A Florida tax deed sale wipes out almost everything — mortgages, judgments, and most private liens don't survive. The one exception is a lien of record held by a city, county, or special district that wasn't paid from the sale proceeds. Government liens ride through a tax deed; private liens almost never do.
Unlike a foreclosure, a tax deed sale is designed to hand the buyer a mostly clean title. Florida law says no right, interest, restriction, or covenant survives the issuance of a tax deed — with one carve-out.
A lien of record held by a municipal or county governmental unit, a special district, or a community development district survives a tax deed if it wasn't paid off from the sale proceeds. Code enforcement fines and utility liens held by the county are the ones that catch buyers off guard.
"Almost everything is wiped" is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee for the specific parcel in front of you. Government liens don't show up the same way a mortgage does, and the only way to be sure is to check the parcel's recorded lien history before you bid.
Fla. Stat. §197.552 — official text
"Except as specifically provided in this chapter, no right, interest, restriction, or other covenant shall survive the issuance of a tax deed, except that a lien of record held by a municipal or county governmental unit, special district, or community development district, when such lien is not satisfied as of the disbursement of proceeds of sale under the provisions of s. 197.582, shall survive the issuance of a tax deed."
Yes — a mortgage does not survive the issuance of a Florida tax deed.
An unpaid lien of record held by a city, county, or special district.
No — a private HOA lien is not a governmental lien and does not survive.
This is general educational information, not legal, financial, or investment advice. Auction data and value estimates should always be independently verified. Consult a licensed Florida attorney and title professional before bidding on any property.