Northeast Florida
Clay County property records and hazards
Clay County is home to about 236,800 people, and FEMA counts $33.0 billion in buildings there. FEMA's National Risk Index rates its overall natural-hazard risk "Relatively Moderate", higher than 81% of U.S. counties. For property, the costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes: together about $46.0 million of expected building damage a year. Its incorporated cities and towns are Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Orange Park and Penney Farms. 14 hurricanes have passed within 30 miles since 1851.1
What Clay County faces most
Ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index: the hazards expected to do the most damage to buildings in this county each year, with each hazard's FEMA risk rating.
- 1
Inland flooding
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Clay County "Relatively Moderate" (score 85.9 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $35.2 million a year, the 22nd-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- FEMA's index maps about 60 square miles of the county inside the 1%-annual-chance floodplain it uses for inland flooding.1
- 18 inland flood events in FEMA's record, about 0.6 a year.1
What it means for a buyer or owner
Beyond the roughly 60 square miles of mapped floodplain in Clay County, rain-driven flooding follows rivers, lakes, wetlands and canals, and it doesn't stop at the mapped lines: FEMA says more than 20% of flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk areas.
Ask whether the home has flooded or had a flood claim, and look at the lot's elevation in the report.
In your report: the Flood & hazard sheet · Guide: How to read a Florida flood zone
- 2
Hurricanes
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates hurricane risk in Clay County "Relatively Moderate" (score 89.8 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $8.9 million a year, the 44th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 14 hurricanes passed within 30 miles of the county since 1851 (0 of them at Category 3 or stronger while nearby); counting tropical storms, 42 storms in all.2
- Strongest storm on record nearby: Dora (1964), at Category 2 strength (about 109 mph sustained) as it passed.2
- Most recent hurricanes nearby: Gladys (1968), Category 1, Dora (1964), Category 2 and King (1950), Category 1.2
- 18 federal disaster declarations for hurricanes have included the county.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
In Clay County, hurricane wind and storm surge tend to arrive together. Wind is the part every property shares, so the roof and openings matter as much as the flood zone.
Ask for the roof's age and permit, any shutters or impact-rated windows, and a wind mitigation report.
In your report: the Storm history & wind sheet · Guide: Hurricanes, roofs and insurance
- 3
Tornadoes
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates tornado risk in Clay County "Relatively Moderate" (score 83.2 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $1.9 million a year, the 30th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 16 tornadoes recorded in the county in FEMA's index (NOAA Storm Prediction Center records), about 0.4 a year.1
What it means for a buyer or owner
With roughly 0.4 tornadoes a year on record, Clay County sees mostly brief, narrow touchdowns, often spun up by tropical systems and spring squall lines, so damage is very local. The same roof-to-wall connections that resist hurricane wind help here.
Check the roof covering, any hurricane straps or clips, and the insurer's windstorm deductible.
In your report: the Hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) sheet
- 4
Wildfire
Relatively LowThe local numbers
- FEMA rates wildfire risk in Clay County "Relatively Low" (score 82.9 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $609,000 a year, the 37th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- FEMA's wildfire model gives an average yearly burn likelihood of about 0.31% for exposed land here.1
- 9.3% of the county's building value is in areas FEMA treats as exposed to wildfire.1
- 6 federal fire declarations (including fire-management grants) have covered the county.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
9.3% of the building value in Clay County is near burnable land; risk is highest where homes back onto pine flatwoods, scrub, prairie or other wild land, especially in the dry late-winter and spring months.
Look at the vegetation around the lot, keep a clear zone around the house, and check for burn bans and prescribed-burn areas nearby.
In your report: the Hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) sheet
Rules that apply in every Florida county, from the building code and wind-mitigation discounts to flood insurance, seller flood disclosure and sinkhole coverage: Florida rules for buyers and owners.
Hurricanes near Clay County
14 hurricanes have come within 30 miles of Clay County since 1851; the busiest decade was the 1870s, with 3. The 12 most recent are listed, with the strength NOAA recorded as each passed.2
| Year | Storm | Strength nearby | Closest approach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Gladys | Category 1 | 17 mi | |
| 1964 | Dora | Category 2 | inside the county | |
| 1950 | King | Category 1 | 12 mi | |
| 1945 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 8 mi | |
| 1944 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 2 mi | |
| 1928 | Unnamed | Category 1 | inside the county | |
| 1926 | Unnamed | Category 1 | inside the county | |
| 1896 | Unnamed | Category 2 | 26 mi | |
| 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 28 mi | |
| 1888 | Unnamed | Category 2 | inside the county | |
| 1880 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 14 mi | |
| 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1 | 10 mi |
Federal disaster declarations
39 federal declarations have included Clay County since 1992, 21 of them major disasters. By type: 18 hurricane, 8 severe storm, 6 fire, 4 tropical storm, 2 biological and 1 freezing.3
Most recent
- 2026, Railroad Complex Fire (fire management)
- 2024, Hurricane Milton (major disaster)
- 2024, Hurricane Milton (emergency)
- 2024, Hurricane Helene (major disaster)
- 2024, Hurricane Debby (major disaster)
- 2024, Tropical Storm Debby (emergency)
All FEMA hazards for Clay County
Every hazard FEMA scores here, costliest for buildings first.1
| Hazard | FEMA risk rating | Risk score (0-100) | Expected building loss a year | Rank in the state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | Relatively Moderate | 85.9 | $35.2 million | 22 of 67 |
| Hurricanes | Relatively Moderate | 89.8 | $8.9 million | 44 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | Relatively Moderate | 83.2 | $1.9 million | 30 of 67 |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 82.9 | $609,000 | 37 of 67 |
| Earthquakes | Relatively Low | 64.6 | $480,000 | 5 of 67 |
| Coastal flooding and storm surge | Relatively Low | 57.0 | $387,000 | 35 of 67 |
| Strong wind | Relatively Low | 32.2 | $152,000 | 40 of 67 |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 92.3 | $66,000 | 33 of 67 |
| Cold waves | Very Low | 15.7 | $29,000 | 30 of 67 |
| Hail | Very Low | 5.9 | $17,000 | 31 of 67 |
| Winter weather | Very Low | 8.4 | $2,000 | 21 of 67 |
| Landslides | Very Low | 27.4 | $314 | 29 of 67 |
| Heat waves | Relatively Moderate | 82.5 | $83 | 27 of 67 |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.8 | $0 | n/a |
Local property economy
Clay County had about 236,760 residents in 2024. Its largest groups of self-employed businesses are transportation and warehousing (3,336), administrative and support and waste management (2,506) and professional, scientific, and technical services (2,285). The table counts businesses with no employees, the sole proprietors behind much of the local real estate and building trade.4
| Businesses with no employees | Clay | Per 1,000 residents | Florida per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All self-employed businesses | 20,041 | 84.6 | 146.6 |
| Real estate, rental and leasing | 1,811 | 7.6 | 15.4 |
| Real estate (agents, brokers, landlords, managers) | 1,743 | 7.4 | 14.8 |
| Construction | 1,813 | 7.7 | 14.5 |
| Residential building construction | 494 | 2.1 | 4.7 |
Area profile
Census figures for Clay County next to Florida and the U.S. (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; ± is the margin of error). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (opens in a new tab).
| Measure | Clay County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 227,584 | 22,416,077 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $87,820 ±$2,783 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Per-capita income | $39,563 ±$924 | $42,609 | $44,673 |
| People below the poverty level | 9.2% ±1.2% | 12.6% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% ±1.3% | 34.1% | 35.7% |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $312,500 ±$7,375 | $359,000 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,551 ±$62 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 75.9% ±1.2% | 67.6% | 65.2% |
| Housing units vacant | 5.9% ±0.7% | 14.7% | 10.1% |
| Median year built | 1996 ±2 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Median age | 40.4 ±0.3 | 42.6 | 38.9 |
| Average household size | 2.7 ±0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes) | 31.3 ±1.1 | 28 | 26.4 |
Race and Hispanic origin (Census table B03002)
| Group | Clay County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Hispanic or Latino: White alone | 67.8% | 50.4% | 57.4% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Black or African American alone | 11.6% | 14.6% | 11.9% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Asian alone | 3.0% | 2.9% | 5.9% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Some other race alone | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races | 5.1% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 11.4% | 27.4% | 19.3% |
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau. OnlineRecords.US doesn't rate, rank or recommend areas by who lives there, and none of these figures are used in any ranking on this page. This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Official offices for Clay County property records
The official word on any Clay County parcel.5
Property appraiser
- Clay County Property Appraiser (opens in a new tab) Ownership, values, exemptions and parcel maps.
Clerk / official records
- Clay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller (opens in a new tab) Recorder of deeds, mortgages, liens and lis pendens.
- Official records search (opens in a new tab)
Tax collector
- Clay County Tax Collector (opens in a new tab) Current and delinquent property tax bills.
Building department
- Clay County Building Division (opens in a new tab) Online permit search.
What our free report covers in Clay County
Statewide data works for every Clay County address: (verified on test reports ). Parcel, owner and legal description, assessed and just values, FEMA flood zone and ground elevation, evacuation zone and FEMA hazard ratings, storm history and estimated wind, storm surge and high-water marks, earthquakes, faults and sinkhole reports, environmental sites nearby and condo and HOA records link to the official source for now. For the county's own records, the report links to each office's search; none is automated and verified here yet unless marked.6
| County records | Status | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deeds, mortgages and liens (clerk) | Link to the official source | Official records search (opens in a new tab) |
| Property tax bill (tax collector) | Link to the official source | Clay County Tax Collector (opens in a new tab) |
| Building permits | Link to the official source | Link-out to Clay County Building Division (county site). Clay County Building Division (opens in a new tab) |
Neighboring counties
Clay County borders Baker County, Bradford County, Duval County, Putnam County and St. Johns County. On inland flooding, Clay County ranks 3rd of 6 among itself and its neighbors; Duval County is highest.7
| County | Costliest hazard for buildings | Overall FEMA rating | Expected building loss a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker County | Inland flooding | Very Low | $4.4 million |
| Bradford County | Hurricanes | Very Low | $8.6 million |
| Duval County | Inland flooding | Relatively High | $215.1 million |
| Putnam County | Inland flooding | Relatively Low | $24.2 million |
| St. Johns County | Inland flooding | Relatively Moderate | $84.8 million |
Sources of information
- FEMA National Risk Index (county level) (opens in a new tab). release: December 2025; retrieved 2026-10-05.
- NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic) (opens in a new tab). storms through 2025; track within 30 miles of the county boundary while at tropical-storm strength or stronger; landfall points within 6 miles assigned to the nearest county; retrieved 2026-10-05.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Nonemployer Statistics and Vintage 2024 population estimates (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- onlinerecords.us county registry (official office links). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- onlinerecords.us coverage checks on test reports. retrieved 2026-10-05.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file (2024) (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
Figures describe the county as a whole, not any one property. A free report shows the parcel's own flood zone, elevation, storm history and records.