced Florida’s orange production by 75-80% from its peak; Highlands County’s citrus economy has contracted substantially; some growers are experimenting with heat-tolerant treatments, precision agriculture, and alternative crops; Lake Istokpoga’s snail kite population is one of the best-monitored endangered species populations in Florida – long-term research programs track snail kite nesting, food availability (apple snails respond to water level management), and population trends; the kite’s status (numbers have fluctuated significantly with changes in water management) is a sensitive indicator of South Florida wetland management
About Highlands County
Highlands County is South-Central Florida’s lake country racing county – a community of natural lakes, citrus groves, and the oldest sports car race in America.
Sebring (the county seat, population ~10,000) is home to the Sebring International Raceway and the 12 Hours of Sebring – first run in 1950 on the runways of Hendricks Field WWII airbase. The race is one of the most prestigious sports car endurance races in the world, an annual stop on the FIA World Endurance Championship, and draws 100,000+ spectators to the small city each March.
The Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid is one of the most important biological research stations in the eastern United States – focused on the Lake Wales Ridge’s rare Florida scrub ecosystem, a globally significant habitat harboring endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.
Lake Placid (population ~2,500) – named for the New York resort – is Florida’s “Caladium Capital,” producing 95% of the world’s caladium bulbs in an unlikely agricultural specialty.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Highlands County Property Appraiser at 560 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870, phone 863-402-6659, assesses at just value. No FL estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Highlands County Clerk of Court at 590 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870, phone 863-402-6565, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF COURTS (Records, Marriage Licenses)
590 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 402-6516
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Highlands County Recorder of Deeds, 590 South Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL – records and maintains deeds, final judgments, land records, and liens.
Local societies
Highlands County Genealogical Society, 116 E. Main Street, Avon Park, FL 33825.
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
Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division 590 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870-3867 (863) 402-6564 Highlands County sits in Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit. Clerk & Comptroller: Jerome Kaszubowski.
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
434 Fernleaf Ave., Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 402-7200
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
505 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 402-6655
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
FL Dept of Health — Highlands
7205 S. George Blvd., Sebring, FL 33875
(863) 402-6500
FL DCF — Highlands
(863) 402-7810
FL Medicaid
(800) 299-4833
Highlands Regional Medical Center
highlandsregional.com
AdventHealth Sebring
adventhealth.com/sebring
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida DOH in Highlands County – (863) 402-6500 | highlands.floridahealth.gov
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records; behavioral health; agricultural worker health; Lake Istokpoga water quality monitoring
Hospital: AdventHealth Sebring – (863) 314-4466 (primary hospital; excellent community hospital); Lake Placid also has a clinic; Tampa and West Palm Beach for specialty care
Notes: AdventHealth Sebring is a solid community hospital; the retirement community’s healthcare needs drive demand; agricultural worker health (citrus pickers; farmworkers); behavioral health in rural community; lakes water quality monitoring (Lake Istokpoga – one of Florida’s largest natural lakes – is a significant water resource)
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Sebring
Population: 105,000
Area: 1,028 sq mi
Established: 1921
Tier: 3
Public Records
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