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Florida · Atlantic Coast · Central Florida · #117 Most Populous County in the US
Volusia County, Florida
Daytona Beach, DeLand, and New Smyrna Beach - Volusia County stretches from the Atlantic Ocean inland across the St. Johns River corridor. Home to NASCAR, Stetson University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Volusia County residents.
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Volusia 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: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office – 123 W. Indiana Avenue, DeLand, FL 32720 | (386) 736-2700; Sheriff Mike Chitwood, previously Chief of Police in Philadelphia and then Daytona Beach, elected Volusia County Sheriff in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and 2024; Chief Deputy Brian Henderson. The office, formed in 1855, operates district offices in Daytona Beach, DeBary, Deltona, DeLand, Ormond Beach, and New Smyrna Beach, plus substations in Pierson and Oak Hill, and provides contracted law enforcement in the cities of Deltona, DeBary, and Oak Hill and the town of Pierson.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Sheriff Chitwood has drawn national media attention for his outspoken public communication style on issues ranging from de-escalation training to school threat policies.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-4 and US-92 serve DeLand, the county seat, nicknamed “The Athens of Florida”; Deltona is the county’s largest city by population. Volusia County is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metropolitan statistical area, within the wider Orlando-Deltona-Daytona Beach combined statistical area.
Notes: Volusia County was created December 29, 1854, from a portion of Orange County, named for the community of Volusia in the county’s northwest. The original county seat, Enterprise, was replaced by DeLand in 1887; DeLand was founded in 1876 by Henry Addison DeLand and incorporated as a city in 1882.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Volusia County Courthouse – DeLand, FL (built 2001).
Notes: DeLand is home to Stetson University, Florida’s oldest private university (founded 1883), which in 1900 established the first law school in Florida.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Volusia County Veterans Services – confirm current contact via volusia.org.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Volusia County Public Library System – confirm current addresses/phones via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Daytona International Speedway, the “World Center of Racing,” hosts the Daytona 500 and Bike Week. New Smyrna Beach is a beloved surf destination with a well-preserved old-Florida character. Canaveral National Seashore’s northernmost stretch runs through southern Volusia County. Blue Spring State Park is Florida’s single most important manatee wintering site, drawing hundreds of manatees each cold season. The Museum of Art – DeLand anchors downtown DeLand’s cultural scene.
Notes: Confirm current parks and recreation facilities via volusia.org.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Volusia County Property Appraiser – confirm current contact via volusia.org.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Confirm current dedicated shelter contact via volusia.org; Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for animal control arrangements outside contracted municipalities.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Volusia County Solid Waste / Planning & Zoning – confirm current contact via volusia.org.
NOTES: Volusia County is the fourth county completed in this Florida Round 3 v2 redo batch, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. DeLand’s genuine claim to Florida’s first law school at Stetson University, and Sheriff Chitwood’s national media profile, are among the standout local facts covered here. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Volusia County
Volusia County occupies a wide swath of Florida’s central Atlantic coast, stretching from the Flagler County line in the north to the Brevard County line at Edgewater in the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean inland past the St. Johns River to Orange and Lake counties. The county’s signature community is Daytona Beach – internationally known as the World Center of Racing, home to Daytona International Speedway and the founding venue of NASCAR (formally organized here in 1948). The Daytona 500 remains one of the most-watched sporting events in the United States.
The county seat, DeLand, is a charming inland university town – home to Stetson University (Florida’s oldest private university, founded 1883) and one of the best-preserved Victorian commercial districts in Florida. DeLand has been named one of the most walkable small cities in the South and has a strong arts and cultural community. The county also includes Ormond Beach (where John D. Rockefeller wintered), Port Orange, Deltona (one of Florida’s largest inland master-planned communities), Holly Hill, and New Smyrna Beach – the southern shore community known for its surf, arts scene, and upscale restaurant culture, and consistently ranked among the best small beach towns in Florida.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach is the world’s largest and most prestigious university focused on aviation and aerospace – drawing students and faculty globally and giving the county a distinctive aerospace and engineering employment base.
County government is a seven-member County Council (five district, two at-large) with separately elected offices for the Clerk of Court, Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Supervisor of Elections.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Volusia County Property Appraiser (main office: 123 W. Indiana Avenue, Room 102, DeLand, 386-736-5901; Holly Hill branch: 386-736-5901; formerly also New Smyrna Beach, now in-person at DeLand and Holly Hill only) assesses all real property annually as of January 1.
The Florida TRIM Notice: Every August, Volusia County property owners receive a Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notice showing assessed value, proposed millage rates from each taxing authority (county, school board, cities, special districts, water management district), and estimated taxes. The TRIM notice shows both the Market Value the Property Appraiser assigned and the Assessed Value after Save Our Homes limitations. Review both numbers against recent comparable sales in your area.
Save Our Homes – the 3% cap: Florida’s Save Our Homes amendment limits annual increases in the assessed value of a homesteaded primary residence to 3% or the CPI, whichever is less. In fast-appreciating coastal communities like Daytona Beach Shores, Ormond Beach, and New Smyrna Beach, the gap between assessed value and market value can become very large for long-term owners – and fully resets to market value at sale. Portability of SOH savings is available within two years of selling the prior Florida homestead.
Florida Homestead Exemption: Up to $50,000 for an owner-occupied primary residence. Apply by March 1 with the Property Appraiser (online filing available or in-person at DeLand or Holly Hill). During peak March filing, the Holly Hill branch typically has shorter wait times than DeLand for east-county residents.
VAB appeal: File a petition with the Volusia County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Avenue, DeLand (386-736-2700). The petition deadline is 25 days from the date the TRIM notice was mailed – the exact deadline is printed on your TRIM notice. File Form DR-486 for value disputes. VAB hearings are conducted by special magistrates. Petitions must be filed even if you are in informal discussions with the Property Appraiser’s office – the informal conference does not extend the VAB deadline.
Coastal and waterfront appeals: Volusia County’s beachfront condos and waterfront properties are among the most frequently contested. Storm damage, erosion, market shifts in the condo market (insurance cost increases have been particularly severe post-2022), and access issues can significantly affect value. Document condition with photos, insurance quotes, and structural reports. The property appraiser’s office recommends contacting it directly first if you see clear errors – many straightforward corrections don’t require a formal VAB petition.
Exemption denial appeals: If your Homestead, Senior, Disability, or other exemption was denied, you must file a VAB petition within 30 days of the denial mailing date (not 25 days from TRIM) to contest the denial.
Florida has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Tax bills mailed November; early payment discounts 4%/3%/2%/1% through February. Delinquent after April 1.
OWNWELL CTA: Volusia County coastal and waterfront properties have seen significant insurance and market disruption – the case for reviewing your assessed value against current comparable sales is strong. The 25-day VAB window from TRIM mailing is the same for all Florida counties. Ownwell manages the petition with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Volusia County coastal and waterfront properties have seen significant insurance and market disruption - the case for reviewing your assessed value against current comparable sales is strong. The 25-day VAB window from TRIM mailing is the same for all Florida counties. Ownwell manages the petition with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Volusia County Circuit Court at the Volusia County Courthouse, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, DeLand (386-736-5915) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Volusia County Clerk of Court at the same address (386-736-5915) maintains all court records and official land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents – searchable online at clerk.org. The Clerk’s Office also operates a Daytona Beach branch at 125 E. Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach.
Florida probate: bring original will, death certificate, and next-of-kin information to the Clerk. Florida has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Florida’s simplified Administration is available for qualifying small estates.
Embry-Riddle and aviation estate planning: Embry-Riddle’s faculty and the county’s aviation employment community create specific estate planning contexts – aircraft ownership, FAA-registered aircraft interests, and aerospace employment benefits (including defense contractor deferred compensation and pension plans) are more common here than in most Florida counties.
Snowbird and dual-state estate planning: Volusia County has a large seasonal population from the Northeast and Midwest. Establishing Florida domicile to take advantage of Florida’s no-income-tax and no-estate-tax environment requires careful attention to residency documentation – driver’s license, voter registration, filing a Declaration of Domicile with the Volusia County Clerk, and spending more than six months per year in Florida. Attorneys familiar with multi-state estate planning are well-represented in the Daytona Beach and DeLand areas.
Senior Services: The Volusia County Council on Aging (386-253-4700) and the Community Services Block Grant coordinate senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHINE Medicare counseling, caregiver support, and Adult Protective Services. The Southeast Volusia Charitable Foundation supports seniors in the New Smyrna Beach area. Connections to Florida Medicaid long-term care programs (including PACE and home-based waivers) are available through the Department of Elder Affairs CARES offices.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF COURTS (Records, Marriage Licenses)
101 N. Alabama Ave., DeLand, FL 32724
(386) 736-5915
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Volusia County Clerk of Courts (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above); holds marriage, divorce, court, probate, and land records.
West Volusia Historical Society’s Conrad Center (Robert M. Conrad Research and Educational Center), 137 West Michigan Avenue, DeLand, FL – includes exhibition space, a library, and roughly 100 oral history videos, part of a complex with the Henry A. DeLand House Museum.
Local societies
Volusia County Genealogical Society, 105 E. Magnolia Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6036 ext. 16313 – meets 3rd Thursday monthly at the City Island Library, Daytona Beach.
Halifax Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 5081, Ormond Beach, FL 32174-5081 – meets 2nd Thursday monthly at the Ormond Beach Library.
Roots and Branches Genealogical Society of West Volusia County, 121 W. Rich Avenue / 130 E. Howry Avenue, DeLand, FL 32720 – meets 3rd Sunday monthly (Sept–June) at the DeLand Public Library.
West Volusia Historical Society, 137 W. Michigan Avenue, DeLand, FL 32720, (386) 740-6813.
John Knox Village Genealogy Society, 698 Monastery Road, Orange City, FL 32763.
Genealogical Society of Southeast Volusia County, New Smyrna Beach, FL.
Halifax Historical Society, 252 S. Beach Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114-4407.
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
Volusia County Clerk of Courts, Probate Division 101 N. Alabama Avenue, DeLand, FL 32724 (386) 822-5710
Volusia County sits in Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit. Volusia County was created December 29, 1854 from Orange County. The county is informally divided into East Volusia (the Daytona Beach/Halifax area) and West/Southeast Volusia (the DeLand/Deltona/New Smyrna Beach area).
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
201 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720
(386) 736-5961
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
1750 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720
(386) 736-5930
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
FL Dept of Health — Volusia
1845 Holsonback Dr., Daytona Beach, FL 32117
(386) 274-0625
FL DCF — Volusia
(386) 226-7100
FL Medicaid
(800) 299-4833
AdventHealth Daytona Beach
adventhealth.com/daytona-beach
Halifax Health
halifaxhealth.org (Daytona Beach — regional medical center)
AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach
adventhealth.com/new-smyrna-beach
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida Department of Health in Volusia County – confirm current contact via volusia.org.
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.
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