At Franklin County Property Appraiser (Informational Resource), we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect any personal or non-personal information you may provide while visiting our website. As a privately operated, non-governmental resource designed to educate and inform the public about property appraisals and taxation in Franklin County, we are committed to maintaining transparency and ensuring a safe browsing experience for all users. By accessing our site, you agree to the terms of this policy, which is intended to help you understand what data we gather, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. We encourage you to review this policy carefully and contact us with any questions or concerns.
Information We Collect
To help us provide a better, more informative experience, the FCPA (Informational Resource) may collect certain types of information when you visit or interact with our website. The information we collect falls into two categories: data you provide voluntarily and information we collect automatically through standard web technologies.
Data You Provide Voluntarily
We only collect personally identifiable information (PII) when you choose to submit it—such as when you fill out a contact form, request assistance, or subscribe to updates. This may include:
- Your name
- Email address
- Phone number (if submitted)
- Property address or parcel number (if included in an inquiry)
- Any message content or inquiry details you provide
We use this information solely to respond to your requests, answer questions, and improve our user support.
Note: This website is not affiliated with the official Franklin County government. If you submit sensitive or confidential information, we advise you to also contact the official Franklin County Property Appraiser’s Office directly.
Automatically Collected Information
When you browse our website, certain technical data is collected automatically using cookies, analytics tools, and server logs. This non-personally identifiable information helps us understand how users interact with our site, so we can improve functionality and content. Examples include:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Device type (mobile, desktop, tablet)
- Pages visited and time spent on site
- Referring website or link
- Geographic region (approximate, based on IP)
This data is used in aggregate and does not identify individual users unless combined with voluntarily submitted information.
How We Use Your Information
The information collected through our website is used to enhance your user experience, provide relevant property-related information, and ensure legal compliance. Below is a breakdown of how we use both voluntarily submitted data and automatically collected technical information.
For Service Improvements
We use aggregated, anonymous data to analyze how users interact with our content and tools. This helps us:
- Improve the usability and performance of the website
- Identify the most frequently accessed topics or resources
- Enhance existing tools such as property search functions, tax estimators, and guides
- Detect and troubleshoot website issues
This insight allows us to continually optimize the site for better accuracy, speed, and accessibility.
Communication & Notifications
If you contact us via the website, we use the information you provide to:
- Respond to questions about property tax assessments, exemptions, or related topics
- Provide requested information or clarification
- Send occasional updates about important deadlines, changes in local tax laws, or new tools (only if you opt in to such communications)
We do not share your contact details with third parties, and we never send unsolicited promotional emails.
Legal and Compliance Purposes
In rare cases, we may use or disclose collected information to:
- Comply with legal obligations (such as responding to lawful subpoenas or regulatory inquiries)
- Protect our legal rights and property
- Prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access to our systems
As a privately operated informational resource, we take your privacy seriously and strive to ensure your data is handled responsibly and transparently.
Data Protection and Security Measures
Protecting your privacy and safeguarding your data is a top priority for our organization. While we do not collect sensitive personal data like Social Security numbers or payment information, we take strong precautions to secure all other user-submitted and automatically collected information. Below are the key measures we have in place to ensure data security.
Encryption and Secure Access
All traffic on our website is protected using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. This means:
- Data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted
- Unauthorized third parties cannot easily intercept or read your data
- You can verify a secure connection by checking for “https” in the website address
We also routinely update our servers, firewalls, and security protocols to guard against cyber threats and unauthorized access attempts.
Internal Access Restrictions
Access to collected information is limited only to authorized personnel who require it to maintain or improve the website. We enforce the following internal controls:
- Role-based access management to minimize data exposure
- Regular audits and system reviews to detect anomalies or unauthorized access attempts
- Mandatory data privacy training for all contributors involved in handling website analytics or communications
These measures ensure that any data you share with us is handled with discretion, professionalism, and compliance with best practices in online privacy.
Opt-Out Preferences
We respect your right to control how your information is collected and used while visiting our site. Whether you want to limit cookies, avoid personalized content, or restrict certain types of data collection, we offer several ways to manage your privacy preferences.
How to Limit the Use of Your Data
If you prefer to reduce or restrict how your data is used, here are steps you can take:
- Disable Cookies: Most web browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. By adjusting your browser settings, you can prevent our site from storing certain data related to your visit.
- Use Browser Privacy Settings: Tools like “Do Not Track” (DNT) or private browsing modes help minimize data retention during your session.
- Avoid Submitting Personal Forms: If you choose not to fill out contact forms or subscribe to notifications, your personally identifiable information will not be collected.
- Request Data Deletion: You may contact us to request that any voluntary data submissions (like emails or form entries) be removed from our records.
Note: Opting out may limit your experience on the site, especially if cookies are used to enhance navigation or personalize tools such as property searches or estimators.
If you have questions or specific requests related to your data privacy, please reach out through our Contact Us page, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
To provide a better browsing experience and enhance functionality, this website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. These tools help us understand how users interact with the site and allow us to optimize our content, features, and services accordingly.
Types of Cookies We Use
We utilize several types of cookies, each serving a specific purpose:
- Essential Cookies: These are necessary for basic site functionality, such as navigating pages or accessing secure areas.
- Performance Cookies: These collect anonymous data on how visitors use the site (e.g., which pages are visited most often) to help us improve overall performance.
- Functional Cookies: These remember choices you make, like preferred language or saved search settings, to enhance personalization.
- Analytical/Tracking Cookies: Tools like Google Analytics use these cookies to collect data about user behavior, which we use to analyze trends and optimize content.
- Third-Party Cookies: Occasionally, we may include embedded content (such as maps or social media links) that uses cookies set by external domains.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have control over your cookie preferences. Here’s how you can manage or disable cookies:
- Via Browser Settings: Most modern browsers allow you to block, delete, or control cookies through their privacy settings.
- Third-Party Tools: Browser add-ons and privacy extensions can help manage cookies and prevent tracking.
- Cookie Consent Banner: When visiting our site for the first time, you may be presented with a cookie banner. Use it to accept or reject non-essential cookies.
- Opting Out of Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics provide their own opt-out options. You can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on for more control.
Note: Disabling certain cookies may impact your experience on the site, including access to customized features or tools such as the property tax estimator.
If you need help adjusting your settings or have questions about our cookie usage, feel free to contact us through our support page.
Sharing & Third-Party Services
We value your privacy and aim to be transparent about how your information is handled. While our website primarily serves as an informational resource, there are limited instances in which your data may be shared—always in accordance with privacy standards and applicable laws.
When and Why We Share Information
We only share user information when it is necessary for specific purposes such as:
- Providing Core Website Functions: We may share limited data with service providers that help us operate features like search tools, form submissions, or analytics.
- Compliance with Legal Obligations: If required by law, court order, or official request, we may disclose your information to government or legal authorities.
- Preventing Fraud or Security Issues: In cases of suspected fraud, abuse, or security threats, user data may be shared with appropriate investigative bodies.
- With Your Explicit Consent: In rare cases, such as newsletter signups or inquiry follow-ups, we may request your permission to share contact information with a relevant third party (e.g., county property office).
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data for commercial gain under any circumstance.
Third-Party Tools and Services
To enhance the website’s functionality and improve user experience, we use trusted third-party services, which may collect certain technical or analytical data, including:
- Google Analytics – for anonymized website traffic analysis and usage statistics.
- Cloud Hosting Providers – for secure data storage and uptime reliability.
- Form Builders or CRM Systems – to manage user inquiries or submissions, if applicable.
- Embedded Services – like Google Maps or YouTube videos, which may collect user data when you interact with those elements.
These third parties are governed by their own privacy policies and terms of use. We make efforts to work only with services that comply with industry privacy standards, including GDPR and CCPA where applicable.
If you have concerns about specific third-party services used on our website, please contact us for more information or consult our full privacy policy for updates.
Your Rights & Data Control Options
As a user of our informational website, you have important rights regarding your personal information. We are committed to transparency and giving you control over how your data is used, stored, and shared.
Requesting Data Access or Deletion
You have the right to request access to any personal data we may have collected from you. This includes the ability to:
- Review the type of information collected
- Request a copy of the data stored (if applicable)
- Ask for your information to be deleted from our systems
To request access or deletion, simply contact us through the form on our “Contact Us” page or via email. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days.
Please note: Because our website does not typically collect sensitive or high-volume personal data, in most cases the information stored will be limited to things like contact form submissions or basic analytics data.
Updating Your Personal Information
If you have submitted information through our site—such as an email address for follow-up questions—you may contact us at any time to update or correct that data. Keeping your contact information accurate ensures that we can communicate effectively if necessary.
To request updates to your personal information, email our support team or submit a request through our online contact form.
We take your data privacy seriously and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about how your data is handled.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We believe in transparency and are committed to keeping our users informed of how their data is handled. As such, we may periodically update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legal requirements, industry practices, or improvements to our services.
Notification of Updates
If we make any significant changes to the way we collect, use, or protect your information, we will update this page accordingly. In cases of major revisions, we may also display a notification on our homepage or send an update via email if you have subscribed to our communications.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal information and to understand your rights.
Date of Last Revision
This Privacy Policy was last revised on [Insert Date, e.g., July 26, 2025]. Any changes made after this date will be clearly reflected above in this section and throughout the document where applicable.
Contact Us for Privacy Concerns
If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, we encourage you to contact us directly. We are committed to maintaining transparency and protecting your data to the fullest extent.
How to Reach the Franklin County Property Appraiser
For inquiries regarding your privacy rights or data use, you may contact us through any of the following channels:
- Phone: Call us during normal business hours at (850) 653-9236
- Email: Send your privacy-related concerns or questions to info@franklincountyflorida.gov
- Mailing Address:
Franklin County Property Appraiser
33 Market Street, Suite 201
Apalachicola, FL 32320 - Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (excluding holidays)
We strive to respond to all privacy inquiries promptly and in accordance with applicable privacy laws. If you’re not satisfied with our response, you may also seek guidance from the appropriate regulatory authority in Florida.