A Free Property Snapshot for Northeast Florida Agents: Permits, Flood Zone and Septic in One PDF

Les Hanna

Sep 27

3 min read

If you sell homes in Northeast Florida, you know the questions. When was the roof permitted? Is it on septic or sewer? What flood zone is it in? Are there any open code cases?

The answers are usually out there. The trouble is where. They're spread across the county building department, the property appraiser, FEMA's flood maps, the Department of Health and, sometimes, a city office that doesn't put anything online at all. Tracking them down for one property can eat an afternoon.

So we built something to help. The NE Florida Property Snapshot is a free report for licensed Florida real estate agents. You enter an address, and a branded PDF with the public records arrives in your inbox, usually within a few minutes.

Why we built it

Before every inspection, I pull the permit history on the house. It tells me where to look. A roof permitted two years ago is a different conversation from one that's never been permitted. An addition with no permit on file is something I want to see up close.

Agents kept asking me for that same information, often before an inspection was even on the calendar. The Snapshot takes the research I was already doing and puts it in your hands, free.

What's in a Snapshot

Every report starts with a one-page summary, built so you can forward it to a client or print it on its own. Behind it, you'll find the details and where each record came from.

Permit history. Permit numbers, types, dates and status, where the city or county publishes them online.
Roof, HVAC and water heater permit dates. These are the dates insurance companies tend to ask about. They're permit dates, not the age of the system itself.
FEMA flood zone, as mapped. Clay County reports also show the new preliminary flood maps, so you can see what's changing.
Septic or sewer, well or public water. This comes from the Florida Department of Health's inventory, along with how confident that record is.
Code enforcement cases, where the city or county publishes them online.
Property basics. Year built and living area, plus bedrooms and baths in Clay County.

Some offices don't publish their records online. When that happens, the report tells you which office to contact and gives you request wording you can copy, paste and send.

How it works

Enter the address and your license number. It's a short form on our website.
We check your license. The Snapshot is for licensed Florida agents, so we check your number against the state's public license list.
Your PDF arrives by email. Usually within a few minutes. If you don't see it, check your spam folder.

There's no fee and no login. We'll only add you to our agent email list if you tick the box on the form.

Where it works

The Snapshot covers ten Northeast Florida counties, including the cities and towns in them: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union.

When agents use it

Before you list. Know the permit history before a buyer's agent asks, and before it shows up in an inspection report.
Before your buyer writes an offer. A quick look at permits, flood zone and septic can shape the conversation early.
When insurance comes up. Roof and system permit dates give your client a starting point for insurance quotes.
When a client asks, "Was that addition permitted?" You'll know what the records show, or which office to ask.

What a Snapshot is not

A Snapshot is a summary of public records. It shows what those records say on the day it's run, and nothing more. Older records, paper-only files and permits filed under a different address may not appear. A missing permit doesn't prove work wasn't permitted, and a permit on file doesn't prove the work was done right.

It also doesn't cover taxes, liens or any money figures. And it's not a home inspection.

That last part matters. Records tell you what someone filed. An inspection tells you what's actually on the roof, in the attic and under the house. When the record isn't enough, that's where we come in.