Your privacy matters. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit or interact with our website. We are committed to maintaining transparency and ensuring that any data you share — whether through contact forms, online tools, or informational resources — is handled responsibly and securely.
Our goal is to create a trustworthy experience for users seeking property-related information in Wakulla County. While this website provides educational content and convenient access to property resources, it operates independently and is not affiliated with the Wakulla County Property Appraiser’s Office or any government entity.
This policy outlines the types of information we collect, how it is used, your rights regarding that data, and the measures we take to safeguard it. By using this site, you agree to the practices described here and acknowledge that your data is managed in accordance with applicable privacy laws and digital standards.
Information We Collect
We collect limited information from visitors to help improve website functionality, enhance user experience, and maintain secure, reliable services. The data we gather falls into two primary categories — information you choose to share and information collected automatically as you use the site. This section explains both types in detail to ensure full transparency about what is collected and how it’s handled.
Data You Provide Voluntarily
When you use our website, you may choose to submit certain details voluntarily through forms or contact features. This can include your name, email address, or other contact information when reaching out for assistance or submitting an inquiry. If you interact with online tools, calculators, or property data requests, you might also enter property-related details to generate results or receive support.
All voluntarily submitted data is used exclusively to respond to your request, improve service quality, or enhance your user experience. We never sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties without your explicit consent, except when required by law.
Automatically Collected Information
Like most websites, we automatically collect certain technical data to understand how users interact with our site. This includes IP addresses, browser type, operating system, referral pages, time spent on pages, and general usage patterns. These metrics are gathered through standard analytics tools and cookies to help monitor performance, optimize navigation, and maintain site security.
This information is aggregated and anonymized — meaning it cannot be used to personally identify you. It’s used solely for internal analytics and website improvement, ensuring that our platform remains efficient, accessible, and responsive to user needs.
How We Use Your Information
The information collected on this website is used responsibly and strictly for purposes that enhance user experience, maintain accuracy, and uphold compliance with applicable laws. We use both voluntarily provided and automatically collected data to make continuous improvements to our tools, ensure seamless communication, and fulfill necessary legal obligations.
For Service Improvements
Collected data helps us evaluate how visitors interact with our website and which features or resources are most valuable. By analyzing usage patterns and feedback, we can refine content, update tools, and improve website performance to better serve property owners, residents, and professionals in Wakulla County. This ensures that every visit offers clear, reliable, and easy-to-navigate information about property assessment, exemptions, and tax resources.
Communication & Notifications
If you reach out through contact forms or email, we use your information solely to respond to your inquiry or provide updates related to your request. Communication may include responses to questions, clarifications on property-related content, or notifications about updates to online tools. We do not send promotional messages or share your contact details with external marketing partners.
Legal and Compliance Purposes
In certain cases, your data may be used to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal requests. This includes cooperating with public authorities when legally required or protecting the integrity of the website against unauthorized access or fraudulent activity. All data handling practices are conducted with a commitment to privacy, transparency, and compliance with established digital data protection standards.
Data Protection and Security Measures
Protecting your personal and browsing data is a fundamental priority. This website follows strict security protocols designed to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all collected information. Every security measure is implemented to prevent unauthorized access, data alteration, misuse, or accidental loss. From encrypted communications to restricted internal access and continuous monitoring, each step ensures that visitors can use the site’s tools and resources with complete confidence.
Encryption and Secure Access
All interactions on this website are protected using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, ensuring that any data shared—such as form submissions or inquiry details—is transmitted safely over the internet. Encryption works by converting readable data into coded form, preventing interception or tampering during transfer. This means your personal information, including names, contact details, or IP addresses, remains unreadable to anyone attempting unauthorized access.
Beyond encryption, the site operates through secure servers that are routinely maintained and updated to eliminate vulnerabilities. Security certificates are renewed on schedule, and modern HTTPS protocols are enforced across every page to guarantee encrypted connections at all times.
Internal Access Restrictions
Strict policies are in place to limit who can access any data collected through this site. Only authorized administrative personnel, trained in privacy and data protection standards, can handle stored information. Access is role-based, meaning individuals can only view data relevant to their specific tasks—reducing unnecessary exposure and enhancing accountability.
All authorized users follow internal protocols for secure logins, password management, and identity verification. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and user activity monitoring are used to ensure that every access request is legitimate. If suspicious activity is detected, access is immediately suspended, and a full audit is conducted to confirm data integrity.
Additional Security Practices
In addition to encryption and access control, a combination of preventive and detective security practices safeguard system infrastructure and user data. These include:
- Regular Security Audits: Scheduled assessments identify potential weaknesses in servers, software, and scripts, ensuring proactive mitigation before issues arise.
- Firewall Protection: Multi-layer firewalls filter incoming and outgoing traffic, blocking malicious attempts and unauthorized data extraction.
- Intrusion Detection and Monitoring: Network activity is monitored continuously for irregular behavior, ensuring swift responses to potential threats.
- Data Backup and Recovery Plans: Secure backups are maintained to protect essential data in case of system failures or technical interruptions.
- Secure Hosting Environment: The site operates through data centers that meet strict compliance standards, including physical access restrictions, climate control, and 24/7 surveillance.
- Routine Software Updates: All systems, plugins, and content management tools are regularly updated to the latest security standards to prevent exploitation of outdated components.
Together, these measures form a comprehensive security framework designed to ensure that every visitor’s data is handled responsibly and remains safe from unauthorized access or breaches. This commitment to security reflects the website’s goal of providing a transparent, dependable, and privacy-conscious experience for users researching property and tax information in Wakulla County.
Opt-Out Preferences
Visitors have full control over how their data is used when interacting with this website. The opt-out preferences allow you to decide whether certain types of non-essential data—such as analytics tracking, cookie storage, or optional communications—are collected or retained. This ensures transparency and empowers users to maintain privacy according to their own comfort level. By managing your preferences, you can continue accessing public tools and resources without unnecessary data sharing or targeted content tracking.
How to Limit the Use of Your Data
You can limit or prevent the use of your personal information in several ways, depending on how you engage with the website:
- Browser Settings:
Most browsers allow users to block cookies, clear stored data, or prevent tracking scripts. Adjusting these settings ensures that analytics tools and third-party integrations cannot collect behavioral or device-related data during your session. - Analytics & Tracking Cookies:
You can opt out of analytics tracking by declining non-essential cookies when prompted. This stops the site from using tools like Google Analytics or similar services to monitor traffic and user behavior. The essential cookies required for website functionality will remain active, but no personal or browsing history will be stored beyond that scope. - Email & Form Submissions:
If you provide contact information through forms or inquiries, you can request the removal of your data at any time. Simply email the site’s privacy administrator using the contact details provided in the Contact Us or Privacy Policy section. Your information will be deleted from communication records and excluded from any future correspondence. - Third-Party Integrations:
Some embedded tools, such as Google Maps or external links, may collect limited technical data (like your IP address) for proper functionality. To limit this, you can disable embedded content loading through browser privacy extensions or opt-out features available through each provider’s privacy settings. - Request for Data Deletion or Review:
Users have the right to review, correct, or permanently delete any personal information shared with the website. A verified deletion request ensures that your data is removed from all active databases and backups within a reasonable timeframe, typically 30 days from confirmation.
By exercising these opt-out preferences, you maintain greater control over your online privacy. The website fully supports user choice and adheres to ethical data practices that respect personal boundaries while ensuring that essential public services—such as property searches and tax estimations—remain accessible without compromising confidentiality.
Sharing & Third-Party Services
This website values transparency and user privacy, ensuring that any data shared or processed through third-party services is handled responsibly and only when necessary. Information is never sold, traded, or distributed for marketing purposes. Any data sharing is conducted strictly to improve functionality, enhance user experience, or comply with legal obligations.
Our use of third-party tools helps deliver accurate property information, interactive mapping, and performance analytics that maintain the reliability and efficiency of this resource. Each service integrated into the site operates under its own privacy policy, and users are encouraged to review those terms for additional details on how data may be managed or stored externally.
When and Why We Share Information
Information may be shared with trusted third parties only under specific and justified circumstances, such as:
- Service Functionality:
Data may be processed by third-party platforms that power essential website features — for example, mapping systems, analytics dashboards, or form submission tools. This helps ensure that users can access accurate geographic and property-based data in real time. - Legal Compliance:
If required by law or governmental request, certain information may be disclosed to comply with applicable state or federal regulations. This includes actions necessary to protect the site’s legal rights or respond to valid legal processes. - Technical Maintenance & Hosting:
To maintain website performance and data integrity, hosting providers or IT maintenance teams may have limited, controlled access to server data. Such access is strictly governed by confidentiality agreements and is limited to troubleshooting or updates. - Security & Fraud Prevention:
Information may be analyzed by automated tools or trusted security partners to detect, prevent, or address potential security threats, unauthorized access, or fraudulent activities.
All third-party sharing is reviewed periodically to ensure compliance with privacy standards and Florida data protection laws.
Third-Party Tools and Services
Several third-party technologies are integrated into this website to enhance usability and accuracy. These services are carefully selected to support public access to property-related data without compromising confidentiality. Examples include:
- Mapping and GIS Platforms:
Tools such as Google Maps or similar GIS systems are used to provide real-time parcel data, aerial imagery, and geographic overlays. These tools may temporarily collect IP addresses to load accurate map views. - Analytics Services:
Non-identifiable usage data may be collected through tools like Google Analytics to measure site performance and understand how users interact with key features. This information helps improve accessibility and design, not track individuals. - Form Submission Tools:
Contact or exemption inquiry forms may use secure third-party processors to ensure messages are safely transmitted and stored. Submitted data is used only to respond to user inquiries and is not shared beyond that purpose. - Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):
Certain website assets may be distributed via secure CDNs to enhance speed and reliability for users accessing the site from different regions.
Each third-party partner complies with industry security protocols and privacy frameworks. Users may control their data exposure by adjusting browser privacy settings or disabling cookies associated with these external services.
By maintaining selective, secure third-party partnerships, the website ensures that all features—from tax estimators to property maps—operate efficiently while upholding the highest standards of privacy protection.
Your Rights & Data Control Options
Every user has the right to control how their personal information is collected, stored, and used on this website. Transparency and user empowerment are central to our privacy practices. The site ensures that individuals can review, update, or request the deletion of their personal data in compliance with applicable privacy laws, including Florida’s public records and consumer protection regulations.
The website does not require users to share personal details to browse general property or appraisal information. However, if users voluntarily provide information—such as through contact forms or online requests—they maintain full control over how that data is managed. Clear options are provided to access, correct, or erase such data when necessary.
Requesting Data Access or Deletion
Users may request access to any personal information submitted through the website, including inquiries, subscription data, or messages sent through online forms. Upon verification, the information will be shared with the requester securely and in a timely manner.
If users wish to have their personal data deleted, they can contact the site’s administrative support to request permanent removal. Deletion requests are processed promptly, except in cases where record retention is legally required—for example, compliance with Florida’s public record retention policies.
To initiate a data access or deletion request, users can contact the site administrator via email or through the Contact Us page. Each request must include sufficient details (e.g., name, email used for submission, and request type) to confirm identity and locate relevant records.
Typical examples of data that can be accessed or deleted include:
- Contact form submissions or inquiries
- Email communication records
- Subscription or newsletter sign-up data
- User-generated feedback or support requests
No fees are charged for standard data access or deletion requests unless multiple or repetitive submissions are made in a short time frame. For details on website usage, disclaimers, and user responsibilities, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Updating Your Personal Information
If your contact details or other voluntarily submitted information change, you have the right to request corrections to keep your data accurate and current. Updated information ensures that responses, confirmations, or notices from the site are sent correctly.
To update personal details, users can reach out via the Contact Us page or email the administrative team directly. After verification, updates are applied promptly to maintain accurate and compliant data records.
For users interacting with external tools (like Google Maps or analytics features), updates to personal information—such as account settings or saved preferences—should be managed through the corresponding third-party platforms.
Maintaining accuracy not only supports clear communication but also ensures continued compliance with Florida data protection laws and user consent standards.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
Privacy practices evolve over time to reflect new regulations, technology updates, and user feedback. To maintain transparency, this Privacy Policy is reviewed periodically and updated whenever changes occur that affect how user information is collected, used, or protected. Each revision is made to ensure continued compliance with state and federal privacy standards while aligning with best practices in online data management.
Users are encouraged to review this page regularly to stay informed about any modifications. Substantial updates—such as changes to data collection practices, user rights, or third-party integrations—will be clearly communicated through notices on the website or direct email (when applicable).
The purpose of these updates is to keep users fully aware of how their data is handled and to reaffirm the commitment to safeguarding privacy.
Notification of Updates
When updates to the Privacy Policy occur, a notification will appear on the website’s homepage or relevant service pages, highlighting the main areas of change. For registered users or individuals who have previously contacted the site, an email notice may be sent summarizing the key revisions.
Notification methods may include:
- A visible banner or announcement on the website
- Direct communication through the email provided by the user
- Updates within related sections of the Privacy Policy itself
These notifications are intended to provide clear and timely awareness, ensuring users have the opportunity to review changes before they take effect. Continued use of the website after policy updates indicates agreement with the revised terms.
Date of Last Revision
At the bottom of the Privacy Policy page, the “Date of Last Revision” clearly indicates when the document was most recently updated. This timestamp helps users verify whether any new terms or practices have been added since their last review.
If major revisions occur, the previous version of the policy may remain accessible for reference for a limited period. The revision date ensures accountability and provides a transparent record of all updates made to maintain user trust and compliance.
Contact Us for Privacy Concerns
Protecting your privacy is a top priority, and any questions or concerns regarding how your information is collected, stored, or used are taken seriously. Whether you have inquiries about this Privacy Policy, wish to request clarification on specific data practices, or need to report a potential issue related to your personal information, the Wakulla County Property Appraiser’s Office is available to assist you.
Reaching out ensures that your concerns are addressed promptly and transparently. The office’s staff is trained to handle privacy-related matters in compliance with state and federal laws while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality. Users are encouraged to contact the office directly rather than sharing sensitive details through unsecured online forms.
Clear and open communication helps maintain trust, transparency, and accountability in every interaction involving user data.
How to Reach the Wakulla County Property Appraiser
You can contact the Wakulla County Property Appraiser’s Office using the following details:
- Mailing Address:
Wakulla County Property Appraiser
3056 Crawfordville Highway
Crawfordville, FL 32327 - Main Office Line: (850) 926-0500
- Email: info@wakullapa.com
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (excluding holidays)
For privacy-specific concerns, it’s recommended to include “Privacy Inquiry” in the subject line of your email or letter. This ensures your message is directed to the appropriate department for review and response.
If you believe your data has been misused or you’ve encountered suspicious activity related to the Property Appraiser’s services, please report it immediately using the contact details above. Your feedback helps maintain a secure and transparent environment for all Wakulla County residents and property owners.