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Florida · Greater Tampa Bay · #120 Most Populous County in the US
Pasco County, Florida
Tampa Bay's explosive northern growth county — from Wesley Chapel's master-planned communities and Wiregrass Ranch to Zephyrhills's skydiving and natural springs, New Port Richey's Gulf Coast character, and Dade City's historic courthouse square anchoring the county's agricultural interior. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Pasco County residents.
County SeatDade City
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Office: Pasco County Emergency Management – (727) 847-8137 | pascocountyfl.net/emergency
Alert System: Pasco County Alert; Florida FDEM; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Pasco-Hernando State College; pascocountyfl.net for current info
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: West-central Florida Tampa metro county; New Port Richey is county seat; hurricane risk (Gulf Coast exposure – Idalia 2023 impacts; ongoing Gulf Coast risk; Helene 2024 flooding); flooding (Pithlachascotee River; Cotee River; Anclote River; coastal marshes); severe thunderstorms; sinkholes (significant karst geology – multiple major sinkhole events); one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties; Tampa metro exurb with significant growth
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Pasco County Engineering and Project Management – (727) 847-2411
Transit: Pasco County Public Transportation – (727) 847-8140; Suncoast Parkway (SR-589) connecting to Tampa metro; primarily auto-dependent
Notes: SR-54/56 (east-west corridor – the primary growth corridor through New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel; one of the most active commercial development corridors in the Tampa metro area); I-75 (east county – connects to Tampa south and I-10 north); Suncoast Parkway/SR-589 (west county – connecting to Tampa north and continuing toward Hernando County); US-19 (Gulf Coast coastal route through New Port Richey); Wesley Chapel (east Pasco County) is one of the fastest-growing communities in Florida
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Pasco County Planning and Development – (727) 847-2411 | pascocountyfl.net
Services: County permits; New Port Richey (separate), Port Richey (separate), Dade City (separate), Wesley Chapel (unincorporated – enormous residential development activity), Zephyrhills (separate – “Lightning Capital of the World”) separate
Notes: Pasco County is one of Florida’s most active building counties; Wesley Chapel is one of the fastest-growing communities in the US; the SR-54/56 corridor commercial development is enormous; Zephyrhills (inland Pasco) is growing significantly; the county’s position as an affordable Tampa metro alternative drives huge residential demand
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Pasco County Veterans Services – (727) 847-8194
VA Medical: James A. Haley VA Medical Center (Tampa – accessible via Suncoast Parkway; approximately 45 minutes); New Port Richey VA CBOC – (727) 869-4400 (important local outpatient access); Zephyrhills VA CBOC
Services: Benefits claims; New Port Richey CBOC provides good local access; large veteran retiree population (Pasco is a major retirement destination); active VSO chapters; Zephyrhills retirement community veterans
Notes: Haley VA in Tampa is accessible via Suncoast Parkway; the two CBOCs provide good local outpatient coverage; Pasco County has a large and growing veteran population including many Tampa metro military retirees choosing Pasco for affordability
Branches: New Port Richey, Regency (Port Richey), Centennial (Land O’ Lakes), Zephyrhills, Hudson, Dade City, Laird Park, Wesley Chapel
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Pasco County heritage; springs heritage; Gulf Coast fishing heritage; Zephyrhills water heritage (the famous Zephyrhills water brand)
Notes: Library system serves a rapidly growing county; Wesley Chapel branch serves the fastest-growing community; the Zephyrhills water heritage (Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water, one of Florida’s most recognized water brands, was named for the city; the spring water source is now owned by Nestlé/Pure Life) is a locally significant topic
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
State Parks: Anclote Key Preserve State Park (accessible only by boat – the barrier island north of Tarpon Springs; spectacular undeveloped Gulf beach; lighthouse; nesting ospreys and bald eagles; sea turtles; a pristine Gulf island experience); Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park (Port Richey – Salt Springs on the Pithlachascotee River; manatees in the springs area; canoeing; limited development)
Regional: Sponge Docks (Tarpon Springs – Pinellas County but defining regional feature accessible from Pasco; the largest Greek-American sponge diving community in the US; the waterfront docks, Greek restaurants, the sponge exchange, and the Greek Orthodox churches create one of the most distinctive ethnic communities in Florida; Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US; the sponge diving heritage (which began when Greek divers migrated from the Dodecanese islands in the early 1900s) is preserved in the waterfront community); Zephyrhills skydiving (the Skydive City in Zephyrhills is one of the premier skydiving destinations in the Southeast – the weather, the flat landscape, and the established dropzone attract skydivers from throughout the region; the US Parachute Association Nationals are held here); Crews Lake Park (Pasco County – excellent birding; freshwater recreation; camping); Gulf Coast beaches (Hudson area – the Hudson Beach area is Pasco County’s Gulf access; not spectacular beaches but authentic Old Florida fishing community character)
Notes: Zephyrhills has become a nationally recognized skydiving destination – the weather, the established facilities, and the community create one of the finest skydiving environments in the US; the Tarpon Springs sponge docks (just across the Pinellas County line but deeply connected to Pasco) create one of the most culturally distinctive communities in Florida – the Greek sponge diving heritage (natural sponge harvesting in the Gulf of Mexico) built the community from the early 1900s through the 1950s; the synthetic sponge’s advent reduced demand but the community’s culture and restaurants have sustained it; Anclote Key (accessible by boat) is one of the finest undeveloped Gulf islands near the Tampa metro area
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Pasco County GIS – pascocountyfl.net/gis; sinkhole susceptibility mapping (critical); SWFWMD Anclote River and springs mapping; Gulf Coast coastal maps; SR-54/56 corridor development tracking; Wesley Chapel growth mapping
Notes: Active GIS for a rapidly growing county; sinkhole susceptibility mapping is critical – Pasco County has had multiple major sinkhole events (including the Seffner sinkhole in adjacent Hillsborough County and multiple events in Hudson/Port Richey); Wesley Chapel development tracking; Anclote River watershed mapping; Gulf Coast erosion monitoring
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Pasco County Animal Services – (727) 834-3216; Pasco County Humane Society
Services: Stray intake (large volume); adoptions; wildlife management (manatees in the Pithlachascotee River and coastal waters; gopher tortoises; Florida black bears in the northern and eastern county; alligators; sea turtles on Gulf beaches; Florida scrub jays in remaining scrub)
Notes: Manatee management in the Pithlachascotee River (the river through New Port Richey has warm springs that attract manatees in winter); Florida black bears increasingly in Pasco County’s growing suburban fringe as the population expands from the Ocala National Forest; gopher tortoise management is required for all significant development permits; sinkhole events occasionally impact wildlife habitat
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Pasco County Solid Waste Services – (727) 847-8131; growing solid waste infrastructure to match population; recycling programs; HHW events
Environmental: Florida DEP; Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD); Hillsborough River State Park accessible; sinkhole management; springs protection (Pithlachascotee and Anclote River spring systems)
Key Issues: Sinkhole hazard (Pasco County is in one of the highest sinkhole-risk areas in Florida; the karst limestone beneath the county creates ongoing sinkhole formation; sinkholes have destroyed homes, collapsed roads, and created public safety emergencies; the county’s rapidly growing suburban development (often built on mapped sinkhole-prone areas) increases the risk; Florida’s sinkhole insurance market is complex and expensive due to the high claims frequency; building codes require sinkhole investigations for new construction but existing homes may have undetected vulnerabilities; SWFWMD’s sinkhole monitoring program tracks events); Anclote River and springs water quality (springs protection for the Pasco County springs (including Salt Springs at Werner-Boyce) requires managing nitrogen from the agricultural and residential recharge zone; the rapid suburban growth is increasing septic system density and stormwater runoff in the springs’ recharge area; septic-to-sewer conversion and stormwater treatment are needed); rapid growth environmental impacts (Wesley Chapel’s explosive growth requires massive stormwater infrastructure investment; impervious surface expansion is straining the natural drainage systems; SWFWMD coordinates stormwater management standards)
Notes: Pasco County’s sinkhole heritage is both a genuine environmental challenge and a cultural curiosity – Pasco County has had some of Florida’s most dramatic sinkhole events; the 2013 Seffner sinkhole (Hillsborough County, just south of Pasco) that swallowed a man alive in his bedroom horrified the nation; the hidden nature of sinkhole hazard (the ground can be perfectly stable until suddenly it isn’t) creates persistent anxiety in high-risk areas; Pasco County’s rapid growth (transforming from a retirement and agricultural county to a Tampa metro growth corridor in about 20 years) is one of Florida’s most dramatic demographic stories; Wesley Chapel’s shopping, entertainment, and residential development (driven by affordable housing relative to Tampa) makes it one of the most active growth corridors in the US
About Pasco County
Pasco County sits directly north of Hillsborough County (Tampa), making it one of the most strategically positioned growth counties in Florida. For residents priced out of Tampa, Brandon, and the inner Hillsborough suburbs, Pasco has offered space, newer housing stock, and significantly lower land prices – while remaining within commuting distance of Tampa’s job base via I-75 and US-41. The result has been relentless growth: Pasco County’s population has grown 46.5% since 2010, and it added residents at a 3.5% annual rate in 2025.
The county’s geography creates three distinct communities. Western Pasco – New Port Richey, Port Richey, and Holiday along US-19 – is an older coastal strip with a large established retiree population, modest housing values, and direct Gulf of Mexico access via the Pithlachascotee River. Central Pasco – Land O’Lakes, Lutz (shared with Hillsborough), and Wesley Chapel – is the county’s newest and fastest-growing section, where master-planned communities, chain retail, and top-rated schools have drawn young families. Eastern Pasco – Zephyrhills, Dade City (the county seat), and San Antonio – retains a more agricultural and small-town character, including the city of Zephyrhills, known nationally for its water brand.
County government is a five-member Board of County Commissioners with separately elected offices for the Clerk of Courts, Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Supervisor of Elections.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Florida assesses at just value each January 1. The SOH cap limits homestead taxable value increases at 3% or CPI. TRIM Notice in August – 25-day petition window to the Pasco County Value Adjustment Board. Homestead exemption: File with the Pasco County Property Appraiser at 14236 6th Street, Suite 101, Dade City, FL 33523, phone 352-521-4433, by March 1. No FL estate or inheritance tax.
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Courts & Legal
Circuit Court (Probate): The Pasco County Circuit Court – 6th Judicial Circuit at 38053 Live Oak Avenue, Dade City, FL 33523, phone 352-521-4426, handles probate, estate administration, and all civil and criminal matters. Clerk of Courts maintains Official Records searchable online at pascoclerk.com.
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court, both locations (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Pasco County Recorder of Deeds, 38053 Live Oak Avenue, Dade City, FL (also a New Port Richey office at 8902 Government Drive).
Local societies
Pasco County Genealogical Society – a member society of the Florida State Genealogical Society.
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
Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division Two locations serve Pasco County – file at whichever is more convenient.
Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center – 38053 Live Oak Avenue, Dade City, FL 33525. (352) 521-4274 / (352) 523-2411 ext. 8199. New Port Richey office – 7530 Little Road, Suite 106, New Port Richey, FL 34654. (727) 847-8199. Pasco County sits in Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit (shared with Pinellas County).
The 1909 Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City (37918 Meridian Avenue) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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):
Health & Human Services
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida DOH in Pasco County – (727) 861-5285 | pasco.floridahealth.gov
Services: Comprehensive health department; immunizations; WIC; STI testing; behavioral health; environmental health; sinkhole environmental health; spring water quality
Hospital: HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital (Hudson); HCA Florida Largo Hospital accessible; AdventHealth Zephyrhills; Medical Center of Trinity; Tampa General accessible for Level I trauma; the county is rapidly adding healthcare facilities to serve its growing population
Notes: Healthcare capacity is struggling to keep pace with Pasco County’s explosive growth; multiple hospital facilities serve the county; Tampa General accessible for trauma; behavioral health in demand; sinkhole damage creates physical and mental health impacts (particularly in Hudson/New Port Richey area where multiple major sinkholes have damaged properties and traumatized residents)
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